Articles›Declarer Play›Interactive Problem 18
Interactive Problem 18
6 minutes
Mon, May 20, 2024Gavin WolpertDeclarer PlayVideo: Bridge Hand
Articles›Declarer Play›Interactive Problem 18
6 minutes
Mon, May 20, 2024Gavin WolpertDeclarer PlayVideo: Bridge Hand
Comments
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Taking the club finesse risks the contract if it loses, since Ace of Hearts and AK of diamonds are waiting in the bush. So, it comes down to assessing which finesse is more likely to succeed, queen of hearts or 10 of clubs. I guess you have indications that makes clubs a better choice.
The ten of clubs is quite clearly more likely onside than the queen of hearts. The only way its not onside is if they have lead from Jx. Just from straight math Jx does not come close to the combinations of JTxx + JTxxx +. On top of that you'll find that people rarely lead from Honor Doubleton in a blind auction. When you find someone who does, you can take note and maybe take less risk against them. For what its worth, when I am playing matchpoints I don't usually worry if I am risking my contract for an overtrick if I believe its likely enough to succeed. If I had KQxxxx KQx xx Ax, I would still take the finesse for the extra uptrick. You can argue that you have bid aggresively to get to game so others may miss it so maybe it tilts the scale, but I think the math so heavily leans towards the ten of clubs onside that its worth it anyways.
Love your instruction, thank you.
As always, we appreciate your effort to bring us these lessons.
I was thinking SK first to handle J98x onside. If both follow, SQ, C9 and SA if trumps were 3-1. Then the rest per video.
If it's those cards offside, you will already notice it when taking the A. So no need to take the K first. Taking the A is slightly easier because it guarantees you will be in your hand after trumps are drawn in 2 or 3 rounds. This is the right hand for the club finesse
Exactly what Joost said. You will always pick up Jxxx onside and you'd rather end in hand after 2 or 3 trumps. You really want to finish drawing trump in hand so you dont have to expose yourself to a club ruff. No benefit to cashing the high trump in hand first unless the 9 was in dummy.