Hi Dear Mr Wolff
This hand is so instructive and perhaps even doubledummy, an average player might miss the defense. However only in the event if south were 6115, perhaps this could present the contract whenever west held K x club ( though west might have preempted with a seven carded suit but perhaps considering equal vulnerability and nine points, he might bid two diamonds which appears to be reasonable). And considering bidding there is simply no way to infer that south had a stiff diamond as south might bid the same way as introducing clubs would be superfluous after partner indicated four card support and strong hand and east has to take chance that south holds at least doubleton in both minors. Hypothetically, west can cash diamond A, shift to heart, east wins and now underleads for taking the contract down but that would be doubledummy
Regards
A V Ramana RaoJanuary 21st, 2023 at 12:03 pm
No, cashing diamond A initially doesn’t work as south can pitch a club and pin diamond nine. So only hope is underleading at T2 hoping south is not 6115
Regards
The 2 of heart lead may or may not promise an honor in 3rd/5th leads. So winning heart Ace and returning low gives South a guess as well that west may have heart honour. Perhaps some declarers may go for not discarding but ruffing any case dooming contract.
Regards
Shantanu Rastogi
Bobby WolffJanuary 21st, 2023 at 6:44 pm
Hi AVRR & Shantanu,
Thanks to both of you for your timely contributions. Today’s hand is almost a study in make believe since the NS diamond combination provides an extra trick, because of the magic defensive holding of the jack and nine. All this is necessary for the Morton’s Fork to provide grist for this winning mill. Playing for this almost exact lie of the cards is almost too improbable to occur, making the telling of this tale, a product of imagination gone berserk.
Better for bridge writers and columnists to wrestle with, rather than hoping that is the actual holding.
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Hi Dear Mr Wolff
This hand is so instructive and perhaps even doubledummy, an average player might miss the defense. However only in the event if south were 6115, perhaps this could present the contract whenever west held K x club ( though west might have preempted with a seven carded suit but perhaps considering equal vulnerability and nine points, he might bid two diamonds which appears to be reasonable). And considering bidding there is simply no way to infer that south had a stiff diamond as south might bid the same way as introducing clubs would be superfluous after partner indicated four card support and strong hand and east has to take chance that south holds at least doubleton in both minors. Hypothetically, west can cash diamond A, shift to heart, east wins and now underleads for taking the contract down but that would be doubledummy
Regards
No, cashing diamond A initially doesn’t work as south can pitch a club and pin diamond nine. So only hope is underleading at T2 hoping south is not 6115
Regards
Hello Bobby Sir
The 2 of heart lead may or may not promise an honor in 3rd/5th leads. So winning heart Ace and returning low gives South a guess as well that west may have heart honour. Perhaps some declarers may go for not discarding but ruffing any case dooming contract.
Regards
Shantanu Rastogi
Hi AVRR & Shantanu,
Thanks to both of you for your timely contributions. Today’s hand is almost a study in make believe since the NS diamond combination provides an extra trick, because of the magic defensive holding of the jack and nine. All this is necessary for the Morton’s Fork to provide grist for this winning mill. Playing for this almost exact lie of the cards is almost too improbable to occur, making the telling of this tale, a product of imagination gone berserk.
Better for bridge writers and columnists to wrestle with, rather than hoping that is the actual holding.