This hand looks like a very clear case of playing too fast to the first trick, something I may have been guilty of once or twice over the years (more like once or twice per session, if I am being completely honest).
If East stops to think it through, several things become apparent.
– South has a singleton club so the AC will have no independent value after this trick
– This trick is going to be the one and only time East can put himself on lead (barring an unlikely diamond switch at trick 2)
– Yes, his partner could switch to a diamond (even AD works as East can trump the 3rd diamond), but his partner has absolutely no reason to suspect a diamond switch is good, not yet being privy to the distribution in the minors
– Given the bidding and what he sees on the board, the most likely way for South to make his contract is to play exactly the way he did
So, a little thought shows East that he should play his only honors immediately after which, as a reward, he is no longer required to think for the rest of the hand. (And it is not hard for West to figure out he should overtake the KD and follow it with the Q and a third although it is not strictly necessary).
Iain ClimieAugust 8th, 2023 at 11:16 am
Hi Bobby,
If East were going to defend like that, 4S doubled is relatively cheap! South can cash 2 spades and punch dummy with 2 hearts but East just plays a D to the K and drives out the SJ, getting back in to draw the last trump and claim. After 3 rounds of spades (and 1 heart), the D suit gets rid of the extra H from hand
Regards,
Iain
Jeff SerandosAugust 8th, 2023 at 1:32 pm
Hi Iain,
I love this analysis. Can you imagine the scene of pointing this out to partner in the post-mortem? “If you were planning to defend so poorly, partner, why not just sacrifice in 4S?”. Presented, of course, (if you could pull it off) with no tone whatsoever other than simple curiosity.
Iain ClimieAugust 8th, 2023 at 2:11 pm
Hi Jeff,
Thanks for that. I have a twisted sense of humour although I am getting more tolerant with age (65 now and I had 25 years away form the game). When I was in my late teens and early 20s I was rather different (see Alan Sontag’s description of Ira Rubin in “The Bridge Bum”). One post-mortem on defence, opposite a partner we’ll call P featured the following form me:
“Why the club back at Trick , P?”
“Well I thought declarer might have 4C.”
“But the bidding and play so far shows that he’s got at least 10 and probably 11 cards in the other suits. So it’s good defence if there are 15 clubs in the pack and has a fair chance if there are 14. Unlucky!”
This of course is absolutely NOT the way to treat partners at least if you want to win rather than have a grouch. I’m sure Bobby will also point out that it is a long way from being “Best Behaviour at Bridge” and totally counter-productive but that’s what I used to be like! Cost me a (well-off) girlfriend too – she was very smart & charming but insanely agreed to play competitive bridge with me. I got hit where it hurts – right in the long term bank balance. My wife (I’ve been married 35 years on Sept 2nd) refuses point blank to learn the game.
Regards,
Iain
bobbywolffAugust 8th, 2023 at 9:03 pm
Hi Jeff & Iain,
With both of you having two swipes at the confessional, and quadruple opportunities to talk about offense, defense, partnership bating, and numerical nuance.
too, have been married, but for about 52 years, but to three charmers, each probably representing either love (hearts and diamonds) or weapons (spades and clubs), but very individual (representing a full deck) to which all three could never be secure of me possessing one.
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Hi Bobby,
This hand looks like a very clear case of playing too fast to the first trick, something I may have been guilty of once or twice over the years (more like once or twice per session, if I am being completely honest).
If East stops to think it through, several things become apparent.
– South has a singleton club so the AC will have no independent value after this trick
– This trick is going to be the one and only time East can put himself on lead (barring an unlikely diamond switch at trick 2)
– Yes, his partner could switch to a diamond (even AD works as East can trump the 3rd diamond), but his partner has absolutely no reason to suspect a diamond switch is good, not yet being privy to the distribution in the minors
– Given the bidding and what he sees on the board, the most likely way for South to make his contract is to play exactly the way he did
So, a little thought shows East that he should play his only honors immediately after which, as a reward, he is no longer required to think for the rest of the hand. (And it is not hard for West to figure out he should overtake the KD and follow it with the Q and a third although it is not strictly necessary).
Hi Bobby,
If East were going to defend like that, 4S doubled is relatively cheap! South can cash 2 spades and punch dummy with 2 hearts but East just plays a D to the K and drives out the SJ, getting back in to draw the last trump and claim. After 3 rounds of spades (and 1 heart), the D suit gets rid of the extra H from hand
Regards,
Iain
Hi Iain,
I love this analysis. Can you imagine the scene of pointing this out to partner in the post-mortem? “If you were planning to defend so poorly, partner, why not just sacrifice in 4S?”. Presented, of course, (if you could pull it off) with no tone whatsoever other than simple curiosity.
Hi Jeff,
Thanks for that. I have a twisted sense of humour although I am getting more tolerant with age (65 now and I had 25 years away form the game). When I was in my late teens and early 20s I was rather different (see Alan Sontag’s description of Ira Rubin in “The Bridge Bum”). One post-mortem on defence, opposite a partner we’ll call P featured the following form me:
“Why the club back at Trick , P?”
“Well I thought declarer might have 4C.”
“But the bidding and play so far shows that he’s got at least 10 and probably 11 cards in the other suits. So it’s good defence if there are 15 clubs in the pack and has a fair chance if there are 14. Unlucky!”
This of course is absolutely NOT the way to treat partners at least if you want to win rather than have a grouch. I’m sure Bobby will also point out that it is a long way from being “Best Behaviour at Bridge” and totally counter-productive but that’s what I used to be like! Cost me a (well-off) girlfriend too – she was very smart & charming but insanely agreed to play competitive bridge with me. I got hit where it hurts – right in the long term bank balance. My wife (I’ve been married 35 years on Sept 2nd) refuses point blank to learn the game.
Regards,
Iain
Hi Jeff & Iain,
With both of you having two swipes at the confessional, and quadruple opportunities to talk about offense, defense, partnership bating, and numerical nuance.
too, have been married, but for about 52 years, but to three charmers, each probably representing either love (hearts and diamonds) or weapons (spades and clubs), but very individual (representing a full deck) to which all three could never be secure of me possessing one.