Just a simply brief note to still be of some use (I hope) in simply declaring information to allow better reason in the bidding, should, and, of course, more than just imply that good and I change that word to experienced, opponents, should be apparently aware of the enemy listening in addition to pard, when attempting to guide the bidding to the better contract.
Not that I am proposing giving less information, only to remind all, most everything involving bridge is open to all four of the players and the better the opposition, the more likely it will, if possible, used against, so sometimes “loose lips sink ships” only meaning that once a final contract appears dead ahead, DO NOT waste time, but merely just finalize it without and additional fanfare, to which your then result may become the principal casualty.
Nothing beautiful to add, only a fact to consider and thus when an experienced opponent is present, be merely aware of his or her presence and sometimes cut to the quick, before your opponent at the other table or tables, does the same.
Iain ClimieJune 30th, 2025 at 2:10 pm
HI Bobby,
Great to hear from you and interesting that today”s 4H bid should accidentally deter West from leading the obvious heart – even with West holding AK10 the top heart lead would scupper the defence.
Regards to Judy too,
Iain
jim2June 30th, 2025 at 4:15 pm
Great to see your words here again, Dear Host Emeritus!!
Iain ClimieJune 30th, 2025 at 4:24 pm
Hi Folks,
As we’re talking amongst ourselves, try this hand (based on one I recently played at pairs in 4H) but imagine you’re in 6H at IMPs with declarer holding KQ10 Qxxxx Kxx A9 and dummy having Jxx AK9x Ax QJ108. The trump x’s really are small ones too. Offers on the D10 lead?
regards,
Iain
Iain ClimieJune 30th, 2025 at 10:11 pm
PS Any way in which we could add “Like” or even dislike votes to posted comments. I’m liking Bobby’s and Jim2’s comments for a start.
jim2June 30th, 2025 at 11:20 pm
Iain –
TY!
As neither Our Current Host or Our Host Emeritus has responded, I’ll take a shot at your hand.
AS is a loser, so KC has to be onside with no offside 4-0 trump break to have a chance. If trump are not 4-0, then only the KC being onside is necessary.
If trump are 4-0 ONSIDE, then I think you need either the AS or the KC has to appear by the second round of their black suit.
I think you want to win the opening lead in the short clubs hand, play to QH, force East to spilt trump honors, finesse the 9C, draw trump, cash AC, then lead two rounds of spades from the top (hoping the JS becomes an entry).
If neither black honor has appeared, things are grim. You can use the diamond entry for a C ruffing finesse, but you’re down to hoping for another failure to cover or the AS holder having only a small club left at the end.
How did I do?
Iain ClimieJuly 1st, 2025 at 7:29 am
HI Jim2,
Not bad but not quite. You need the C finesse clearly and are right to safety play vs 4-0 onside – the hand is trivial if trumps are 2-2 or 3-1. The crunch is to take T1 with the K, odd though it looks. Then cash HQ and RHO shows out, H towards the 9 (West splits the J10), C to the 9, H to the 9 now, C to the Ace and then draw the last trump. Now you lead the CQ off table, East covers (or you ditch a D and knock out the SA), you ruff but now the CQ is good with the DA as an entry. Just play spades twice now and, if the Ace is taken, that’s it. If it isn’t, cross to the DA, cash CQ and concede T13.
Both red suits are played strangely, taking the single top honour from the longer suit first but all the to-ing and fro-ing is needed to take the ruffing club finesse and have an entry back to the resulting top club.
Regards,
Iain
Iain ClimieJuly 1st, 2025 at 7:33 am
Hi again Jim2,
Sorry, you got T1 right – it was the subsequent timing (drawing trumps a little too early) where the slip occurred.
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Bridge-related
Hi Everyone,
Just a simply brief note to still be of some use (I hope) in simply declaring information to allow better reason in the bidding, should, and, of course, more than just imply that good and I change that word to experienced, opponents, should be apparently aware of the enemy listening in addition to pard, when attempting to guide the bidding to the better contract.
Not that I am proposing giving less information, only to remind all, most everything involving bridge is open to all four of the players and the better the opposition, the more likely it will, if possible, used against, so sometimes “loose lips sink ships” only meaning that once a final contract appears dead ahead, DO NOT waste time, but merely just finalize it without and additional fanfare, to which your then result may become the principal casualty.
Nothing beautiful to add, only a fact to consider and thus when an experienced opponent is present, be merely aware of his or her presence and sometimes cut to the quick, before your opponent at the other table or tables, does the same.
HI Bobby,
Great to hear from you and interesting that today”s 4H bid should accidentally deter West from leading the obvious heart – even with West holding AK10 the top heart lead would scupper the defence.
Regards to Judy too,
Iain
Great to see your words here again, Dear Host Emeritus!!
Hi Folks,
As we’re talking amongst ourselves, try this hand (based on one I recently played at pairs in 4H) but imagine you’re in 6H at IMPs with declarer holding KQ10 Qxxxx Kxx A9 and dummy having Jxx AK9x Ax QJ108. The trump x’s really are small ones too. Offers on the D10 lead?
regards,
Iain
PS Any way in which we could add “Like” or even dislike votes to posted comments. I’m liking Bobby’s and Jim2’s comments for a start.
Iain –
TY!
As neither Our Current Host or Our Host Emeritus has responded, I’ll take a shot at your hand.
AS is a loser, so KC has to be onside with no offside 4-0 trump break to have a chance. If trump are not 4-0, then only the KC being onside is necessary.
If trump are 4-0 ONSIDE, then I think you need either the AS or the KC has to appear by the second round of their black suit.
I think you want to win the opening lead in the short clubs hand, play to QH, force East to spilt trump honors, finesse the 9C, draw trump, cash AC, then lead two rounds of spades from the top (hoping the JS becomes an entry).
If neither black honor has appeared, things are grim. You can use the diamond entry for a C ruffing finesse, but you’re down to hoping for another failure to cover or the AS holder having only a small club left at the end.
How did I do?
HI Jim2,
Not bad but not quite. You need the C finesse clearly and are right to safety play vs 4-0 onside – the hand is trivial if trumps are 2-2 or 3-1. The crunch is to take T1 with the K, odd though it looks. Then cash HQ and RHO shows out, H towards the 9 (West splits the J10), C to the 9, H to the 9 now, C to the Ace and then draw the last trump. Now you lead the CQ off table, East covers (or you ditch a D and knock out the SA), you ruff but now the CQ is good with the DA as an entry. Just play spades twice now and, if the Ace is taken, that’s it. If it isn’t, cross to the DA, cash CQ and concede T13.
Both red suits are played strangely, taking the single top honour from the longer suit first but all the to-ing and fro-ing is needed to take the ruffing club finesse and have an entry back to the resulting top club.
Regards,
Iain
Hi again Jim2,
Sorry, you got T1 right – it was the subsequent timing (drawing trumps a little too early) where the slip occurred.
Iain