Brilliantly done by West but should South have fallen for it? Apart from walking into a possible club ruff, the only manageable risk to the contract is a 4-1 trump break although West having SA10xx is unmanageable. East isn’t going to go wrong at T1 holding (say) DAJ9x given the bidding and, even if he did by playing the Ace, the discard is no use although the DK would then protect against a D force. So perhaps South should have spotted the risk of being punched twice in diamonds and risked the DK.
All 20-20 hindsight of course – I’d have got it wrong at the table I’m sure.
Shouldn’t N at least mention his strong 6 card club suit?
Jeff SerandosJuly 17th, 2023 at 5:46 pm
Hi Bobby,
I guess if South smelled the rat, he could have immediately played three rounds of hearts before starting on the spades banking on the 4-3 split. It looks like he should be all right then, but it seems like it would require a whole lot of faith on very little evidence.
That said, maybe putting up the KD at trick one makes more sense. When East fails to produce the expected ace, the hand is over. If he does, what is really lost?
Best,
Jeff
Iain ClimieJuly 17th, 2023 at 9:22 pm
Hi Jeff,
The trouble with 3 rounds of hearts ditching diamonds is that one defender has SAx and the 4th heart – curtains. Double dummy is a different matter. I have suggested to Bobby showing only 26 cards sometimes but the format is apparently quite fixed.
Regards,
Iain
bobbywolffJuly 17th, 2023 at 11:41 pm
Hi Iain, Joe 1, & Jeff,
The under lead of the ace of diamonds was indeed brilliant, and likely for the right reasoning.
In addition, because of its unusual choice, no declarer, either very good, or even better would or probably should, play the king, since experience will tell a sharp declarer that by not playing the king may illicit the ace from East (not possessing the queen), allowing declarer an easier ride.
All in a day’s work, keeping in mind, while at the table, no light goes on, advertising signalling
West, being brilliant and under leading an ace, especially against a slam contract, which, in turn, is as rare as a cold day in June.
Subscribe to our feed
Bridge-related
Hi Bobby,
Brilliantly done by West but should South have fallen for it? Apart from walking into a possible club ruff, the only manageable risk to the contract is a 4-1 trump break although West having SA10xx is unmanageable. East isn’t going to go wrong at T1 holding (say) DAJ9x given the bidding and, even if he did by playing the Ace, the discard is no use although the DK would then protect against a D force. So perhaps South should have spotted the risk of being punched twice in diamonds and risked the DK.
All 20-20 hindsight of course – I’d have got it wrong at the table I’m sure.
Regards,
Iain
Shouldn’t N at least mention his strong 6 card club suit?
Hi Bobby,
I guess if South smelled the rat, he could have immediately played three rounds of hearts before starting on the spades banking on the 4-3 split. It looks like he should be all right then, but it seems like it would require a whole lot of faith on very little evidence.
That said, maybe putting up the KD at trick one makes more sense. When East fails to produce the expected ace, the hand is over. If he does, what is really lost?
Best,
Jeff
Hi Jeff,
The trouble with 3 rounds of hearts ditching diamonds is that one defender has SAx and the 4th heart – curtains. Double dummy is a different matter. I have suggested to Bobby showing only 26 cards sometimes but the format is apparently quite fixed.
Regards,
Iain
Hi Iain, Joe 1, & Jeff,
The under lead of the ace of diamonds was indeed brilliant, and likely for the right reasoning.
In addition, because of its unusual choice, no declarer, either very good, or even better would or probably should, play the king, since experience will tell a sharp declarer that by not playing the king may illicit the ace from East (not possessing the queen), allowing declarer an easier ride.
All in a day’s work, keeping in mind, while at the table, no light goes on, advertising signalling
West, being brilliant and under leading an ace, especially against a slam contract, which, in turn, is as rare as a cold day in June.