Aces on Bridge — Daily Columns

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, November 22nd, 2022


4 Comments

Iain ClimieDecember 6th, 2022 at 12:26 pm

Hi Bobby,

Given that South ruffed clubs with the 4, then 6, then 10 maybe West “knew” his partner had the 2 and was just teasing? What happens if West finds a trump switch at T2, though? Should declarer duck in dummy or play an honour? In the first case should East duck or play the H9? In the 2nd case should East duck or take the HK and return a trump? One problem for the defence here is that they know spades are breaking even though declarer doesn’t.

What was the scoring here though – matchpoints or Butlered IMPs? If the former maybe South should be ruffing a diamond low at T2 then playing three rounds of spades early on ruffing with the HJ. When the good news appears, switch tack and play HAQ. If that is ducked, CA, ruff club and keep bashing out spades. Declarer’s line looks good but seems slightly more suited to IMPs or Butlered pairs than MPs although it does seem unlikely that both majors will behave to be fair. Just out of interest, do you have access to any computer programs which can evaluate the most likely lines of play to work, assuming such things exist?

If the H2 and H3 had been swapped, though, then West’s carelessness would have been justly punished in the column line.

Regards,

Iain

Iain ClimieDecember 6th, 2022 at 2:49 pm

Hi Bobby,

To Be Fair, West had seen (and presumably noticed), the H4, H6 and H10 from South so is pretty sure partner has the H2. Now if the H2 and H3 had been swapped, justice would have been done!

Regards,

Iain

Iain ClimieDecember 6th, 2022 at 2:57 pm

Hi Bobby,

To be fair West did see the H4, 6 and 10 from S so realised pard had the H2. If the H3 and 2 had been reversed though…

If west had 4 spades then a trump switch at T2 would have made sense but here I suspect it won’t help.

Regards

Iain

Bobby WolffDecember 6th, 2022 at 4:01 pm

Hi Iain,

Yes, bridge playing technology can and is, especially often, very demanding.

Since playing our game capably varies from hand to hand, but attention spans become somewhat random, a winning player must constantly force himself to above all else, treat the current hand with due respect, otherwise just accept mediocrity.

We all know that, but sometimes fail to deliver, thus exiting being, or, at least, staying, a winner.