Aces on Bridge — Daily Columns

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, 16 February, 2024


6 Comments

A V Ramana RaoFebruary 16th, 2024 at 11:09 am

Hi Dear Mr Wolff
Thanks for perfect instructive hand. It is easy to miss the winning line on this. But perhaps east’s bid is a self goal. Without his three hearts bid, in all the probability, declarer would fail
Regards

Robert LiptonFebruary 16th, 2024 at 11:54 am

I agree, AV. While I sympathize with East’s desire not to go gentle into that good night, the insistence on bidding and instructing South how to play this hand is foolish. Against a reasonable defense (SK lead, overtake, switch to trumps for three rounds) at this vulnerability would result in 3H-3 for 800. What more can he expect with four topless Spades and the announcement by the opponents of a combination that might be game-going? I would have more sympathy for West bidding 3 Clubs; at that point in the bidding, the layout is still vague. Indeed, it would require some sharp defense to set 3 Clubs more than 1.

The current mantra is that we must bid constantly in order to upset the opponents’ ability to reach the correct contract. Thi has some validity, but is way overdone, as here.

Bob Lipton

jim2February 16th, 2024 at 12:17 pm

On BWTA, imagine how much simpler it would be if only, Only, ONLY South had an opening bid that would already have shown that “major suit pattern without any extras.” 🙂

bobbywolffFebruary 16th, 2024 at 3:00 pm

Hi AVRR,

While very few bridge analysts can match your accuracy with bridge predictions, methinks, without East’s silly and dangerous vulnerable overcall, West might likely have chosen the club queen, ducked by a wise declarer, enabling a contract make.

And if so, I could then answer your giant effort, with, “And what is more, you’d be a man,
my son”. Thanks to both you and, of course, Rudyard.

bobbywolffFebruary 16th, 2024 at 3:13 pm

Hi Bob,

To me, a gentleman who plays bridge and offers my group a hand to write up, regardless of its sanity, is indeed a blessing.

Add to that, a reminder of how much I have always appreciated Rudyard Kipling’s poetry and writing and thus his bridge ability becomes secondary or perhaps even thirdary. But, just the thought of first meeting and thus enjoying practically (and I use that word advisedly) all of everyone’s comments, becomes nothing less than a thrill for me.

bobbywolffFebruary 16th, 2024 at 3:28 pm

Hi Jim2,

“Roses are red, violets are blue, to play Flannery is flattery and so do and are you”!

Yes and coincidence though it might be, Flannery is about the only convention, that I have insisted, all of my partners to include. They heartily accepted the challenge, but then later on drifted away, causing me to wonder if it was the Flannery or not, to which I prefer to think, YES.