Leading an Ace vs a gambling 3N is often recommended but should West shy away from spades as North is very likely to have SK (or J10xx I suppose)? Ironically Ace and another heart at the start kills the contract stone dead but what about a club lead? South wins and finesses the SJ but then has to come back to hand with a club and run the suit probably mangling dummy in the process unless he reads things very well. I’m pretty sure I’d have led the SA at the table though – it is always easy after the event!
Regards,
Iain
bobby WolffMarch 14th, 2023 at 6:20 pm
Hi Iain,
It’s a new day, thus a new theme.
Also, the above might be a major effort for our beloved game by saying that perhaps bridge is the one game to which the initial sentence above is most applicable.
Any dissent?
Iain ClimieMarch 14th, 2023 at 6:41 pm
Hi Bobby,
Good Fortune or Mis(s) Fortune though? Have a look at what happens to the ship’s crew (bar one) in “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”!
regards,
Iain
bobby WolffMarch 15th, 2023 at 1:39 pm
Hi Iain,
While waiting for Wednesday to appear, first let me reply to your “Rime” by seeing only “slime”.
Next, let’s switch to bridge and West’s hand. Possibly and my guess after the 3NT gamble on my right, would about half of a good field venture 4 spades as worth the huge gamble, throwing caution to the wind and particularly at matchpoints since the amount of a huge set is only a tie for zero, but with the hand expected by South, perhaps 4 spades is close to 50% as a make, keeping in mind how difficult it may be for partner to protect and someone sitting EW needs to do it.
We all know that the best move is a troubled pass, making it under the wire as not quite worth a director’s call. Unfortunately, too many players offer that as their Prince Albert talent, bridge definition, how they pile up the master points!
Yes, bidding 4 spades is generally not thought to be good bridge, but neither is getting a zero the coward’s way. No, I am not recommending bidding 4 spades. but I can certainly understand venturing it.
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Hi Bobby,
Leading an Ace vs a gambling 3N is often recommended but should West shy away from spades as North is very likely to have SK (or J10xx I suppose)? Ironically Ace and another heart at the start kills the contract stone dead but what about a club lead? South wins and finesses the SJ but then has to come back to hand with a club and run the suit probably mangling dummy in the process unless he reads things very well. I’m pretty sure I’d have led the SA at the table though – it is always easy after the event!
Regards,
Iain
Hi Iain,
It’s a new day, thus a new theme.
Also, the above might be a major effort for our beloved game by saying that perhaps bridge is the one game to which the initial sentence above is most applicable.
Any dissent?
Hi Bobby,
Good Fortune or Mis(s) Fortune though? Have a look at what happens to the ship’s crew (bar one) in “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”!
regards,
Iain
Hi Iain,
While waiting for Wednesday to appear, first let me reply to your “Rime” by seeing only “slime”.
Next, let’s switch to bridge and West’s hand. Possibly and my guess after the 3NT gamble on my right, would about half of a good field venture 4 spades as worth the huge gamble, throwing caution to the wind and particularly at matchpoints since the amount of a huge set is only a tie for zero, but with the hand expected by South, perhaps 4 spades is close to 50% as a make, keeping in mind how difficult it may be for partner to protect and someone sitting EW needs to do it.
We all know that the best move is a troubled pass, making it under the wire as not quite worth a director’s call. Unfortunately, too many players offer that as their Prince Albert talent, bridge definition, how they pile up the master points!
Yes, bidding 4 spades is generally not thought to be good bridge, but neither is getting a zero the coward’s way. No, I am not recommending bidding 4 spades. but I can certainly understand venturing it.