The last ruff was (per the text) a club, not a spade.
Using the club suit at the last was best because declarer had seen East show out and knew absolutely that West began with five.
There was a remote but non-zero chance that East was 5-1-6-1 and West somehow did not lead a singleton diamond.
bobbywolffJuly 1st, 2023 at 2:36 am
Hi Jim2,
An exciting hand with a melody of bridge related ways of perfect timing, blending (entries and ruffs), arranging and then taking advantage of the end play coup at the end. All to be expected, but, of course, not 100%, although all indications lead to East being 4-7 with only the other two cards in real doubt. Perhaps chess with its powerful endings sometimes equal to or perhaps (at least to them) even more melodic, but in any case, the bridge dance done here is authentic and well worth experiencing.
Thanks for your error catch and shame on me for allowing it to happen.
jim2July 1st, 2023 at 5:23 pm
It is indeed a great hand, and I doubt I would have made it at the table.
The only reason I pointed out the tiny delta between text and play was that there was actually a good reason for ruffing the club, rather than another spade.
bobbywolffJuly 1st, 2023 at 7:55 pm
Hi Jim2,
Yes, it is a special hand and you would have made it at the table, but TOCM would have had you defending 4 diamonds doubled, down only one, with NS judging correctly the loss of 4 tricks while playing four hearts, if in fact West would have had one of East’s diamonds.
TOCM is a mighty sword to own, and you, the chosen one, to never having it on your side.
Perhaps being lucky at love makes up for it, and if so, all of us will applaud the result.
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Bridge-related
The last ruff was (per the text) a club, not a spade.
Using the club suit at the last was best because declarer had seen East show out and knew absolutely that West began with five.
There was a remote but non-zero chance that East was 5-1-6-1 and West somehow did not lead a singleton diamond.
Hi Jim2,
An exciting hand with a melody of bridge related ways of perfect timing, blending (entries and ruffs), arranging and then taking advantage of the end play coup at the end. All to be expected, but, of course, not 100%, although all indications lead to East being 4-7 with only the other two cards in real doubt. Perhaps chess with its powerful endings sometimes equal to or perhaps (at least to them) even more melodic, but in any case, the bridge dance done here is authentic and well worth experiencing.
Thanks for your error catch and shame on me for allowing it to happen.
It is indeed a great hand, and I doubt I would have made it at the table.
The only reason I pointed out the tiny delta between text and play was that there was actually a good reason for ruffing the club, rather than another spade.
Hi Jim2,
Yes, it is a special hand and you would have made it at the table, but TOCM would have had you defending 4 diamonds doubled, down only one, with NS judging correctly the loss of 4 tricks while playing four hearts, if in fact West would have had one of East’s diamonds.
TOCM is a mighty sword to own, and you, the chosen one, to never having it on your side.
Perhaps being lucky at love makes up for it, and if so, all of us will applaud the result.