Hi Dear Mr Wolff
Paradoxically, if the double finesse in clubs is working, south doesn’t need it. The squeeze against east is one hundred percent. Suffice east holds club Q and not even ten in which case double finesse might lose the contract and most interestingly, suppose east held even spade A. Naturally he would win lead and set up hearts. But he gets squeezed in black suits on the run of diamonds and if he ducks the lead, situation is hopeless for him on the run of diamonds. He would be mortified to pitch either spade A or a club or throw a heart neutralizing the threat and south develops a spade. Ironically east would wish that he is not in possession of club Q
Regards
Bobby WolffSeptember 29th, 2022 at 3:19 pm
Hi AVRR,
“Come alive” thinks East as he brilliantly ducks his partner’s nine of hearts lead at trick one while defending 3NT.
That is, until he sadly realizes that he was being cursed, rather than blessed, by holding the guarded club queen, an unfortunate feeling, often experienced during the early defense of a close contract.
Part of maturing as a better than average player is a similar feeling, but after the initial shock, since it so often occurs, one needs to get used to it and progress to ways to either mislead declarer or to,at least hope that one’s partner will have him covered for a weakness that can be overcome.
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Hi Dear Mr Wolff
Paradoxically, if the double finesse in clubs is working, south doesn’t need it. The squeeze against east is one hundred percent. Suffice east holds club Q and not even ten in which case double finesse might lose the contract and most interestingly, suppose east held even spade A. Naturally he would win lead and set up hearts. But he gets squeezed in black suits on the run of diamonds and if he ducks the lead, situation is hopeless for him on the run of diamonds. He would be mortified to pitch either spade A or a club or throw a heart neutralizing the threat and south develops a spade. Ironically east would wish that he is not in possession of club Q
Regards
Hi AVRR,
“Come alive” thinks East as he brilliantly ducks his partner’s nine of hearts lead at trick one while defending 3NT.
That is, until he sadly realizes that he was being cursed, rather than blessed, by holding the guarded club queen, an unfortunate feeling, often experienced during the early defense of a close contract.
Part of maturing as a better than average player is a similar feeling, but after the initial shock, since it so often occurs, one needs to get used to it and progress to ways to either mislead declarer or to,at least hope that one’s partner will have him covered for a weakness that can be overcome.