Matchpoints
Your RHO opened 1C and rebid 1NT over Responder’s 1S. Responder raised to 3NT.
You are on lead holding
J87 J643 84 AQJ4
Q1: What is your preferred opening lead?
Q2: For anyone choosing to lead Clubs from that four-card holding, which card is best?
Thanks
Bobby WolffOctober 27th, 2022 at 4:49 pm
Hi Clarksburg,
Not much surprise, the three of hearts. At least to me, there is no reason not to, except not leading 4th highest vs. NT, then instead the 4 or 6 of hearts.
My answer to Q2 will then be anyone from the 10 straight down through the 5, just to show my utter disdain for even considering leading a club, although from your post (I then gather that leading s club might be the winning lead). I say HORRORS, since any club would be my 10th or less best lead.
Sorry for the rant, but really, probably NOT since I do not choose to lead the jack of hearts either.
ClarksburgOctober 27th, 2022 at 5:01 pm
Any club lead and the HJ were the only losing leads!!
Bobby WolffOctober 27th, 2022 at 5:10 pm
Hi Clarksburg and everyone,
Changing the subject to the column hand and then to the subject of bridge ethics, might be a VERY tough hand to rule.
Let’s play make believe that East, after winning the opening club lead, then ponders his continuation at trick 2, obviously thinking about the best chance for defeating the contract. After much thought East then switches to the 6 of hearts and West then ducks it, playing his partner for a doubleton heart not a singleton. Let us now allow East not West to have the Ax in trumps (spades) who then wins the ace of spades next trick and follows that with, and of course with a second heart, thereby getting his ruff for a set.
What about the ethics involved? How should it be ruled and why?
Well it depends on who did it. Rueful Rabbit had no clear idea. Someone who surmised the layout and paused to possibly confuse the layout and inform partner, that’s a different story. Maybe cleaner would be to pause before playing to trick one, which is an acceptable practice in many circles. There needs to be some places where time to think is legitimate. It’s not all that quick for many, I often wish that I took more time, after a blunder, without too much concern about a violation….
clarksburgOctober 27th, 2022 at 9:47 pm
East’s delay before returning the heart could be seen to be saying “this is not a singleton”.
Interesting the different kind of cheating alleged now in chess—computer aided decisions. (Major news, even in mainstream press) Discoverable in part by comparing with Stockfish, the chess computer program. It would be harder (maybe) to determine that in bridge, since cheating is mainly illegal communication, rather than assisted calculations. But there are programs that can suggest the most successful card to play. I wonder does this happen? Probably in online games, but how to tell given the psychological aspects of bridge play.
Subscribe to our feed
Bridge-related
Matchpoints
Your RHO opened 1C and rebid 1NT over Responder’s 1S. Responder raised to 3NT.
You are on lead holding
J87 J643 84 AQJ4
Q1: What is your preferred opening lead?
Q2: For anyone choosing to lead Clubs from that four-card holding, which card is best?
Thanks
Hi Clarksburg,
Not much surprise, the three of hearts. At least to me, there is no reason not to, except not leading 4th highest vs. NT, then instead the 4 or 6 of hearts.
My answer to Q2 will then be anyone from the 10 straight down through the 5, just to show my utter disdain for even considering leading a club, although from your post (I then gather that leading s club might be the winning lead). I say HORRORS, since any club would be my 10th or less best lead.
Sorry for the rant, but really, probably NOT since I do not choose to lead the jack of hearts either.
Any club lead and the HJ were the only losing leads!!
Hi Clarksburg and everyone,
Changing the subject to the column hand and then to the subject of bridge ethics, might be a VERY tough hand to rule.
Let’s play make believe that East, after winning the opening club lead, then ponders his continuation at trick 2, obviously thinking about the best chance for defeating the contract. After much thought East then switches to the 6 of hearts and West then ducks it, playing his partner for a doubleton heart not a singleton. Let us now allow East not West to have the Ax in trumps (spades) who then wins the ace of spades next trick and follows that with, and of course with a second heart, thereby getting his ruff for a set.
What about the ethics involved? How should it be ruled and why?
Your move and anyone else who wants to be heard.
Well it depends on who did it. Rueful Rabbit had no clear idea. Someone who surmised the layout and paused to possibly confuse the layout and inform partner, that’s a different story. Maybe cleaner would be to pause before playing to trick one, which is an acceptable practice in many circles. There needs to be some places where time to think is legitimate. It’s not all that quick for many, I often wish that I took more time, after a blunder, without too much concern about a violation….
East’s delay before returning the heart could be seen to be saying “this is not a singleton”.
Interesting the different kind of cheating alleged now in chess—computer aided decisions. (Major news, even in mainstream press) Discoverable in part by comparing with Stockfish, the chess computer program. It would be harder (maybe) to determine that in bridge, since cheating is mainly illegal communication, rather than assisted calculations. But there are programs that can suggest the most successful card to play. I wonder does this happen? Probably in online games, but how to tell given the psychological aspects of bridge play.