Something reads slightly strangely today – you say that Declarer Eric Rodwell ditched a diamond on the 3rd heart but surely he would have been East here?
Clearly the contract should fail but is it really sensible for West to play that 3rd heart? He can see 2H and a Diamond trick but what if East has (say) SJxxxx? East might readily assume that West wants him to ruff (West might have just 5 after all) but now there is a cheap overruff and East’s remaining trumps can be picked up. If East has only 4 trumps it might be critical to kill a discard but this seems odds against.
If West exits with a club of course, then declarer should probably try the HQ at T4 and East should work out not to trump this given West’s switch; all easier said than done though.
Regards,
Iain
bobbywolffAugust 2nd, 2022 at 1:49 pm
Hi Iain,
Yes, Eric Rodwell was definitely East and a wide awake DEFENDER, not the declarer.
Errors, no less than filthy failures to properly proof read, creep in, where angels fear to tread, but sadly we (I, in this case), did not catch this one.
Perhaps from West’s point of view, and early in the defense, only trying to kill a possible crucial discard, not knowing (at least for sure) that declarer only had 4 trump (thus partner having 5).
By long time ago critique rules, the Aces would only have called West’s third heart play a “white charge” rather than a more serious (gray or even black) one since we would have needed to play with transparent ducats, or perhaps Iain Climie talent, for West to have refused to lead that third round of hearts.
However, the other side of the coin allowed Rodwell to come to the aid of the party or should I be more specific, and say, “his partnership”.
Thanks for setting the record straight.
bobbywolffAugust 2nd, 2022 at 2:44 pm
Hi Iain,
Yes, Eric Rodwell was definitely East and a wide awake DEFENDER, not the declarer.
Errors, no less than filthy failures to properly proof read, creep in, where angels fear to tread, but sadly we (I, in this case), did not catch this one.
Perhaps from West’s point of view, and early in the defense, only trying to kill a possible crucial discard, not knowing (at least for sure) that declarer only had 4 trump (thus partner having 5).
By long time ago critique rules, the Aces would only have called West’s third heart play a “white charge” rather than a more serious (gray or even black) one since we would have needed to play with transparent ducats, or perhaps Iain Climie talent, for West to have refused to lead that third round of hearts.
However, the other side of the coin allowed Rodwell to come to the aid of the party or should I be more specific, and say, “his partnership”.
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Hi Bobby,
Something reads slightly strangely today – you say that Declarer Eric Rodwell ditched a diamond on the 3rd heart but surely he would have been East here?
Clearly the contract should fail but is it really sensible for West to play that 3rd heart? He can see 2H and a Diamond trick but what if East has (say) SJxxxx? East might readily assume that West wants him to ruff (West might have just 5 after all) but now there is a cheap overruff and East’s remaining trumps can be picked up. If East has only 4 trumps it might be critical to kill a discard but this seems odds against.
If West exits with a club of course, then declarer should probably try the HQ at T4 and East should work out not to trump this given West’s switch; all easier said than done though.
Regards,
Iain
Hi Iain,
Yes, Eric Rodwell was definitely East and a wide awake DEFENDER, not the declarer.
Errors, no less than filthy failures to properly proof read, creep in, where angels fear to tread, but sadly we (I, in this case), did not catch this one.
Perhaps from West’s point of view, and early in the defense, only trying to kill a possible crucial discard, not knowing (at least for sure) that declarer only had 4 trump (thus partner having 5).
By long time ago critique rules, the Aces would only have called West’s third heart play a “white charge” rather than a more serious (gray or even black) one since we would have needed to play with transparent ducats, or perhaps Iain Climie talent, for West to have refused to lead that third round of hearts.
However, the other side of the coin allowed Rodwell to come to the aid of the party or should I be more specific, and say, “his partnership”.
Thanks for setting the record straight.
Hi Iain,
Yes, Eric Rodwell was definitely East and a wide awake DEFENDER, not the declarer.
Errors, no less than filthy failures to properly proof read, creep in, where angels fear to tread, but sadly we (I, in this case), did not catch this one.
Perhaps from West’s point of view, and early in the defense, only trying to kill a possible crucial discard, not knowing (at least for sure) that declarer only had 4 trump (thus partner having 5).
By long time ago critique rules, the Aces would only have called West’s third heart play a “white charge” rather than a more serious (gray or even black) one since we would have needed to play with transparent ducats, or perhaps Iain Climie talent, for West to have refused to lead that third round of hearts.
However, the other side of the coin allowed Rodwell to come to the aid of the party or should I be more specific, and say, “his partnership”.
Thanks for setting the record straight.
gg