Aces on Bridge — Daily Columns

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, November 21st, 2022


8 Comments

Iain ClimieDecember 5th, 2022 at 10:55 am

Hi Bobby,

If West had picked up “vibes” from his LHO and that huge hand he would probably have bashed 5D to make life more awkward and I would have thought 4D as Leaping Michaels might have been better – or isn’t the hand strong enough? Fascinating machinations in the play, and the old warning about giving away too much information springs to mind. The only disappointment is that 6H would have been a large gain too but where would be the fun in that?

I added a reply to the other day’s question – we were playing weak NT and I suspect declarer is still talking to herself as I held Q9xx(!) Qxx Qxx AKQ and found an entry to partner’s long clubs in rather madcap mode.

regards,

Iain

Iain Martin ClimieDecember 5th, 2022 at 1:13 pm

Hi Bobby,

If West had any inkling of the powerhouse on his left he might just have bashed 5D (or maybe 4D leaping Michaels if the hand is strong enough in high cards, or maybe 4H) just to try and throw a spanner in the works. Fascinating aspects to the play although slightly annoying to realise that 6H would have been plenty of IMPs in without the risk.

I’ve filled in the result from the other day. We play weak NT so declarer reasonably assumed I had QJ9xx Qxx Qx AKQ or maybe QJ9x Qxx QJx AKQ when the 13th heart squashes me flat in the pointed suits. I actually held Q9xx Qxx Qxx AKQ and found effectively a Deschappelles coup on the basis that partner would have probably dredged up a bid with a red Ace and CJ108xx so it was worth playing him for SKx or SJx. The expression on declarer’s face when she finessed the S10 (reasonably enough) and partner took it to cash 2C was priceless. Minus 100 when 1S left to stew would have been a decent plus.

Regards,

Iain

Bobby WolffDecember 5th, 2022 at 5:20 pm

Hi Iain,

Thanks for all your priceless comments in what could be called, at the very least, the most exciting hand in a month of Mondays. And speaking of Monday, for once you feel justified to even turn to AOB for your bridge habit in your least favorite day of the week.

Even over a very long career at the bridge table, these most exciting moments probably appear at random, rather than a great winning tradition, also dependent on a superior, though educated guess, as how to justify closing out a difficult hand.

And regarding the expression on that declarer’s face merely is an ordinary task when
players with vibrating personalities “table up”!

Bobby WolffDecember 5th, 2022 at 5:26 pm

Hi again Martin,

And, no doubt, when declarer finessed the club nine, perhaps a very little while later he
needed to explain to the whole table that his play merely emphasized that his play only
redeemed what Lady Luck was trying to say, “This is what nines are for”.

Iain ClimieDecember 5th, 2022 at 5:48 pm

A shame EW couldn’t take the cheap save in 8D. As you say, it was an incredible hand.

Iain

Bobby WolffDecember 5th, 2022 at 6:54 pm

Hi Martin,

Only because of “nein, nein, fraulein”!

Bobby WolffDecember 5th, 2022 at 6:57 pm

The bridge player who did celebrated by being dressed to the “nines”.

jim2December 6th, 2022 at 12:48 am

Iain –

Our Host tried that once!