Aces on Bridge — Daily Columns

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, January 22nd, 2022


2 Comments

A V Ramana RaoFebruary 5th, 2022 at 9:32 am

Hi Dear Mr Wolff
South played well but perhaps a little thinking out of the box would have guided west towards proper defense. Even if south has a maximum for his NT bid, east is marked with at least six points and south must have at least doubleton heart as he opened NT. And it appears that south cannot discard heart on any of dummy’s suits . So, west must shift to a minor and there is no way south can make the contract
Regards

bobbywolffFebruary 5th, 2022 at 7:50 pm

Hi AVRR,

Yes, you do not speak with forked tongue, but, in reality, while giving winning advice, it is, more often than not, above other’s pay grade.

To arrive there, a player must understand squeezes, not just exactly how to execute them, but just as important, likely 662/3 as so, how to break up the opponent’s ability to successfully execute one.

As opposed to that ability, the placing of the defender’s cards, after the evidence rolls in, first, the bidding, then the opening lead, followed by the suit counts, then timing of the defense by both opponents and of course the discarding complete with time taken, and order.

Finally add the sweat at the table, but first be certain if you know your opponent to be expert, and he doesn’t know you as well, try to feel what he is trying to convince you of, and then surprise him, by making the opposite guess.

All in a day’s work, but also include the years it took for you to get good enough to reach this lofty position.

Whether it is worth it or not, better to comply with an old time remark, “Ask the man who has done it (instead of own’s one). And that includes women as well, although they still might be slightly lagging behind, but if so, WATCH OUT!