Aces on Bridge — Daily Columns

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, October 3rd, 2022


3 Comments

Bobby WolffOctober 17th, 2022 at 1:11 pm

Hi Everyone,

Methinks I may have a troubled character, merely because of my passion for deceptive,
but legal, tactics

No doubt a normal bridge table mind battle becomes sweet to win, especially against good players, but, at least to me, becomes even more important than
it really is. Is it the temporary elation or sadly, the need to feel superior, which accompanies?

In any event, it probably wouldn’t help to see one’s favorite psychiatrist, unless and of course, he plays bridge.

Iain ClimieOctober 17th, 2022 at 1:58 pm

Hi Bobby,

I just have this awful feeling that West has been dealt 3 diamonds and HQ109x when Mrs. Guggenheim is making 6H after taking the H finesse and I’m crashing off. Maybe even worse, west has 2D and HQ10x – ouch!

If H are 3-2 then it is slightly more likely that the long trump hand has short diamonds so, although I agree with the suggested line, it would be interesting to do the sums on probability here.

As you say, though, South won’t have CKQ he / she has had a brainstorm.

regards,

Iain

Bobby WolffOctober 17th, 2022 at 3:18 pm

Hi Iain,

While no doubt a probability count might elicit a different best line, why in heaven’s name would I want the truth to be known. Picky, picky!

If defending and as West holding Q10x in hearts and two diamonds to today’s declarer
one should briskly say as soon as down one is confirmed, “there is a word in bridge pronounced feeness , especially when there are eight trumps held and are missing only the queen and while you are at it, if you do, you could then get the grand slam bonus for bidding it and (what does one know) scoring it up.