Hi Dear Mr Wolff
Having doubled the contract, perhaps west could have been a little circumspect and equally, had east did not trust west’s competence defending, could have pulled the double bidding four diamonds which incidentally makes and if doubled would have icing on the cake
Regards

Hi Bobby, AVRR,

If East had opened 4D (v. pushy) South would still bid 4H. I don’t think East should pull the double (even though it works – having pre-empted he should trust partner) as West has a better picture of the two hands than East but was West’s double sensible? Give East (say) DAQJ to 7 and declarer DKx and there is a DA, a ruff, at least 1S, a trump and at least 1 club but without the DA, though, matters are trickier. I’d have hit it which probably argues against doing so, at least at teams.

If West held HK10xx (or even K9xx today given East’s J) then it is a different matter. Also if East unchivalrously kicks West under the table she might lead Ace and another club.

regards,

Iain

PS I was amused by the tiny typo late on where West apparently changed gender.

Hi AVRR

You continue to be flawless in your analysis of the play and do so in a highly, well thought out manner enabling all who turn to our site to profit and then learn the sophisticated ins and outs of top-level play.

While often not commenting on the bidding and by such, probably not giving the interested reader more than he could handle is also to be recommended.

All of the above is, at least IMO, to your credit as a most trusted big-time asset
to Aces on Bridge.

However, for the first time I will take issue with your suggestion of East not standing for his partner’s penalty double, since, at least to me, once someone preempts or basically bids his hand in a satisfactory manner, he should be barred
from overruling his partner’s penalty double, with possibly only an exception with a 0-0-7-6 or some other extremely unusual hand. Even then he needs to be very careful in overruling, since after the preemptor has spoken, he is officially appointing his partner, Captain Of This Hand.

However, none of the above should dissuade you from posting your close to perfect
comments, but since I started to write, Iain has probably mentioned something similar, but whatever, thanks for all your efforts with significantly improving bridge teaching as well as allowing this site your expert guidance.

Hi Iain,

While I now need to again agree with your bidding theory (about West possibly not having a real penalty double) but that subject is a difficult one to discuss since bridge playing (even at a championship level) is made up of at least slightly different evaluations, sometimes greatly influenced by the known judgment of that opponent (or at least an educated guess).

And as to your gender comment, the first mention had to do with East’s masculinity
and then later to South, (her) only then likely verifying that this was a real hand, having possibly been played in a mixed pair event.

Or am I showing my age by treating both sexes alike?

Hi Bobby,

The bit I meant was that West was described as female early on then switched to he late on. It just shows that I read things carefully for a change.

Iain

Hi AVRR and Bobby,

Does 4D really make? AH to see the board followed by JS and there are not enough entries to the board to clear clubs so it looks like East loses a diamond, a heart, a spade, and a spade ruff. I will ask my usual question – what am I missing?

Can West consider the 4D bid even if it comes up short? Surely, after the heart bid, it looks like East must have strong diamonds for his vulnerable pre-empt.

Hi Jeff S,

Depends if South thinks the CK is a good lead…..

Iain

Hi Iain,

So, I take it my line of lead the AH, note the four hearts on the board and shift to the JS doesn’t set the contract? I put these lines out and then wait patiently for someone to point out the flaw in my thinking. 🙂

Jeff S –

The problem for the defense is that it can get a spade ruff or the QS, but not both.

Let’s give the defense an even better start than you posited, with an opening JS lead.

1) JS – KS – xS – xS
2) 10D – AD – xD – xD
3) xS – xS – xD – xS
4) KC – AC – xC – xC
5) xC – xC – xD – xC
6) KD ……
7) QD ……
8) JH – AH – xH – xH

South is endplayed, but even if South DID have a safe return, declarer still has the KS entry to the KH for a xS discard.

Hi Jim2,

Thanks for your reply. I started with the AH though and noted that all hearts were then accounted for so shifted to JS. East can lead KH later on from the board but only when there is still trump outstanding so has to overtrump in hand. I just do not see how East is able to avoid a spade loser at the death.

HI again,

I just can’t quit this hand. Even if South starts with the JS, when in with the ruff, he can lead the AH followed by the QH. No point in stepping up with the KH to just see it trumped so duck and trump in hand. Draw trumps, cross to the KS, cash the KH for a spade discard and there is still a spade loser, isn’t there? Originally, i had pictured South returning the QH after the ruff to the KH and both North and East ruffing, but even the duck doesn’t seem to help.

The problem I keep getting stuck on is that I can’t find a way to lead a second club winner for a second spade discard because I can’t get back to the board often enough.

Hi Jeff
Yes Four diamonds always makes. You mentioned that “so it looks like East loses a diamond, a heart, a spade, and a spade ruff” No , east does not lose a spade .He loses only a spade ruff. Say south leads H A and shifts to J of spades . Dummy wins and advances diamond .If north wins and leads spade south ruffs but High spade is intact in dummy and it is the end of defense. Even If south leads low club ( best) Dummy wins A and cashes heart K pitching losing spade . He makes ten tricks. Let us count east’s tricks : Two spades( spade High card is not ruffed South ruffs declarer’s loser) ,one heart ,six diamonds and a club Hope our host approves
Regards

Jeff S –

Ah, I think I see your misunderstanding.

Declarer starts with 4 spades. 2 go on AK, one is ruffed by defense, and the 4th goes on KH.

Alternatively, if there is no S ruff, the 4th spade loses to QS. (with 2 on AKS and one on KH)