If East has Jxx or even Jx (!) he also does well to duck the H8 – if declarer is prepared to lose to the HJ on the first round then East should be prepared to not play along.
South does better to play the DQ at T1 though. East might place West with DAJ98(x) and grabbing the first heart to get the DK off table might then appeal.
Regards
Iain
Bobby WolffDecember 21st, 2022 at 8:11 pm
Hi Iain,
Yes, you are, of course, right with all of your suppositions, although, while performing your bridge duties, not 100% of the time does anyone alive, (nor likely dead) not tend to somewhat guess at what to first glean and then follow through, and just play.
Next question, how many times in 100 tries would any reader expect East, while holding either Jx, or Jxx to duck the jack when offered the choice?
My guess is somewhere between zero and one, although, if presented as a problem and the group asked are above average, there will likely be 75+ who would duck, but not without due consideration. IOW, yes bridge can be that difficult, but above average players are well aware of problem hands, especially when called to their attention and then immediately for most, the warning light is then lit.
Unfortunately for most all of us, bridge tables are not equipped with electrical devices,
allowing critical information to announce its presence and this specific holding is not
commonplace.
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Hi Bobby,
If East has Jxx or even Jx (!) he also does well to duck the H8 – if declarer is prepared to lose to the HJ on the first round then East should be prepared to not play along.
South does better to play the DQ at T1 though. East might place West with DAJ98(x) and grabbing the first heart to get the DK off table might then appeal.
Regards
Iain
Hi Iain,
Yes, you are, of course, right with all of your suppositions, although, while performing your bridge duties, not 100% of the time does anyone alive, (nor likely dead) not tend to somewhat guess at what to first glean and then follow through, and just play.
Next question, how many times in 100 tries would any reader expect East, while holding either Jx, or Jxx to duck the jack when offered the choice?
My guess is somewhere between zero and one, although, if presented as a problem and the group asked are above average, there will likely be 75+ who would duck, but not without due consideration. IOW, yes bridge can be that difficult, but above average players are well aware of problem hands, especially when called to their attention and then immediately for most, the warning light is then lit.
Unfortunately for most all of us, bridge tables are not equipped with electrical devices,
allowing critical information to announce its presence and this specific holding is not
commonplace.