A good example of why I really dislike pairs. Yes, the opening lead is harder to find. But also, if South returns a club hoping to induce East to take it, East should work it out and let it go to his partner’s hoped-for queen as the only reasonable chance to set the contract. But, as with the opening lead, it is harder to do at pairs where South might be trying to pull a fast one with the QC.
I think I am just unsuited to pairs. I find it very, very hard not to take the sure line to make the contract and when I do take the plunge to after the extra trick, it always seems to be at the wrong time. I know a lot of players like it, but the appeal escapes me. Different strokes, I guess.
Cheers,
Jeff
Iain ClimieFebruary 12th, 2024 at 12:43 pm
HI Bobby,
I’m a bit surprised South didn’t double 3C today. I accept it may be pushy but WJOs can rob you blind if you’re not careful.
Regards,
Iain
Iain ClimieFebruary 12th, 2024 at 12:44 pm
Also, what has North got on LWTA? I thought trap passes were out of fashion nowadays but presumably 10+ given the modern tendency to open light more and more often.
Iain
bobbywolffFebruary 12th, 2024 at 3:18 pm
Hi Jeff,
While I sympathize with your marked preference for team-of-four bridge, rather than matchpoints, you need to understand that those two are totally different games, particularly
with strategy.
The scoring system is much more accurate for your favorite game, strongly favoring excellent judgment, rather than the more or less, hit and miss style, common to pairs.
No doubt team bridge captures the beautiful and extremely accurate competition almost always present when strength plays against strength, but the other extreme, luck, likely
playing a much larger part when pair plays against pair, when too much randomness is often present, when more or less strangers (not well enough known) sit down for only a few minutes to compete. and then after perhaps unfortunately getting lucky, never again to appear, allowing their opponents, no chance to even, or likely, surpass them with their superior talent.
lighting up the table.
Iain ClimieFebruary 12th, 2024 at 3:25 pm
Hi Bobby,
This’ll cross your post I expect but you aid late on that the 4th diamond would legitimately promote a trick for West’s Jack (after the DK has got ruffed and the club underlead). Can’t declarer just ruff the D high on table then and play a spade to the King in that case? Whether he’d do it without sight of all 4 hands is another matter; East has long clubs, West long diamonds so not a lot in it compared to finessing the 10 after dummy ruffs high..
Regards,
Iain
bobbywolffFebruary 12th, 2024 at 3:35 pm
Hi Iain,
No doubt South would (should) make use of a TO double, rather than meekly pass, but then, of course , we would have a 4 heart, not 4 spade final contract, therein not allowing even
a peek at the interesting play to that contract. IOW, variety is sometimes the answer to
a side problem, which become the mother of invention, often allowing a different main
objective, very common to all authors, who specialize in writing about, our favorite subject.
IOW, what do they call the mother of invention, since one appropriate answer might be necessity.
bobbywolffFebruary 12th, 2024 at 4:57 pm
Hi Iain,
While unaware of trap passes out of favor these days, sometimes some players (even good ones) are inconsistent with their judgement and do not always make the same response with approximately the same type hand. Often, the specific strength of the opponents make different bids (against them) the better option, since an opponent may have developed G2 himself (or herself) and thus becomes inconsistent himself with certain bridge judgments.
Yes, those types of players don’t realize that by doing such, their partner will have more
difficulty in complying with partnership agreements, but what else is new?
As of now I haven’t had time to consider your no doubt excellent play question, but hope to be able to comply soon.
Jeff SerandosFebruary 12th, 2024 at 8:30 pm
Hi Iain,
I think South already played the KS earlier when a trump was led to the king and ace. Or are you proposing a different line?
Jeff
Jeff SerandosFebruary 12th, 2024 at 8:33 pm
Hi Bobby,
I find pairs diminishes my enjoyment of the game. The nice thing is that I don’t (usually) have to play it. Just not my cup of tea, but others like it so more power to them.
Cheers,
Jeff
bobbywolffFebruary 12th, 2024 at 9:55 pm
Hi Iain,
I believe that the only difficult task to which you refer was a difference in what declarer
would decide to do about picking up the jack of spades without loss therein losing a trick
he might have won. Since it was not the contract trick, it apparently was not well discussed, but only passed over as virtually not of interest.
However, I may be proverbially in left field since I am at least slightly confused about when and where the play, while possibly still stunned by North not either bidding or jumping in hearts, instead of leading partner astray with his choice of a TO double.
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Hi Bobby,
A good example of why I really dislike pairs. Yes, the opening lead is harder to find. But also, if South returns a club hoping to induce East to take it, East should work it out and let it go to his partner’s hoped-for queen as the only reasonable chance to set the contract. But, as with the opening lead, it is harder to do at pairs where South might be trying to pull a fast one with the QC.
I think I am just unsuited to pairs. I find it very, very hard not to take the sure line to make the contract and when I do take the plunge to after the extra trick, it always seems to be at the wrong time. I know a lot of players like it, but the appeal escapes me. Different strokes, I guess.
Cheers,
Jeff
HI Bobby,
I’m a bit surprised South didn’t double 3C today. I accept it may be pushy but WJOs can rob you blind if you’re not careful.
Regards,
Iain
Also, what has North got on LWTA? I thought trap passes were out of fashion nowadays but presumably 10+ given the modern tendency to open light more and more often.
Iain
Hi Jeff,
While I sympathize with your marked preference for team-of-four bridge, rather than matchpoints, you need to understand that those two are totally different games, particularly
with strategy.
The scoring system is much more accurate for your favorite game, strongly favoring excellent judgment, rather than the more or less, hit and miss style, common to pairs.
No doubt team bridge captures the beautiful and extremely accurate competition almost always present when strength plays against strength, but the other extreme, luck, likely
playing a much larger part when pair plays against pair, when too much randomness is often present, when more or less strangers (not well enough known) sit down for only a few minutes to compete. and then after perhaps unfortunately getting lucky, never again to appear, allowing their opponents, no chance to even, or likely, surpass them with their superior talent.
lighting up the table.
Hi Bobby,
This’ll cross your post I expect but you aid late on that the 4th diamond would legitimately promote a trick for West’s Jack (after the DK has got ruffed and the club underlead). Can’t declarer just ruff the D high on table then and play a spade to the King in that case? Whether he’d do it without sight of all 4 hands is another matter; East has long clubs, West long diamonds so not a lot in it compared to finessing the 10 after dummy ruffs high..
Regards,
Iain
Hi Iain,
No doubt South would (should) make use of a TO double, rather than meekly pass, but then, of course , we would have a 4 heart, not 4 spade final contract, therein not allowing even
a peek at the interesting play to that contract. IOW, variety is sometimes the answer to
a side problem, which become the mother of invention, often allowing a different main
objective, very common to all authors, who specialize in writing about, our favorite subject.
IOW, what do they call the mother of invention, since one appropriate answer might be necessity.
Hi Iain,
While unaware of trap passes out of favor these days, sometimes some players (even good ones) are inconsistent with their judgement and do not always make the same response with approximately the same type hand. Often, the specific strength of the opponents make different bids (against them) the better option, since an opponent may have developed G2 himself (or herself) and thus becomes inconsistent himself with certain bridge judgments.
Yes, those types of players don’t realize that by doing such, their partner will have more
difficulty in complying with partnership agreements, but what else is new?
As of now I haven’t had time to consider your no doubt excellent play question, but hope to be able to comply soon.
Hi Iain,
I think South already played the KS earlier when a trump was led to the king and ace. Or are you proposing a different line?
Jeff
Hi Bobby,
I find pairs diminishes my enjoyment of the game. The nice thing is that I don’t (usually) have to play it. Just not my cup of tea, but others like it so more power to them.
Cheers,
Jeff
Hi Iain,
I believe that the only difficult task to which you refer was a difference in what declarer
would decide to do about picking up the jack of spades without loss therein losing a trick
he might have won. Since it was not the contract trick, it apparently was not well discussed, but only passed over as virtually not of interest.
However, I may be proverbially in left field since I am at least slightly confused about when and where the play, while possibly still stunned by North not either bidding or jumping in hearts, instead of leading partner astray with his choice of a TO double.
Hi Jeff, Bobby,
Correct – looks like Monday is brain fade day!
Iain
Hi Iain,
At least better than never waz!