South certainly didn’t make the most of his chances here, but suppose South crosses in clubs at T2, runs the D10 and the D finesse worked. Another diamond to the J works and what is the best way to combine chances now?
One option would be cashing the SAK and DA, when obviously the DK or SQ dropping removes any further problems. Then run the clubs ditching a spade and take a view on hearts. The defence won’t come under much pressure though so maybe after the 2nd diamond wins declarer should duck a heart, getting some extra chances before cashing the pointed suit winners then finishing the clubs. Any thoughts here on a single dummy basis?
regards,
Iain
Iain ClimieSeptember 28th, 2022 at 10:33 am
Hi again Bobby,
Also, regarding today’s quote, would you say that the advice is sound at the bridge table when partner (or even oneself) messes up – or is it partner and situation specific?
Iain
jim2September 28th, 2022 at 11:36 am
If both D finesses won, I think I would lead the 7S.
Bobby WolffSeptember 28th, 2022 at 1:36 pm
Hi Iain,
Today’s hand is meant for serious, talented (at least perhaps so, but soon TBD) players who need to get used to this type of play, where the exact order (or at least very close) of play may become critical.
Actually, methinks today’s quote has only general application for our game and a tribute to India and its great inspirational leader, Ghandi. However, as to your answer, both and forever!
Bobby WolffSeptember 28th, 2022 at 2:04 pm
Hi Jim2,
Hi, yes, I definitely get it, but how about the ace first (singleton queen offside) and/or if done, what, of course if LHO plays either low in perfect tempo, or instead with a possibly conniving hitch, before playing low. We both know LHO should know you have the king, but would it be considered flagrant or only acceptable coffee housing or not, to, without my lady (fourth or fifth), to slightly hitch. It does get touchy, but only because even a very experienced player, may be caught by surprise while either holding the queen or not. In any event, LAWYER UP!
If, on committee, how would you vote? My opinion is that most committee members would vote, not because of the unique nature of this situation, but rather on the reputation of the West player. Not exactly fair of thought, but likely the result.
DavidSeptember 28th, 2022 at 10:11 pm
Hi all!
(Haven’t been around for a bit… busy w/ work…)
Anyways…
After looking the hand over, especially S & N hands, I decided to play it this way:
I can safely get rid of two of my losers on dummy’s clubs, and possible two losers from the dummy on my diamonds and retain control of the diamonds if I can safely drive out the king.
The question is: which of the two remaining suits – spades and hearts – gives me the safest play until I can learn more about my opponents holdings?
My spade honors are both in the same hand, and my heart honors are split, so perhaps hearts is the safer suit to work on first?
After playing clubs out and tossing a low spade and heart from hand, I see that W had 3 clubs and E 4. Next I start leading diamonds from my hand. E is out of diamonds on the 3rd one and W must have 5, so no matter when W plays the king, I can retain control of diamonds as long as I hold the ace back.
Ah, but what happens if W simply holds the king until I’m out of diamonds? The king then becomes the setting trick if W can get on lead. But… if W waits that long to play the king, I will have 4 diamond tricks by then, and won’t need a 3rd heart trick so that really doesn’t help W enough.
Now I know that W started w/ 3 clubs and 5 diamonds, so is likely to be 2 & 3 in spades and hearts, but which? Again, I fall back on possible slight advantages. I play one of my heart honors and after getting the 10 from W, play my 2nd heart honor, and capture the queen!
I’m home free!
I can now safely play my heart J and end up taking 4 clubs, 3 diamonds, 3 hearts, and 2 spades.
DavidSeptember 28th, 2022 at 11:51 pm
Hi all!
Haven’t visited in quite some time… been swamped w/ work but that’s another story…
So, after studying the hands and thinking about it for a while, here’s the strategy I came up w/…
First off, it looks like I can safely get rid of two losers on dummy’s clubs. Then w/ a little luck, I can both drive out the diamond king and keep control of diamonds, safely disposing of two losers from the dummy on that suit. I’m up to 11 possible tricks now – 4 clubs, 3 diamonds, 2 spades and 2 hearts and only need to come up w/ 1 additional trick.
The issue comes down to spades and hearts, and which one is safer to play on?
I chose hearts. I have the A-K in both spades and hearts plus the jack, but the A-K are split in hearts with both in the same hand in spades, which I believe gives me a small, safer percentage play.
I start out by clearing clubs, tossing a losing spade and a losing heart from dummy, and learning along the way that W had 3 clubs and E 4.
Next I start on diamonds, leading the 10 from dummy and running it around to W, who holds up the king. No matter… I keep leading diamonds but hold the ace back. On the 3rd diamond, I learn that E had only 2 diamonds to go with 4 clubs, which leaves E w/ a combined spade-heart holding of 7 cards and therefore W can only have 5 total cards in those 2 suits. The percentages now favor E for the queen of hearts, no?
I persist in diamonds. If W takes the 3rd diamond w/ the king, I’m still protected in that suit. If W holds up, I play the diamond A for my 4th diamond trick and no longer need a 3rd trick in either spades or hearts. If instead W takes the 3rd diamond w/ his king, I capture whatever lead he makes in hand and start in on hearts. When the queen falls on my 2nd heart honor, I’m home safe!
Does all of that make sense?
DavidSeptember 28th, 2022 at 11:54 pm
Hi all!
Haven’t visited in quite some time… been swamped w/ work but that’s another story…
So, after studying the hands and thinking about it for a bit, here’s the strategy I came up w/.
First off, it looks like I can safely get rid of two losers on dummy’s clubs. Then w/ a little luck, I can both drive out the diamond king and keep control of diamonds, safely disposing of two losers from the dummy on diamonds. I’m up to 11 possible tricks now – 4 clubs, 3 diamonds, 2 spades and 2 hearts, and only have to come up w/ 1 additional trick.
The issue comes down to spades and hearts, and which one is safer to play on?
I choose hearts. I have the A-K in both spades and hearts plus the jack, but the A-K are split in hearts with both in the same hand in spades, which I believe gives me a small, safer percentage play.
I start out by clearing clubs, tossing a losing spade and a losing heart from dummy, and learning along the way that W had 3 clubs and E had 4.
Next I start on diamonds, leading the 10 from dummy and running it around to W, who holds up the king. No matter… I keep leading diamonds but hold the ace back. On the 3rd diamond, I learn that E had only 2 diamonds to go with 4 clubs, which leaves E w/ a combined spade-heart holding of 7 cards and therefore W can only have 5 total cards in those 2 suits. The percentages now favor E for the queen of hearts, no?
I persist in diamonds. If W takes the 3rd diamond w/ the king, I’m still protected in that suit. If W holds up, i play the diamond A for my 4th diamond trick and no longer need a 3rd trick in either spades or hearts. If instead W takes the 3rd diamond w/ his king, I capture whatever lead he makes in hand and start in on hearts. When the queen falls on my 2nd heart honor, I’m home safe!
Subscribe to our feed
Bridge-related
Hi Bobby,
South certainly didn’t make the most of his chances here, but suppose South crosses in clubs at T2, runs the D10 and the D finesse worked. Another diamond to the J works and what is the best way to combine chances now?
One option would be cashing the SAK and DA, when obviously the DK or SQ dropping removes any further problems. Then run the clubs ditching a spade and take a view on hearts. The defence won’t come under much pressure though so maybe after the 2nd diamond wins declarer should duck a heart, getting some extra chances before cashing the pointed suit winners then finishing the clubs. Any thoughts here on a single dummy basis?
regards,
Iain
Hi again Bobby,
Also, regarding today’s quote, would you say that the advice is sound at the bridge table when partner (or even oneself) messes up – or is it partner and situation specific?
Iain
If both D finesses won, I think I would lead the 7S.
Hi Iain,
Today’s hand is meant for serious, talented (at least perhaps so, but soon TBD) players who need to get used to this type of play, where the exact order (or at least very close) of play may become critical.
Actually, methinks today’s quote has only general application for our game and a tribute to India and its great inspirational leader, Ghandi. However, as to your answer, both and forever!
Hi Jim2,
Hi, yes, I definitely get it, but how about the ace first (singleton queen offside) and/or if done, what, of course if LHO plays either low in perfect tempo, or instead with a possibly conniving hitch, before playing low. We both know LHO should know you have the king, but would it be considered flagrant or only acceptable coffee housing or not, to, without my lady (fourth or fifth), to slightly hitch. It does get touchy, but only because even a very experienced player, may be caught by surprise while either holding the queen or not. In any event, LAWYER UP!
If, on committee, how would you vote? My opinion is that most committee members would vote, not because of the unique nature of this situation, but rather on the reputation of the West player. Not exactly fair of thought, but likely the result.
Hi all!
(Haven’t been around for a bit… busy w/ work…)
Anyways…
After looking the hand over, especially S & N hands, I decided to play it this way:
I can safely get rid of two of my losers on dummy’s clubs, and possible two losers from the dummy on my diamonds and retain control of the diamonds if I can safely drive out the king.
The question is: which of the two remaining suits – spades and hearts – gives me the safest play until I can learn more about my opponents holdings?
My spade honors are both in the same hand, and my heart honors are split, so perhaps hearts is the safer suit to work on first?
After playing clubs out and tossing a low spade and heart from hand, I see that W had 3 clubs and E 4. Next I start leading diamonds from my hand. E is out of diamonds on the 3rd one and W must have 5, so no matter when W plays the king, I can retain control of diamonds as long as I hold the ace back.
Ah, but what happens if W simply holds the king until I’m out of diamonds? The king then becomes the setting trick if W can get on lead. But… if W waits that long to play the king, I will have 4 diamond tricks by then, and won’t need a 3rd heart trick so that really doesn’t help W enough.
Now I know that W started w/ 3 clubs and 5 diamonds, so is likely to be 2 & 3 in spades and hearts, but which? Again, I fall back on possible slight advantages. I play one of my heart honors and after getting the 10 from W, play my 2nd heart honor, and capture the queen!
I’m home free!
I can now safely play my heart J and end up taking 4 clubs, 3 diamonds, 3 hearts, and 2 spades.
Hi all!
Haven’t visited in quite some time… been swamped w/ work but that’s another story…
So, after studying the hands and thinking about it for a while, here’s the strategy I came up w/…
First off, it looks like I can safely get rid of two losers on dummy’s clubs. Then w/ a little luck, I can both drive out the diamond king and keep control of diamonds, safely disposing of two losers from the dummy on that suit. I’m up to 11 possible tricks now – 4 clubs, 3 diamonds, 2 spades and 2 hearts and only need to come up w/ 1 additional trick.
The issue comes down to spades and hearts, and which one is safer to play on?
I chose hearts. I have the A-K in both spades and hearts plus the jack, but the A-K are split in hearts with both in the same hand in spades, which I believe gives me a small, safer percentage play.
I start out by clearing clubs, tossing a losing spade and a losing heart from dummy, and learning along the way that W had 3 clubs and E 4.
Next I start on diamonds, leading the 10 from dummy and running it around to W, who holds up the king. No matter… I keep leading diamonds but hold the ace back. On the 3rd diamond, I learn that E had only 2 diamonds to go with 4 clubs, which leaves E w/ a combined spade-heart holding of 7 cards and therefore W can only have 5 total cards in those 2 suits. The percentages now favor E for the queen of hearts, no?
I persist in diamonds. If W takes the 3rd diamond w/ the king, I’m still protected in that suit. If W holds up, I play the diamond A for my 4th diamond trick and no longer need a 3rd trick in either spades or hearts. If instead W takes the 3rd diamond w/ his king, I capture whatever lead he makes in hand and start in on hearts. When the queen falls on my 2nd heart honor, I’m home safe!
Does all of that make sense?
Hi all!
Haven’t visited in quite some time… been swamped w/ work but that’s another story…
So, after studying the hands and thinking about it for a bit, here’s the strategy I came up w/.
First off, it looks like I can safely get rid of two losers on dummy’s clubs. Then w/ a little luck, I can both drive out the diamond king and keep control of diamonds, safely disposing of two losers from the dummy on diamonds. I’m up to 11 possible tricks now – 4 clubs, 3 diamonds, 2 spades and 2 hearts, and only have to come up w/ 1 additional trick.
The issue comes down to spades and hearts, and which one is safer to play on?
I choose hearts. I have the A-K in both spades and hearts plus the jack, but the A-K are split in hearts with both in the same hand in spades, which I believe gives me a small, safer percentage play.
I start out by clearing clubs, tossing a losing spade and a losing heart from dummy, and learning along the way that W had 3 clubs and E had 4.
Next I start on diamonds, leading the 10 from dummy and running it around to W, who holds up the king. No matter… I keep leading diamonds but hold the ace back. On the 3rd diamond, I learn that E had only 2 diamonds to go with 4 clubs, which leaves E w/ a combined spade-heart holding of 7 cards and therefore W can only have 5 total cards in those 2 suits. The percentages now favor E for the queen of hearts, no?
I persist in diamonds. If W takes the 3rd diamond w/ the king, I’m still protected in that suit. If W holds up, i play the diamond A for my 4th diamond trick and no longer need a 3rd trick in either spades or hearts. If instead W takes the 3rd diamond w/ his king, I capture whatever lead he makes in hand and start in on hearts. When the queen falls on my 2nd heart honor, I’m home safe!