If trumps are 4-1 (or 3-2 for that matter) then South has an extra chance i.e. squeezing West if he holds 4H as well as the top spades. Whether this is better or worse than playing to ruff the fourth heart on table and hoping the player with 4D has 4H is an interesting question. I suspect that if East shows up with 4D early on it is worth playing for H to be 3-3 or West to have 4, especially as he didn’t overcall 1S which he might have done with 5 to the AK.
The dummy reversal is clearly the best chance though, and there is always something slightly amusing about ditching a loser from hand on the short trump hand’s last trump.
Regards,
Iain
bobbywolffJuly 22nd, 2022 at 12:53 pm
Hi Iain,
Methinks your post allows others to better understand the choices of play, both the approximate chances of success and to some, also the “feel”.
Your use of the word, “amusing” might also be thought of as a sometime thing, turning to something else like “devastating” when most “key” suits break well enough, except the one he uses for transporting back to hand.
Perhaps, while on opening lead (and playing against a very observant declarer), West should start with a non-partnership lead of the Ace of spades (while also holding the king) while trying to be a “tough minded” opponent.
Fooling partner as well should then be considered, but chances are, he will be able to understand the ruse fairly early in the play, if for no other reason than declarer not claiming after the trumps split and, of course the greater likelihood of not making a difference.
In any event, different strokes for different folks.
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Hi Bobby,
If trumps are 4-1 (or 3-2 for that matter) then South has an extra chance i.e. squeezing West if he holds 4H as well as the top spades. Whether this is better or worse than playing to ruff the fourth heart on table and hoping the player with 4D has 4H is an interesting question. I suspect that if East shows up with 4D early on it is worth playing for H to be 3-3 or West to have 4, especially as he didn’t overcall 1S which he might have done with 5 to the AK.
The dummy reversal is clearly the best chance though, and there is always something slightly amusing about ditching a loser from hand on the short trump hand’s last trump.
Regards,
Iain
Hi Iain,
Methinks your post allows others to better understand the choices of play, both the approximate chances of success and to some, also the “feel”.
Your use of the word, “amusing” might also be thought of as a sometime thing, turning to something else like “devastating” when most “key” suits break well enough, except the one he uses for transporting back to hand.
Perhaps, while on opening lead (and playing against a very observant declarer), West should start with a non-partnership lead of the Ace of spades (while also holding the king) while trying to be a “tough minded” opponent.
Fooling partner as well should then be considered, but chances are, he will be able to understand the ruse fairly early in the play, if for no other reason than declarer not claiming after the trumps split and, of course the greater likelihood of not making a difference.
In any event, different strokes for different folks.