Articles›Declarer Play›Interactive Problem 4
Interactive Problem 4
7 minutes
Mon, Sep 25, 2023Gavin WolpertDeclarer PlayVideo: Bridge Hand
Articles›Declarer Play›Interactive Problem 4
7 minutes
Mon, Sep 25, 2023Gavin WolpertDeclarer PlayVideo: Bridge Hand
Comments
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There is a problem with playing diamond on the second trick: If you guess wrong or diamond A and Q both offside, the opponent will be able to play two rounds of trump before you can ruff your third diamond. You will still make your contract, but probably a bottom board in duplicate. A better approach would be cross-ruff and leave the diamond guess to the last. You have 10 cross-ruffing tricks: 3 club ruffs, 2 spade ruffs, spade A and K, club A, and two high trumps. The contract is absolutely safe. If the trump breaks 2-2, dummy's last club will be the 11th trick, and then you can guess the diamond for the 12th. This guess is a much easier one as there are only two cards left. If the trump breaks 3-1 and west holds 3, you can throw west in through the last club in dummy's hand, also making 1 overtrick regardless of how diamond breaks.
You can never enjoy the last club. If you go with your suggested line there is a much better chance you do not end up with a diamond trick. The opponents will have a chance to discard diamonds on the spade / club ruffs. If the trumps are 3-1 and the black suits are not perfect, you may actually have zero chance of getting a diamond trick at the end. The guess also doesnt get easier later in the hand. In fact it gets harder. It will become 100% clear to the opponents to duck the ace of diamonds on your right because they will know the count of the hand and also learn you do not have the AQ of spades (which could be used to throw the diamonds). By playing a diamond at trick 2 you will often get a pop of the ace. I think worrying about 5-2 diamonds with the finesse losing and then the other honor being with the 5 card suit is just too pessimistic. I am confident its better to play a diamond early.
Love doing these hands. Thank you
These are great, and I like the bit about placing the diamond Ace, Would it be ok to first play club Ace; club ruff; spade A; spade ruff; diamond. This might avoid losing 3 diamonds if West has Qx or AQxxx and they get a ruff.
That was a good lesson on not leading away from an A, .....thanks Gavin.
Love your explanations
Thanks, Gavin! I love these.
What I like is that with all of your explanations both here and in your classes is you never make us feel stupid for not seeing it right away. That tip on who might have the ace will be very useful and easy to remember. Thanks for doing these.
Just to say am really enjoying the interactive hands and finding them very useful. Many thanks for doing them.