Aces on Bridge — Daily Columns

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, June 18th, 2022


5 Comments

bobbywolffJuly 2nd, 2022 at 1:30 pm

Hi Everyone,

No doubt, today’s hand as declarer is more like a par hand than merely realistic.

Leaving me with only one thought and though a controversial one, my belief is that solving this one against someone who didn’t, doesn’t necessarily make either the better player.

At least IMO, our overwhelmingly marvelous and thoroughly compelling game lends itself more toward superior judgment on a regular basis, rather than the so-called perfect par player, who is quicker to maintain sensational to perfect percentage type plays, sometime at the cost of only being slightly above average in what is often commonly described, as “table feel”.

However, others may feel differently, but, if so, they themselves are probably superior book players, but likely have a lesser chance of finding the location of a random not held, queen, or even more important, if possible, timing the bidding in such a way, to be a really tough competitor on almost every hand when and if, that common challenge, manifests.

Iain ClimieJuly 2nd, 2022 at 3:40 pm

Hi Bobby,

The D position is a classic case of needing attention to detail. Give N one more D and small to the K works, picking up 4-0 either way. It looks very similar.

AKJ10x opposite xxx for no loser is best started with the A then finesse but AKJ10xx opposite xx is best handled by a first round finesse as Qxxx onside is (barring you know what) 4 times as likely as Q alone offside.

The devil is in the detail which is where home study becomes so important.

A V Ramana RaoJuly 2nd, 2022 at 4:19 pm

Hi Dear Mr Wolff
While declarer messed up the trump handling by winning first diamond with K, and the column line provides a way to circumvent the trump situation, Doubledummy there is yet another elegant way ( or even if declarer judges East’s heart is stiff). After winning diamond K, cross to A, take the marked finesse in diamond, cash top three clubs ending in hand ( hand cannot be made unless east has three clubs). Now lead spade to K. If east takes, any pointed suit return assures the contract and if east ducks, south doesn’t have a spade loser and has twelve tricks
Regards

Iain ClimieJuly 2nd, 2022 at 5:12 pm

Hi AVRR,

Very, Very neat although dependent on East having 1H. If you knew he had 2H and 2C though, a similar line could work.

regards,

Iain

bobbywolffJuly 2nd, 2022 at 10:28 pm

Hi Iain & AVRR,

When all posters are right or when only two make correct comments, further discussion, often familiar to state of the game, become worthy of mentioning.

Two truths today remain supreme, 1. Different ways to skin cats, and 2. percentage type reminders, either of which is worthy of a thought or two.

Thanks to both of you for your constant interest and for doing the work to stay informed and, most of all, to share!