Aces on Bridge — Daily Columns

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, 20 October, 2023


3 Comments

jim2October 20th, 2023 at 12:14 pm

That word, “forced.” How would play proceed if declarer, after winning the trump, played AS, 3S?

bobbywolffOctober 20th, 2023 at 1:13 pm

Hi Jim2,

Since declarer happened to be a player of strong will, he felt “forced” into trying to establish his clubs in order to succeed. I was, of course, just attempting, like a bully, to ward off others who may, of course, find another winning line, but using forceful language could be meant to shoo others away from finding a possible better line of play.

In practice, East rose with his ace of clubs (the EW cards were different) and all became well
but since no one would be able to know that I could turn this hand into one worth using, but wouldn’t have to inject a defensive error made by East.

Finding good column hands often takes adjusting certain cards to which makes a greater force (there is that word again) for the interested better players who can spot such things.
Shame on you for doing such things and dipping into my bag of deceptive tricks.

However, since you alone suffer from TOCM, the price you pay for being brilliant, but never to have won even the local game, will survive and unfortunately ban you forever from the thrill that even Mrs. Guggenheim achieved once or twice while playing with her favorite partner, “Futile Willie”.

Sorry you chose to become FORCED to hear the rest of the story, but please refrain from
telling others and let it remain our “little” secret which allows me to keep going.

jim2October 20th, 2023 at 4:04 pm

(Got it! Mum’s that word! 🙂 )