Hi Dear Mr Wolff
But perhaps declarer, visualising squeeze , can try ducking J of diamonds . West might continue with diamond . Dummy wins and leads K of hearts and east’s spade shift if at all would be one step behind tempo. It doesn’t help west to shift to a heart as dummy plays K. To beat the contract , retaining the lead, west must shift to a spade which is unlikely after east’s discard of spade earlier or east must overtake west’s J of diamonds and return spade , again return another spade when in with A of hearts to break squeeze and if he does that, he fully deserves his success but probably he may not overtake . The unblock in spades by west to avoid the endplay when south wins first diamond would be very imaginative if executed and certainly deserves brilliance prize
Regards
bobbywolffFebruary 17th, 2024 at 2:34 pm
Hi AVRR,
Much thanks for being what we will call the “final authority”. Similar to what we might call the analysis of a battle to the death during warfare, but, of course, while engaging in proving one’s worth at that table, it achieves, at the very least, equal billing.
Not meant to be non-respectful for troops, but rather to echo the triumph and/or disaster one feels, while engaging in our always great mind sport. You’ve taken today’s hand the extra step necessary to fully complete the options our lack of space demanded and, by doing, should provide an extra bonus to many of those who tune in, but, by and large, certainly exist, but, in truth, are never heard from.
David SnookFebruary 17th, 2024 at 7:07 pm
Hmmm…
If I’m not mistaken, the winning line is to endplay West for clubs?
As declarer, I would take the club seven and immediately lead another club. It doesn’t seem to affect the outcome if West takes or holds up on the second trick. Either way declarer now knows West holds the remaining clubs and still has enough high cardds in hand to manage when West does get on lead.
If West takes the second trick, what would be the best lead at that point, hearts? None of the possible leads does West much good. If West does lead a heart, I would drop the king on it from dummy and if East in turn plays the ace, that severs communication with West, right? The next heart (dummy’s queen) will clear hearts from West’s hand.
If East holds up on the heart ace, I would get one of the tricks needed to make my bid, and my heart honor on the table is still protected.
If East does take that first heart trick with the ace, what would East’s best play then be, another heart? I would take that trick with table’s queen, my my high diamonds and then put West on lead with dummy’s final spade, forcing West to play from the remaining high clubs.
Does the above not work? I’m not sure sure I could find that line of play if both West’s and East’s hands were not laid out in front of me like they are here.
bobbywolffFebruary 18th, 2024 at 2:22 pm
Hi David,
And Hmmm…. right back at you since some declarer play hands require timely play back at them and this one appears close to classic.
Don’t lose your confidence when playing difficult dummies (your opposite hand, not necessarily the opponents). It is A OK to only take a stab on one’s next play, since the card placement is unknown, together, with the upcoming defense about to happen.
No one, not even grizzled veteran players, are supremely confident on what to do next, but
never, if given a choice, appear less than certain with one’s next play, since the card itself
is the only emotion which should be shown, otherwise the opponents will be gifted into likely figuring out what took you so long to decide.
It often is hands like this one, which determine matches, so psychologically try and keep that monster under control.
Finally, not much, if any, bridge learning discussed, but table presence sometimes (often) will determine results, thus making long nervous hesitations to be held to a minimum, if possible, since it often become telltale to those ugly opponents, when a declarer, by his tempo, tends to make it much easier for them to defend properly.
Iain ClimieFebruary 18th, 2024 at 8:50 pm
Hi Bobby,
Despite West’s discouragement, doesn’t West do better to play a spade at T2? Unless South has J8 alone, and maybe even then, doesn’t this throw a spanner in the works?
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Hi Dear Mr Wolff
But perhaps declarer, visualising squeeze , can try ducking J of diamonds . West might continue with diamond . Dummy wins and leads K of hearts and east’s spade shift if at all would be one step behind tempo. It doesn’t help west to shift to a heart as dummy plays K. To beat the contract , retaining the lead, west must shift to a spade which is unlikely after east’s discard of spade earlier or east must overtake west’s J of diamonds and return spade , again return another spade when in with A of hearts to break squeeze and if he does that, he fully deserves his success but probably he may not overtake . The unblock in spades by west to avoid the endplay when south wins first diamond would be very imaginative if executed and certainly deserves brilliance prize
Regards
Hi AVRR,
Much thanks for being what we will call the “final authority”. Similar to what we might call the analysis of a battle to the death during warfare, but, of course, while engaging in proving one’s worth at that table, it achieves, at the very least, equal billing.
Not meant to be non-respectful for troops, but rather to echo the triumph and/or disaster one feels, while engaging in our always great mind sport. You’ve taken today’s hand the extra step necessary to fully complete the options our lack of space demanded and, by doing, should provide an extra bonus to many of those who tune in, but, by and large, certainly exist, but, in truth, are never heard from.
Hmmm…
If I’m not mistaken, the winning line is to endplay West for clubs?
As declarer, I would take the club seven and immediately lead another club. It doesn’t seem to affect the outcome if West takes or holds up on the second trick. Either way declarer now knows West holds the remaining clubs and still has enough high cardds in hand to manage when West does get on lead.
If West takes the second trick, what would be the best lead at that point, hearts? None of the possible leads does West much good. If West does lead a heart, I would drop the king on it from dummy and if East in turn plays the ace, that severs communication with West, right? The next heart (dummy’s queen) will clear hearts from West’s hand.
If East holds up on the heart ace, I would get one of the tricks needed to make my bid, and my heart honor on the table is still protected.
If East does take that first heart trick with the ace, what would East’s best play then be, another heart? I would take that trick with table’s queen, my my high diamonds and then put West on lead with dummy’s final spade, forcing West to play from the remaining high clubs.
Does the above not work? I’m not sure sure I could find that line of play if both West’s and East’s hands were not laid out in front of me like they are here.
Hi David,
And Hmmm…. right back at you since some declarer play hands require timely play back at them and this one appears close to classic.
Don’t lose your confidence when playing difficult dummies (your opposite hand, not necessarily the opponents). It is A OK to only take a stab on one’s next play, since the card placement is unknown, together, with the upcoming defense about to happen.
No one, not even grizzled veteran players, are supremely confident on what to do next, but
never, if given a choice, appear less than certain with one’s next play, since the card itself
is the only emotion which should be shown, otherwise the opponents will be gifted into likely figuring out what took you so long to decide.
It often is hands like this one, which determine matches, so psychologically try and keep that monster under control.
Finally, not much, if any, bridge learning discussed, but table presence sometimes (often) will determine results, thus making long nervous hesitations to be held to a minimum, if possible, since it often become telltale to those ugly opponents, when a declarer, by his tempo, tends to make it much easier for them to defend properly.
Hi Bobby,
Despite West’s discouragement, doesn’t West do better to play a spade at T2? Unless South has J8 alone, and maybe even then, doesn’t this throw a spanner in the works?
Regards,
Iain