The curse of quick play at Trick 1 strikes again. If East had held a small singleton (not the 8), though, South has a tricky choice after ruffing with the H7. Do you play for trumps 2-2 by leading the H9 to the HK or more likely, play for West holding 8xx and trying to play the h4 to the H6 – which West (if awake) can foil by playing the H8. A tricky decision even against a West good enough to think of it or RR lucky enough to pull the H8 out by accident!
Regards,
Iain
bobbywolffOctober 11th, 2023 at 12:46 pm
Hi Iain,
Obviously all of your queries are on point to which, in good conscience, I can only answer that many necessary plays, especially by declarer, but sometimes by a very cautious defender, are made, not quite because of envisioning the necessity, but rather just to remain flexible, in case it matters.
Yes, that technique is necessary, if only because our bridge minds, even so-called superior ones, may find it nearly impossible to envision all the different types of card combinations needed in the earlier play, but, usually only by the experience gained, have been there, done that, but understand the twists and turns during the play are just too varied to be sure, but it never hurts to always maintain as much flexibility in the play as MIGHT be needed.
All general poppycock above, but, at least to me it is as real as the probability, instead of just the possibility, of tomorrow arriving on schedule. Most times that preparation is only like taking along a sweater on a summer’s day, but when a very unusual Norther suddenly rushes into being, you become the bridge hero everyone wants to be.
BTW, the above does really occur more often than suspected, not for any other reason but that the human bridge mind, at least it appears to me, is just not, even in the fullness of time, able to predict consistently and exactly what might be needed, due to the too many surprises, waiting to confound a declarer, unwilling to put enough effort into his technique.
Jeff SerandosOctober 11th, 2023 at 2:26 pm
Hi Bobby,
What happens if West continues diamonds? As the cards lie, South has to trump in dummy on the third one. Doesn’t that mess things up for him? He can lead a club, covered and trumped and South can go back to the board with a second trump lead, but now West still has a trump for the final club.
Cheers,
Jeff
Iain ClimieOctober 11th, 2023 at 2:57 pm
Hi Jeff,
I think declarer can now ruff two diamonds then get the lucky spade break (running the J unless covered) so doesn’t need the clubs after all. He loses 2D and 1S.
Regards,
Iain
bobbywolffOctober 11th, 2023 at 4:44 pm
Hi Jeff & Iain,
Thanks to Jeff for his question to which Iain, as always, correctly intervened (with his downgrade of needing clubs and instead praising the spade position). And, as if we all suspect that bridge being a partnership game, even in the postmortem, serves the whole group and particularly so, merely a bridge player, I, posing as an English know it all.
Possible suggestion to Jeff: If at first, something said, while discussing bridge, may appear untrue, until a second look counters that, by having a new suit surprisingly, fill in the blanks, allowing it, to save the day. Only informing you of that truism, since money can be won, especially against only a part time friend, when the above anomaly echoes in.
Jeff SerandosOctober 11th, 2023 at 9:25 pm
Thanks, Iain and Bobby! I didn’t think about simply not leading out the club winners.
I had seen earlier that the spade position was rather lucky (I almost commented earlier that it was lucky a 3rd spade didn’t migrate to the East hand. Then in the main line, West could get out with a diamond after taking the QS and you are left hoping East started Kx – pretty sure by that point he must have the king for his bid at least.
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Hi Bobby,
The curse of quick play at Trick 1 strikes again. If East had held a small singleton (not the 8), though, South has a tricky choice after ruffing with the H7. Do you play for trumps 2-2 by leading the H9 to the HK or more likely, play for West holding 8xx and trying to play the h4 to the H6 – which West (if awake) can foil by playing the H8. A tricky decision even against a West good enough to think of it or RR lucky enough to pull the H8 out by accident!
Regards,
Iain
Hi Iain,
Obviously all of your queries are on point to which, in good conscience, I can only answer that many necessary plays, especially by declarer, but sometimes by a very cautious defender, are made, not quite because of envisioning the necessity, but rather just to remain flexible, in case it matters.
Yes, that technique is necessary, if only because our bridge minds, even so-called superior ones, may find it nearly impossible to envision all the different types of card combinations needed in the earlier play, but, usually only by the experience gained, have been there, done that, but understand the twists and turns during the play are just too varied to be sure, but it never hurts to always maintain as much flexibility in the play as MIGHT be needed.
All general poppycock above, but, at least to me it is as real as the probability, instead of just the possibility, of tomorrow arriving on schedule. Most times that preparation is only like taking along a sweater on a summer’s day, but when a very unusual Norther suddenly rushes into being, you become the bridge hero everyone wants to be.
BTW, the above does really occur more often than suspected, not for any other reason but that the human bridge mind, at least it appears to me, is just not, even in the fullness of time, able to predict consistently and exactly what might be needed, due to the too many surprises, waiting to confound a declarer, unwilling to put enough effort into his technique.
Hi Bobby,
What happens if West continues diamonds? As the cards lie, South has to trump in dummy on the third one. Doesn’t that mess things up for him? He can lead a club, covered and trumped and South can go back to the board with a second trump lead, but now West still has a trump for the final club.
Cheers,
Jeff
Hi Jeff,
I think declarer can now ruff two diamonds then get the lucky spade break (running the J unless covered) so doesn’t need the clubs after all. He loses 2D and 1S.
Regards,
Iain
Hi Jeff & Iain,
Thanks to Jeff for his question to which Iain, as always, correctly intervened (with his downgrade of needing clubs and instead praising the spade position). And, as if we all suspect that bridge being a partnership game, even in the postmortem, serves the whole group and particularly so, merely a bridge player, I, posing as an English know it all.
Possible suggestion to Jeff: If at first, something said, while discussing bridge, may appear untrue, until a second look counters that, by having a new suit surprisingly, fill in the blanks, allowing it, to save the day. Only informing you of that truism, since money can be won, especially against only a part time friend, when the above anomaly echoes in.
Thanks, Iain and Bobby! I didn’t think about simply not leading out the club winners.
I had seen earlier that the spade position was rather lucky (I almost commented earlier that it was lucky a 3rd spade didn’t migrate to the East hand. Then in the main line, West could get out with a diamond after taking the QS and you are left hoping East started Kx – pretty sure by that point he must have the king for his bid at least.
Cheers!