tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9405577441565685172024-03-08T09:34:53.205-08:00Bridge with Oren LidorOren Lidorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359188603749759016noreply@blogger.comBlogger127125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-940557744156568517.post-84537375910319463592019-10-09T03:31:00.001-07:002019-10-09T03:31:04.421-07:00A perfect Yarborough<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder; line-height: inherit;">Yarborough:</span> <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit;">A hand containing no card higher than a nine.</span></div>
<hr class="wp-block-separator" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: content-box; clear: both; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; height: 1px; margin: 1.25rem auto 1.5em; max-width: 75rem; overflow: visible;" />
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
Harold was bored. All evening he got terrible cards, he did not get to declare a single hand.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
His lovely partner tried to cheer him up: “Unlucky in cards means Lucky in love”, she said with an encouraging smile.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
Harold didn’t find that comforting. He was not lucky in love either.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
“I have luck in both, cards and love”, said his opponent, annoying him even further.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
“Maybe this time you will get better cards”, his partner maintained her positive attitude.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
“Well, if not – I’m going to move to the club next door. I heard that they deal more points to poor players like me”, continued Harold pouting, and pulled out his cards from the board.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
He squinted: These were no doubt the worse cards he had since the beginning of the evening. A big fat nothing. A perfect Yarborough.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
Dealer South, All Vulnerable</div>
<figure style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 1em 0px;"><iframe height="400" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SAQ3HA543DKQ9CT65&e=sjthk98dj64cakq94&n=SK74HQJT6DAT2CJ32&d=s&v=b&a=1NP2CX2HP4HPPP" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%;" width="500"></iframe></figure><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
Though still in shock that cards can be as bad as these, he did notice his partner’s lead directing double, and being on lead he led the ♣8.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
“That’s it. The war is over for me”, he mumbled while giving a huge yawn for everyone to see, that his role in this hand is over.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
His Partner won with the ♣Q and cashed the ♣A too. Seeing high-low in Harold’s hand, she continued with the ♣K which won the trick too (Harold discarded a Spade).</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
While she thought of her next move Harold remarked to his opponent: “I bid a direct 3NT with 3-3-3-4 distribution”, he said, while another huge yawn appeared on his face during this sentence.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
“Shhhh… I’m thinking”, said his partner.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
“And I’m bored”, mumbled Harold and started to shuffle his cards and move uncomfortably in his chair.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
Finally (after what seemed like an eternity to him) she played a 4<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 11.25px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">th</span> round of Clubs.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
“I don’t get cards, but I get a partner who lets opponents get a ruff & discard”, he commented, pitching another Spade.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
Declarer ruffed with the <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: red;">♥</span>6 and played the <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: red;">♥</span>Q, finessing East’s <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: red;">♥</span>K, then claimed 10 tricks after he finished drawing trumps.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
Harold’s partner, usually very peaceful and optimistic, was really angry: “Your behaviour today is awful. Playing thoughtless and shooting insulting comments left and right. All this while managing to play badly and make mistakes with a 0 points hand, destroying my brilliant defense!”</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
Harold made a face that clearly said “what could I possibly do with my Yarborough hand” and opened his mouth to speak, but before he got to utter a sound his partner snorted:</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
“I counted you with a Yarborough. Declarer showed 15 points, I had 14 and dummy showed 11, that left nothing in your hand. That means opponents hold ♠AKQ, <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: red;">♦</span>AKQ and <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: red;">♥</span>A, which puts my <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: red;">♥</span>K in a bad place, suggesting they can make 4 Heart tricks. Having no further side tricks, our only hope laid in the trump suit, of course, assuming that you have the common sense to wake up in time and co-operate with me. All you had to do was ruff the 4<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 11.25px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">th</span> Club with your <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: red;">♥</span>7. That move forces the <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: red;">♥</span>10 out of dummy and helps me promote my <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: red;">♥</span>9! The <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: red;">♥</span>Q will be covered with my <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: red;">♥</span>K, taken by the <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: red;">♥</span>A. On the <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: red;">♥</span>J I follow with the <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: red;">♥</span>8. And my <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: red;">♥</span>9 is good!”</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
Harold felt miserable: “Looks like even with a perfect Yarborough the war is not over yet”.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Oren Lidorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359188603749759016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-940557744156568517.post-52246496483699405452019-10-09T03:30:00.001-07:002019-10-09T03:30:07.548-07:00The Monkey’s Paw<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
<a aria-label="The Monkey's Paw (opens in a new tab)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Monkey%27s_Paw" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: transparent; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #fab526; cursor: pointer; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">The Monkey’s Paw</em></a> is a supernatural short story by author W.W. Jacobs. The story was also in a chapter of <a aria-label="Tales from the Crypt (opens in a new tab)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tales_from_the_Crypt_(film)" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: transparent; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #fab526; cursor: pointer; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Tales from the Crypt</em></a>, which featured horror stories with unexpected ending.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
The story presents a door to door salesman. A neighbor asks him what’s the strangest thing he brought from his trips abroad, and the salesman said it was a bewitched monkey’s paw, imploring him to buy anything but this item:</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
“Don’t buy it! It has magical powers, a fakir put a spell on it. Whoever owns it can ask for three wishes to come true. Your wishes will be granted, but they come to you in the most unexpected and malicious way.”</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
The man was intrigued by the story, and bought the paw all the same. He did not believe all the magic nonsense, and to prove his point he held the paw and said: “I wish to get 20000 pounds by tomorrow”.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
Nothing happened, and the following day seemed to pass just like usual.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
But in the evening the family received an unexpected visit. It was their son’s boss, who had come to inform them that their son had a terrible accident at work and lost his life. As he was well loved by his friends and co-workers, they all gave some money and raised 20000 pounds for the grieving family.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
Some days after the funeral, mad with grief, the man’s wife demanded him to ask the monkey paw for the second wish: “Bring my son back to me!”</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
A few hours later they heard strong knocks on the door.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
As his wife ran to the door, the man, terrified of what might be waiting out there, asked for the last wish, to cancel his second wish, and so as the door opened, there was nothing out there but the wailing wind.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
After this little horror intro, dear readers, let’s say that you are holding South’s cards in your left hand, and the Monkey’s Paw in your right hand:</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
Dealer North, E-W Vulnerable</div>
<figure style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 1em 0px;"><iframe height="400" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SAQJHAQJ2D432CQ65&w=&n=S765H6543DACAKJT9&e=&d=n&v=e&a=1CP1HP3HP4NP5HP6HPPP" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%;" width="500"></iframe></figure><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
Your partner liked his hand a bit too much and upgraded it to a 3<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: red;">♥</span> overbid. You asked aces and went to slam.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
West lead the <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: red;">♦</span>Q and you took the <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: red;">♦</span>A, then stopped to count losers from hand: 1 Spade, 1 or 2 Hearts and 2 Diamonds.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
The diamonds could be ruffed in dummy, the Spades could be thrown on the Clubs and the <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: red;">♥</span>K could be finessed.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
Holding the monkey’s paw, you finally decided to make use of it and said:</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
“I wish for the Heart finesse to succeed”, and asked for a low Heart from dummy at trick 2.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
And sure enough, your wish got granted right away as the <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: red;">♥</span>K immediately appeared in East.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
You happily won the <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: red;">♥</span>A, ruffed a Diamond, returned to hand with the <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: red;">♥</span>Q (East discarded a Spade), ruffed your last Diamond with your last trump in dummy, returned to hand via the ♣Q, cashed the <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: red;">♥</span>J, and now… You are stuck: If you play your last Heart – West will get the <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: red;">♥</span>10 and opponents will take 2 more Diamond tricks. So, you continued playing your Clubs instead.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
But West ruffed your third Club, played his last Diamond, and you had to ruff and lose a Spade trick for 1 down.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
You were pleased to see that Spade finesse didn’t work, so choosing to finesse Spades instead would not have saved you.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
But was there anything else you could have done?</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
Yes!</div>
<figure style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 1em 0px;"><iframe height="400" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SAQJHAQJ2D432CQ65&w=SK82HT987DQJT5C87&n=S765H6543DACAKJT9&e=ST943HKDK9876C432&d=n&v=e&a=1CP1HP3HP4NP5HP6HPPP" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%;" width="500"></iframe></figure><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
First, be more specific with the monkey’s paw: When you ask for something – be clear! You could have asked for the Heart finesse to succeed and for Hearts to split 3-2. That would have gotten you 13 tricks.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
Second, when you ask a wish from the monkey’s paw, you should expect things to go wrong. Seeing the <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: red;">♥</span>K fall at trick 2 should indicate that Hearts break badly and that you still have a Heart loser. So, play carefully, and you can make it: Allow the <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: red;">♥</span>K to win the trick!</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
Win the Spade return from East with your ♠A, ruff a Diamond, return to hand via the ♣Q, ruff you last Diamond, and play your last Heart from dummy to your remaining <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: red;">♥</span>AQJ in hand, collecting the remaining trumps from West. You can continue with Clubs now and discard your ♠QJ on them. You made 12 tricks, despite the monkey’s paw curse and an unfavorable Heart break: 3 Hearts, 1 Spade, 1 Diamond, 2 Diamond ruffs and 5 Clubs.</div>
Oren Lidorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359188603749759016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-940557744156568517.post-41559202758879172252019-08-12T02:13:00.003-07:002019-08-12T02:13:47.511-07:00Wanna bet?<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
George and Benny are good friends and Bridge partners. They also like to bet on all sorts of stuff (small bets, not heavy money) .</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
They bet on almost anything: lottery, backgammon, football and other sports etc., but also on everything they disagree about. First they argue until one of them drops the ultimate challenge: “Wanna bet on it?” They decide the amount, and they agree on an “authority” to rule who wins the bet. </div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
Bridge is usually not something they would bet on (although there were some occasions when they argued and then asked an expert’s opinion, not before betting on it). </div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
And today came an unusual bet: even though none of them was certain on what the right answer should be, George decided that there must be one. This was during a bridge game. They fought about a hand and George felt it “smelled” like a hand with a solution. What solution? He didn’t know either, but wanna bet there is one?</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
Benny insisted: “Shall we bet on it? I’m sure the hand cannot be made with proper defense”</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
Since there was an expert in the house, George accepted: “Fine, it’s a bet” (100 bucks it was this time, a lot more than their usual stake): </div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
Dealer South, E-W Vulnerable:</div>
<figure style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 1em 0px;"><iframe height="400" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SKQJ9876H3D4CAKQJ&w=SAT4HJ876DA2C9842&n=S2HKQ542DJT98765&e=S53HAT9DKQ3CT7653&d=s&v=e&a=1SP1NP3CP3DP4SPPP" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%;" width="500"></iframe></figure><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
West lead the <a href="http://xn--%3Cfont%20color%3D%22red%22%3E%3C-xk3y/font%3E" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: transparent; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #fab526; cursor: pointer; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">♦</a>A and continued with another Diamond. Benny ruffed and played the ♠K. West won the ♠A and played a Heart to East’s <a href="http://xn--%3Cfont%20color%3D%22red%22%3E%3C-yj3y/font%3E" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: transparent; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #fab526; cursor: pointer; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">♥</a>A. East continued with the <a href="http://xn--%3Cfont%20color%3D%22red%22%3E%3C-xk3y/font%3E" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: transparent; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #fab526; cursor: pointer; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">♦</a>K.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
The contract now is bound to fail, as the ♠10 makes a trick no matter if Benny ruffs low (West over ruffs with the ♠10) or high (West discards, and the ♠10 gets promoted) . </div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
“Why didn’t you discard a Heart at trick 2? That way you cut the communication between defenders”, said George. </div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
“Can’t you see it makes no difference?”, Benny was boiling, face all red. He continued: “If I discard a Heart, East wins with the <a href="http://xn--%3Cfont%20color%3D%22red%22%3E%3C-xk3y/font%3E" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: transparent; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #fab526; cursor: pointer; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">♦</a>Q, continues with a 3<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 11.25px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">rd</span> Diamond, and again the ♠10 gets promoted.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
If I ruff low – West overruffs with the ♠10, and if I ruff high – West discards, and again, I can no longer avoid losing two Spade tricks. I bet this hand cannot be made on a proper defense!”</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
George took the bet and so they turned to the expert, who said: “The contract is makeable all right: ruff a 2<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 11.25px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">nd</span>Diamond, then ruff a Club (!) in dummy at trick 3. Continue with a 3<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 11.25px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">rd</span> Diamond and discard your Heart loser at trick 4.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
East wins with the <a href="http://xn--%3Cfont%20color%3D%22red%22%3E%3C-xk3y/font%3E" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: transparent; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #fab526; cursor: pointer; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">♦</a>K but he has no more Diamonds to play, and declarer has all the time in the world to ruff a Club or a Heart from East then play the ♠K, losing only the ♠A and 2 Diamond tricks. And you can pull out the remaining ♠10x later”.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
George was happy with his $100 winning. Knowing his friend just too well, seeing Benny’s rage, he saw another opportunity to make “extras”, so he pushed on without mercy: “Why didn’t you open 2♣ with 9 sure tricks?”</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
Benny’s face turned incandescent: “And how do you suggest I describe my hand after that..?”… A flurry of angry words and then came the inevitable challenge: “Wanna bet?”…</div>
Oren Lidorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359188603749759016noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-940557744156568517.post-78256635938933054322019-06-04T02:14:00.003-07:002019-06-04T02:14:34.340-07:001 IMP Away<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
Moses returned home in a bad mood.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
“What happened?”, asked his wife.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
“Did it ever happen to you, that you did an absolutely perfect thing, and you were so proud of yourself… only to find out someone else did better?”</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
“Too many times: When I scored 99 at Math in high school but Norma got 100; When I followed a killer diet but Silvia still had slimmer waist; When I baked a huge birthday cake for our Georgie’s birthday, but Jamie’s mother baked a bigger one; or when I brought you home to meet my Mom for the first time , but my sister brought Oliver home the same day..”, she added with a wink, trying to cheer him up.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
But Moses was not really listening , still absorbed in his thoughts.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
“So… What happened? “, she asked again.<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit;" />“At the teams contest today, I played a slam in Club in a most brilliant way, and yet, at the other table our opponents got a better score and didn’t even make a big effort for it…”</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
Dealer South, none Vulnerable</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SAQJ2HKJT9D3CQJT4&w=S83H53DKQJT8762C8&n=SKHAQDA954CA97653&e=ST97654H87643DCK2&d=s&v=o&a=1C4D6CPPP" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%;" width="400"></iframe></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
“At the KO stage we got knocked out, losing the match by 1 IMP. This was the final board.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
West led the ♦K against 6♣. I played the ♦A but East ruffed and played a Spade.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
Now I have a dilemma: There are still two more Clubs out, including the ♣K. So… Should I try to finesse West, or should I play the Ace to drop a stiff King?</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
After some thoughts, I managed to solve this issue in a most scientific brilliant way: I won trick 2 with the ♠A, dropping the ♠K from dummy, and continued with the ♠QJ, discarding the ♥AQ from dummy! Note that this play carries no risk whatsoever, as if West ruffs – I overruff in dummy, while East is marked with plenty of Spades after showing a Diamond void. West followed to on the first 2 rounds of Spades and discarded a Diamond on the 3rd round of Spades.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
Now I played my ♥KJ10 from hand, and again this move is completely safe as if West ruffs – I overruff in dummy.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
West followed to 2 Hearts and discarded another Diamond on the 3rd round of Hearts. At this point West’s hand is fully counted! He had 8 Diamonds, 2 Spades, 2 Hearts and therefore 1 Club.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
And so I played my ♣A next, dropping East’s remaining bare ♣K, and got 920 points for making my contract”.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit;" />“Well done to you, my dear husband! I’m so proud of you. Next time we go to my Mom – I’ll tell her about your brilliant play and will also say that, in my opinion, Oliver would never have found such a solution.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
So… What happened at the other table?”, asked his wife, amused at her last remark and at her husband’s overreaction.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
But Moses couldn’t see the humor: “At the other table North bid 6NT, making his contract with no pain, he just gave the ♣K. Score 990 for making and 2 IMPs away for this hand for the 70 points gap.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0px 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Lato, helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
You see? – Without this board we would have won the match by 1 IMP and qualify for the next stage”…</div>
Oren Lidorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359188603749759016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-940557744156568517.post-15413867003184823492019-05-20T07:31:00.002-07:002019-05-20T07:31:29.015-07:00Outside the boxGeorge and Dafna are a couple. They are the opposite of each other.<br><br>
George is an accountant: well organized, responsible, punctual and seeking a safe, stable life. <br><br>
Dafna is a circus artist and she likes to live on the edge. She is messy, spontaneous and
tries to think outside the box. <br>
<br>
Their life is good and balanced because they have each other. In fact they
really need each other. <br>
<br>
In Bridge however, things are often not falling into place... It depends on
which one on them gets which hand. <br>
<br>
"In Bridge there are strict and clear rules! When I lead a suit - Return my lead, especially if I lead a low card to indicate I have length and an honor",
insisted George.<br>
<br>
"Yes dear, I shall do that... Unless I find a better card to play",
said Dafna with grace, and gave him a kiss.<br>
<br>
Here is a recent deal they played. Too bad their hands were not reversed...
<br><br>
Dealer South - All Vulnerable </p>
<iframe
src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SQHAKQT8DQT10CQJ9&w=S984HJ764DJ762C65&n=SA6532H32DK4CK432&e=SKJT7H95DA953CA87&wn=Dafna&en=George&d=s&v=b&a=1HP1SP2CP3CP3NPPP"
height="300" width="400"></iframe><br>
<br>
<p>
Dafna, sitting West, led the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>2.
George seemed pleased with the lead. However, when declarer asked for a
low card from dummy, he thought for a while, then he won the <span
style="color: red;">♦</span>A and returned, without any further
thought, another Diamond, throwing his partner a look as if to tell her: "You see? A
good partner always returns his partner's lead". <br>
<br>
Declarer won the trick with the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K
and played on Clubs. <br>
<br>
George won the ♣A on the second round and played a third Diamond, but
declarer won again with the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q and
claimed 9 tricks: 1 Spade, 3 Hearts, 2 Diamonds and 3 Clubs. <br>
<br>
"I was hoping to find you with the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q,
helping you to establish 2 more tricks in the suit. Nothing to do here, we
played good standard defense which didn’t work", said George on a serious tone.<br>
<br>
"Why didn't you play the ♠K at trick 2? That is what I would do", said
Dafna adding a loving smile to her statement.<br>
<br>
" The ♠K?? Without holding the ♠Q in my hand? To dummy's long suit
headed by the ♠A?? But that is against all the rules", responded
George with disgust.<br>
<br>
"My dear, please think a bit outside the box, what's with this tunnel vision? What kind of an
accountant are you? Count! South showed 5 Hears, 4 Clubs and a Diamond stopper
for his 3NT bid, after 3 suits were mentioned. He therefore most likely
has at least <span style="color: red;">♦</span>QXX or <span style="color:
red;">♦</span>Jxxx for that bid, as you have the <span style="color:
red;">♦</span>A and dummy has the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K.
That leaves him with at most 1 Spade. Playing the ♠K guarantees you to
establish 3 Spade tricks, as you also hold the ♠7, guarding against the possibility of
South holding the stiff ♠Q, as it happens here. Playing the ♠K will crash
declarer's ♠Q, and your ♣A will be an entry to the 3 high Spades in
your hand. But I still love you, even if we could have set this", said Dafna and blew him
another loving kiss from the other side of the table. <br>
<br>
George tried to maintain his serious look, but a weak smile escaped his lips. He was
so fortunate to have such a partner, in Bridge and in life. <br>
<br>
Oren Lidorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359188603749759016noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-940557744156568517.post-44561424195770893422019-04-30T03:09:00.003-07:002019-04-30T03:09:42.126-07:00Aces are the best!Emma has an issue with aces. She does not quite like them.
She once declared out loud: "Empty aces are useless. Each ace is only 1 trick". <br>
<br>
And from that moment, the aces kept haunting her:<br><br>
"Show more respect to your aces! They are the best cards", said her partner visibly outraged.<br>
"They are indeed the best, since Jokers are not around", confirmed her husband with a smile. <br>
<br>
"Don’t look at an ace as if it's worth just one trick. It's often worth much more: It
upgrades the cards you have in that suit by one rank: a King is now equal to the ace,
if you have that ace. The Q is equal to the K, if you have all three, and so on..." advised her teacher. <br>
<br>
But all these talks didn’t help. She always seemed to do the wrong thing, even on defense:<br><br>
"Why did you lead the Ace if you didn't have the K?", shouted her partner and went on:<br><br>
"You just promoted declarer's King. Lead passive and later on, when he plays his King – you
take it with your Ace." <br>
<br>
Emma tries to justify her move:<br><br>
"I wanted to see the dummy...". <br>
<br>
Her partner got even angrier: "And if you make a passive lead– you think you
won't see dummy?"... he yelled so loud that everyone in the club could hear. <br>
<br>
She went to her teacher, who confirmed her partner's words and also gave her a piece of advice:<br><br>
"Aces are very valuable cards. They are not there just to win a trick for you. They are also there to capture valuable cards from the opponents. Therefore, in most cases, try
to avoid leading an unprotected Ace. Wait with it until you can cover an honor from declarer". <br>
<br>
Next time they played, this deal arrived:
<br><br>
Dealer North - None Vulnerable </p>
<iframe
src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SJ87HKQ87DA3CAQ75&w=SAT3HAT3D98CJT943&n=S54H54DKQJ7652C62&e=SKQ962HJ962DT4CK8&d=n&v=b&a=3DP3NPPP"
height="300" width="400"></iframe><br>
<br>
<p>
There cannot be a more obvious lead than the ♣J ... a 5-card suiter, top of
sequence and 2 Aces as entries to establish her long suit. <br>
<br>
So she lead the ♣J and declarer claimed 9 tricks the moment he saw
dummy:<br><br>
"I get 2 Clubs and 7 Diamonds. The rest is yours", he said with a smile,
folded the cards back into the board and wrote the score. <br>
<br>
Partner was yelling as usual and Emma, still holding her cards
in hand, was shocked at what she was hearing this time... just fractions of words among loud shouting<br><br>
"Lead an ace?... but I don't have the King...", she heard herself responding. <br>
<br>
Declarer came to her rescue to cool the spirits:<br><br>
"When the bidding suggests that declarer has a long solid suit, and based his bid on FAST tricks (cashing his long and solid suit), you need to try an ACTIVE lead. An Ace, in other words. In
these situations it often happens that declarer has a hole, an exposed suit, and leading the ace
might help you find that hole. Say you lead the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>A.
Partner can discourage by signaling with the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>2.
Try the ♠A next to see him encouraging with his ♠9. A Spade continuation
from you – and you take the first 6 tricks on defense. Same as defending against a gambing 3NT opening, or if one of your opponents bids a side suit which seem solid enough for them to pull trumps and
discard all their losers on it. For instance: <br>
<br>
<iframe
src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?d=n&v=b&a=1DP3DP3HP4HPPP"
height="150" width="150"></iframe><br>
<br>
Lead a black Ace here to find your black tricks before declarer pulls trump and parks all his black losers on the good Diamond suit".<br>
<br>
Then he turned to Emma's partner: <br><br>
"Even if you are correct in what you are saying, it is wrong to bring it up the way you do. Scaring your partner will not make her better. Pay attention to how you discuss what went wrong, and you will see your
partnership improving much faster". <br>
Oren Lidorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359188603749759016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-940557744156568517.post-32714358340852308412019-03-23T02:23:00.001-07:002019-03-23T02:23:05.761-07:00Vision Tim and Edith have been married for 30 years. They met through Sports, they were both long distance runners. Although they have similar personalities and they are both extremely competitive, this was never a problem in their marriage. Quite on the contrary – they shared the same goals and worked as a team to achieve them. <br>
<br>
And then... they learned Bridge. And as wanting to excel was deeply rooted in their character – they found themselves arguing and accusing each other when things went wrong at the bridge table. That brought a bitter taste to their relationship. They wanted Bridge to be a shared passion, an activity they would enjoy together, as a team. They both loved the game, but... they also loved each other... And so they decided to play
with different partners. That way they could still go play at the club
together, discuss the hands, compete with each other and
still enjoy the game. <br>
<br>
Today they both played very well on this hand: Tim was West, defending, and Edith was South as declarer.
<br><br>
Dealer South, North - South Vulnerable </p>
<iframe
src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SA7HKQJ987DJ3CK75&w=S65HAT2DKT98CT643&n=SK432H543D7652CA2&e=SQJT98H6DAQ4CQJ98&d=s&v=n&a=1HP2H2S3C!(Game try)P4HPPP"
height="300" width="400"></iframe><br>
<br>
<p>
Tim, sitting West, lead the ♠6. Declarer took with the ♠A,
played ♣AK, ruffed a third Club in dummy and then played a Heart to the
<span style="color: red;">♥</span>J.<br>
<br>
Tim paused to think: He then saw the possibility of locking declarer in
dummy and promoting his <span style="color: red;">♥</span>10. So
he ducked this trick and allowed South to win with the <span style="color:
red;">♥</span>J. <br>
<br>
Declarer continued with the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>K.
Tim won with his <span style="color:
red;">♥</span>A and played his second Spade. Declarer won with
the ♠K but now he had no entry to hand to pull West's last trump.
He then tried a Diamond – but East took the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>A
and played a third Spade. Declarer is in trouble now. <br>
<br>
No matter what he does – the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>10
will make a trick: If he ruffs low – West overruffs. If he ruffs with
the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q – West discards and the
<span style="color: red;">♥</span>10 is good. If he throws a
Diamond – West, too, discards a Diamond and East continues with a fourth
Spade to promote the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>10.<br>
<br>
Tim was very pleased with his defense and thought there was a good chance
to finish first in today's tourney.
At the end he went with his partner to see the scores. Edith
was already standing by the board with her partner. <br>
<br>
Tim was a little disappointed. They were in second place after the couple he just
set in 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span> (Edith was in third). But he got over it quickly and said to his partner (loud enough so that Edith
could hear too): <br>
<br>
"Well, did we set the winning pair in 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span>?
YES, we did! And did we score better than my wife? Yes, we did! So... I'm happy". <br>
<br>Edith didn't remain silent:
"Which 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span> did you set? The cold, unbeatable 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span>?" After 2 seconds
it was clear they were indeed talking about the same hand: <br>
<br>
"You wouldn't manage to set me. I also got a spade lead, but I used my bridge vision to foresee the threat of a trump promotion, in case trumps
are 3-1. So I won the first trick with the ♠K in dummy, played ♣AK, ruffed a club, and played a heart to the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>J.
West tried to hold up once, like you did, and took his <span style="color:
red;">♥</span>A on the second round of hearts. He continued with another spade as you did, but I
simply won it in hand and cashed his last trump. I lost only two Diamonds and the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>A". <br>
<br>
Seeing Tim's long face, Edith's partner piped in:
"Come on, Tim, don't look so miserable. You are fortunate in real life
too to have a wife with such a vision..."
</p>
Oren Lidorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359188603749759016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-940557744156568517.post-67879460832072963902019-03-06T03:01:00.003-08:002019-03-06T03:01:19.635-08:00Mr. and Mrs. SmithMr. and Mrs. Smith is a movie starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie as a married couple, where both are secretly contract killers belonging to competing agencies. Assassins at their job, normal family life at home... <br>
<br>
So, what does that have to do with Bridge? <br>
<br>
John and Shelly are a married couple who play Bridge together at their local Bridge Club. They are also taking a defense course which has greatly improved their partnership.<br>
<br>
Our story begins on the following deal, on which our heroes are defenders. They were the only pair to set the contract:<br>
<br>
Dealer South, All Vulnerable </p>
<iframe
src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SQJT8HAKQDQ86CQ98&w=S94HT7654DAK95C64&n=SA32H932D432CAK32&e=SK765HJ8DJT7CJT75&d=s&v=o&a=1NP3NPPP"
height="300" width="400"></iframe><br>
<br>
<p>"Ms. Smith" sitting West lead the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>7 (all the other players in her seat lead a heart). East played the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>J, South won with the
<span style="color: red;">♥</span>K and tried the ♠Q for a finesse.
West followed with the ♠4. East took the ♠K and switched to the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>J. That way, the defense won 4 Diamond tricks and a Spade.
<br><br>
At all the other tables East continued with another Heart at trick 3 and declarer made 9 tricks: 3 Spades, 3 Hearts and 3 Clubs. After all, the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>7 lead could have been 4th best, for example from <span style="color: red;">♥</span>AQ976, and then a Heart back would indeed be the only return to set.
At the end of each tourney, the Director liked to choose an interesting hand from the tournament and discuss it after the game. For this tournament he picked this hand for the postmortem. </p>
So he prepared another hand, as below:<br>
<br>
<iframe
src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SQJT8HKT8DAK6CQ98&w=S94HAQ976DQ985C64&n=SA32H432D432CAK32&e=SK765HJ5DJT7CJT75&d=s&v=o&"
height="300" width="400"></iframe><br>
<br>
<p>On this hand that he prepared, after the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>7 lead – the only way to set is to play back a Heart, Partner's suit, at trick 3 – The "normal" defense.<br>
<br>
Then he showed the hand played in the tournament and invited "Mr Smith" to explain how he found he killing Diamond switch instead of continuing Hearts, like everyone else did. <br>
<br>
John explained:<br>
"My wife and I are attending an excellent Bridge class that improved our defense enormously. In one of the lessons on defense we learned about Smith Echo, and that's what we used here, on this hand. Smith Echo means giving a signal to your partner to show them whether you like their lead or not. The signal is given at TRICK 2, after declarer is playing his suit, and only if it is not essential to give count. Defenders signal to each other information about the opening lead: a high card shows interest and encourages partner to keep returning that suit. A low card shows no high cards or a bad suit and suggests a switch. (Dear readers – you can agree with your partner to signal the other way around if you prefer: play a LOW card to encourage and a high card to suggest a change of suit.) So, as my wife played the ♠4 at trick 2, her lowest Spade, I knew she didn't like hearts much and wanted a switch. So I looked at dummy – playing on Diamonds was easy. If her Heart suit was <span style="color: red;">♥</span>AQ976, she would follow with her ♠9 at trick 2 and I would return a Heart next", he completed his explanation. <br>
<br>
One of the players, who had never heard of Smith Echo before, shouted with admiration: "Contract killers!!!", intending to compliment the couple for their nice defense. <br>
<br>
However... from that moment on, the whole club started calling them "Mr. and Mrs. Smith", even though they really disliked their new nickname.</p>Oren Lidorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359188603749759016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-940557744156568517.post-66455466269045478982019-02-01T08:13:00.004-08:002019-02-01T08:13:43.820-08:00Open Cards Naomi knew everything about the Champion. He was her hero. She read all
his books and knew about all his world wide winnings. <br>
<br>
That is why she was thrilled when she heard that he was invited to the
Bridge Festival in her City.<br>
<br>
"Can you believe it?? He is coming here and I will finally see him face
to face. I wonder how he is... you know, as a person", she said to her
partner, excited. <br>
<br>
Her partner was not at all that excited "Probably he looks like an
alien... you know, like these 'lost' brilliant professors who know all
about their subject, but nothing about real life. OR maybe he is like
the champion of our club, looking down at other players, insulting
everyone and putting them down so that they realize they know nothing",
said her partner. <br>
<br>
Her partner was always skeptical like that. But Naomi was not
discouraged:<br>
<br>
"No! He is not like that! I'm sure of it. I can feel it from the way he
writes: so clear, so full of humor. He can't be anything like what you
say". <br>
<br>
But... Doubts did approach her heart: Maybe her partner was right. How
'normal' can a real world champion be? <br>
<br>
The day has come. Naomi and her partner joined the Pairs Tourney at the
Festival. And she saw Him, the Champion himself. But she didn't dare to
approach him. He was surrounded by other famous players and she felt
like a complete outsider. <br>
<br>
And then, while playing the tourney, she happened to be in the same
section he played... And finally it was her turn to move to his table,
playing against him! She was full of excitement, fear and emotion. She
took her seat quietly, trying to hide her emotions. <br>
<br>
The champion shook her hand and her partner's and introduced himself
politely.
He spoke softly, and seemed calm and humble. Nothing like what her
partner described. <br>
<br>
On the hand below he "guessed" all the missing cards and played the
hand as if all the cards were in the open (Dear readers, I challenge
you!! Can you make 4♠ here with all cards in view? Give it a try before
reading further.) <br>
<br>
Dealer East - None vulnerable:<br>
<iframe
src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=S87632H4DAKQ43CT3&w=SKH9865DJ862CKJ97&n=SQ54HAJ73D7CAQ542&e=SAJT9HKQT2DT95C86&d=e&v=o&a=PPP1CX1S2HX%28support%20dbl,%203%20cards%20spads%29P3SP4SXPPP"
height="300" width="400"></iframe><br>
<br>
After a quiet start, the bidding came to life till it ended with 4♠
doubled. Naomi, sitting East, held these heavy spades and her Partner
promised something too, after all he did bid 2<span
style="color: red;">♥</span> freely... Wouldn’t
that be something – To set the Champion, doubled? That would be a story
to tell and a memory for lifetime. <br>
<br>
She overcame her fear and dared to double the champion's 4♠. Her
partner lead the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>9.
The champion turned to her and asked her politely about their leading
agreements. <br>
<br>
She answered: 9 means top of nothing. <br>
<br>
The champion said nothing more. He just thought for 2 whole minutes
("Woww, the champion is thinking against me", she thought with a
thrill).<br>
<br>
Then he asked for the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>A,
ruffed a heart. Played <span style="color: red;">♦</span>AKQ,
finessed to the ♣Q. He ruffed the third heart, played a club to the
Ace. Ruffed the fourth heart, and then played a spade from hand.<br>
<br>
This was the situation: <br>
<iframe
src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=S87D43&w=SKDJCKJ&n=SQ54C5&e=SAJT9&d=e&v=o"
height="300" width="400"></iframe><br>
<br>
Naomi's partner played the ♠K, and Naomi, stripped to spades only,
followed with the ♠9. West continued with the <span
style="color: red;">♦</span>J, and the champion
discarded a club from dummy. Naomi was forced to ruff her partner's
winner and play a spade back. Thus, the ♠Q became the champion's 10th
trick. <br>
<br>
Naomi couldn't resist asking: "How did you guess the position of all
the cards?".<br>
<br>
The champion smiled: "I didn't really guess. It was a combination of
listening to the bidding and seeing the lead. After that, it is like
playing with open cards.<br>
<br>
Since your partner showed no heart values, it was clear that the <span
style="color: red;">♥</span>KQ were in your hand. Also
your both doubles suggest that spades split 4-1. However, since you
were a passed hand, you can't have the ♠AK. With ♠AK, and <span
style="color: red;">♥</span>KQ you would have opened
the bidding. <br>
That means that your partner must have a singleton ♠A or ♠K and the ♣K
too. Bidding also suggested that hearts are 4-4, and that you are short
in clubs with diamond tolerance, from your take out double. <br>
<br>
That's it, really, I hope I explained it clear", he said, trying to
sound as modest as possible about his brilliant analysis and
performance on this hand. <br>
<br>
"Yes, absolutely... I ehhh....", Naomi began to say something, but she
choked with emotion. She sat there quietly while the champion was
giving her full attention, waiting for her to calm down and finish her
phrase. <br>
<br>
Her partner came to the rescue: "This is Naomi, my best friend. Do you
realize you are her hero? She read all your books, she followed all
your victories. She wanted to meet you in person for a long
time. And today she came to play here especially to see you", he said
with a naughty smile. <br>
<br>
Naomi blushed and so did the champion. Now it was his turn to lose his
words. It took him some time before he finally said: <br>
<br>
"Thank you so much, Naomi". <br>
<br>
Oren Lidorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359188603749759016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-940557744156568517.post-50743094005207149902019-01-03T05:14:00.004-08:002019-01-19T06:04:31.018-08:00A metaphor
Jake and Gina have been married for 50 years. <br>
<br>
Since forever they have been doing everything together: work, house chores,
raising a family and... of course, play Bridge together. Ever since they
learned to play, they always played together as partners and never ever
had any fights over bridge (when they got a bad score, they always tried to analyze
what went wrong in order to improve their play, and never hesitated to
take the blame when they realized one of them made a mistake). <br>
<br>
"Don't you realize couples should never play together?",
they got asked every now and then. <br>
<br>
"Nonsense! It's just a game", would answer Jake. "It's a joy for me to
partner my loved one at bridge too", said Gina. <br>
<br>
When their kids grew up (a son and a daughter) – they
taught them how to play, and played at home once a week.<br><br>
When the children got married and had kids themselves – they also taught
their grandchildren how to play. <br>
<br>
The tradition of a competitive game of Bridge once a week at Jake and Gina's home was kept over the years, and the number of tables in play kept growing, as the family grew. <br>
<br>
For today's game, they had their daughter and her husband, their son and his wife,
and their four grandchildren for the weekly bridge.
Jake played with Gina (as always), the daughter played with their son's
wife, the son with their daughter's husband, two grandsons partnered each other, and their two granddaughters formed another pair.<br>
<br>
During the play, the youngest grandson (7 years old) asked out loud: "Grandpa, how come you chose grandma? It's clear that she's the right one for you, since you're always together, even at bridge!" <br>
<br>
All ears where turned to their table to hear the answer...<br> <br>
"I'll answer you question with a question: The king wanted his son, the prince,
to get married. Many wanted to marry the prince but in the end only three remained:
a blonde, daughter of a rich businessman, a brunette, daughter of a successful
doctor, and a redhead, daughter of a priest. So... which one did he choose?", asked Jake. <br>
<br>
Many different answers were offered from all three tables, as each bet on another answer. <br>
<br>
"And what do you think, my grandson?"<br>
<br>
"I think he married the most beautiful one", answered the grandson. <br>
<br>
"Right! You are so clever", Jake complimented him with a smile. <br>
<br>
For the hand below, Gina was the only one who managed to make the contract:<br>
<br>
Dealer South - All vulnerable:<br>
<iframe
src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SAKQHAQ6DAK542CQJ&w=SJT9642HKT7D96C87&n=S753H8542DQ7CAK65&e=S8HJ93DJT783CT9432&d=s&v=b&a=2CP2DP3NP6NPPP"
height="300" width="400"></iframe><br>
<br>
6NT was easy to reach, and the lead at all three tables was the ♠J.
At the other two tables, declarer won the lead, played ♣QJ, went
to dummy with the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q, pulled the
♣AK and tried to establish the Diamonds. But East won the 4th Diamond
and cashed the 5th Club for down one. The Heart finesse doesn’t
work here either. <br>
<br>
Gina started the same way by winning ♣QJ. But then she made the move
which guaranteed her success: She ducked a Diamond! East won, but Gina made
the rest of the tricks: the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q was
an entry to the ♣AK, and the Diamond suit is high now: 4 Diamonds,
4 Clubs, 3 Spades and 1 Heart.<br>
<br>
"Is it true? Did grandpa really choose you because you were the most beautiful?",
asked the young grandchild.<br>
<br>
"No. There were plenty more beautiful girls around. I think he chose me because
of other reasons. Using the word 'beautiful' is just a metaphor, dear", said Gina.<br>
<br>
"What's a metaphor?", he asked.<br>
<br>
"A metaphor is sort of an image, giving one thing as an example to make a
point of something similar. It's like a fable. You understand?". <br>
<br>
"Sure! Now I get it. He chose you because you were the best Bridge player
around", he shouted, and everyone laughed out loud...
Oren Lidorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359188603749759016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-940557744156568517.post-67102420072025188882018-12-13T03:22:00.003-08:002018-12-13T03:22:47.233-08:0011 tricks off the topDear readers, today's story is a perfect example that Bridge is
a game of common sense and not just dry rules. <br>
<br>
Before a teams tournament a player said to his partner: "Pay attention to my signals! Rule says lead our 4th best card from a suit with an honor. The card we lead is important to me, as it tells a lot about the length of partner's suit. For example, if I lead the 2 it should be clear to you that I have a suit with only 4 cards: The 2 is the 4th, so there are 3 cards above it,
and... none below it. So, if I have more than 4 cards in that suit I will lead
the 4th card, and later on will play a lower card to show you that my suit is longer. In other words, if I lead the 3 and later on play the 2 – I am showing you that I have a 5 suiter headed by an honor. Clear?!" <br>
<br>
His partner responded: "Well, I look at carding only when it's needed, and signal only when it's necessary, and only what I judge my partner needs to be signaled. Otherwise I just use common sense, as Bridge is a great game of thinking". <br>
<br>
The other player did not agree at all and insisted to follow the rule at all times. The two argued for quite a bit until the game started, and no agreement was reached about how they will be signaling.
<br>
<br>
And then came this hand, where they lost 16 IMPs:
<br>
<br>
Dealer South - North - South vulnerable:<br>
<iframe
src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SK7H7654DK3CAKQJ6&w=SAQTHJ9832D87C754&n=S93HKTDAQJ542C932&e=SJ86542HAQDT96CT8&d=s&v=NS&a=1NP3NPPP"
height="300" width="400"></iframe><br>
<br>
At both tables, the bidding went exactly the same, with South opening 1NT on that semi balanced hand.
At both tables the lead was the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>3, 4th best. <br>
<br>
At "our" table, the "common sense" player won the lead with his <span style="color: red;">♥</span>A when declarer tried the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>K. He then played the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q, on which the "rule" player followed with the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>2 to show (with a huge victory smile) that he lead from a 5 suiter. <br>
<br>
And now what? <br>
<br>
No more Hearts in hand, Diamonds are not an option, and dummy's black suits look just the same. Which suit to continue? <br>
<br>
With no clear preference he looked at his partners 2nd card in the hope that it will signal suit preference, as he thought it should, since showing length of the heart suit meant nothing now when he had no more Hearts to play.
And so, seeing the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>2 card still on the table, he continued with a Club, thinking the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>2 is a clear preference to the lower ranking suit. <br>
<br>
The surprised declarer almost fell off his chair when he saw the club switch and immediately claimed 11 tricks off the top: 5 Clubs and 6 Diamonds: 3NT + 2 = 660.<br>
<br>
What happened at the other table, you wonder? <br>
<br>
11 tricks where cashed off the top there as well, but with a slight difference: On the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q, West followed with the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>9! East had no problems taking the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>9 as suit preference to Spade and continued with a Spade at trick 3. West won the ♠A when declarer tried the ♠K. He then cashed his <span style="color: red;">♥</span>J82 and continued with the ♠Q, followed by the ♠10 which East overtook with the ♠J and cashed the rest of his top Spades: 5 Hearts and 6 Spades = 11 tricks off the top! 3NT – 7 = -700. And a total swing of 1360 points which cost their team 16 IMPs. <br>
<br>
"I still think my play was correct", insisted the rule player. <br>
<br>
"Yeah, sure... Like the doctor said: The operation I performed was a great success, too bad the patient died...", responded his partner with a bitter tone and added: <br><br>
"Or if you prefer «Amazing brain surgery, Doctor, but your patient came with a heart attack...» In other words partner, when you signal - signal what's important for me to know".
Oren Lidorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359188603749759016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-940557744156568517.post-85635243825680113872018-11-22T01:38:00.002-08:002018-11-22T01:38:07.032-08:00The RobbersJane is playing at the club with her teacher today. <br>
<br>
The teacher insists to teach her to play by the rules and he also worked nicely with her on partnership defense. <br>
<br>
Before they moved to the last round, she pointed her finger at
the couple they were about to play against and said to her teacher:
"Against these two, I hate most to play. They don’t bid according to the rules
and always rob me of my games. And the most annoying thing is that their moves
always work for them, at least when they play against me". <br>
<br>
Her teacher responded: "Don't get over excited. Remember you can always
double them if you feel they went wild. Check the vulnerability and look carefully at your hand to decide whether it is worth punishing them based on your partner's bids and your own hand."
And indeed, the opponents did not "disappoint":
<br>
<br>
Dealer West - North-South vulnerable:<br>
<iframe
src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SATHDQJT9542CQT62&w=S2HKQT7654D86C754&n=SKJ65HAJ2DK3CKJ93&e=SQ98743H983DA7CA8&d=w&v=NS&a=3H3N4H5DPPP"
height="300" width="400"></iframe><br>
<br>
Jane thought for a long time before she bid 5<span style="color: red;">♦</span>.
Again, she had the familiar feeling that these opponents are trying to rob her.
She was quite certain that her teacher's 3NT bid showed a good hand with Heart
stoppers (though she wasn’t entirely sure how strong he was with such a bid).
Also her hand was pretty good. So... how come her opponents find themselves in
4<span style="color: red;">♥</span> so fast? <br>
<br>
She remembered her teacher's advice to double them if she feels they try to rob
her game again. But then his other advice was to look at the vulnerability:
"We are vulnerable, and they are not. My hand is too offensive to double them and I feel I
have a great chance to make 5<span style="color: red;">♦</span>", she
thought and bid 5<span style="color: red;">♦</span>. <br>
<br>
West lead the ♠2. <br>
<br>
Jane looked at the lead: "After all this 'noise' of bidding 4<span style="color:
red;">♥</span>, why a spade lead?", she thought to herself. "Maybe he has
a singleton", she kept thinking. <br>
<br>
After few more seconds of thought and counting her two losers, one in Club and one in Diamond
she decided... there is nothing to think about... She must pull trumps and establish her Clubs, no other way to make.<br>
<br>
Therefore she asked for a low Spade from dummy, won with her ♠A when East
covered with the ♠Q and played a Diamond. East won it with the <span
style="color: red;">♦</span>A, played back a Spade for West to ruff and later on
opponents won the ♣A to set her 1 down.<br>
<br>
Jane was very upset. "I got robbed again by these two. 3NT is ice cold.
I could double them but then I thought I have a good chance to make. And I would have made it, had they not gotten that Spade ruff. I'm so frustrated!", she was on the verge of tears. <br>
<br>
Her teacher tried to calm her down: "What can I say... They are allowed to bid like
this and be wild if they feel like it. It's not against the rules. 4<span style="color:
red;">♥</span> goes 2 down as we get 1 Spade, 2 Hearts, 1 Club and 1 Diamond.<br>
<br>
However... You can make 5<span style="color: red;">♦</span>! Simply win the
lead with the ♠K in dummy, continue with the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>A
and discard your ♠A on it! Now you can safely play a Diamond and when East takes
the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>A and plays back Spade – Just ruff it high in hand,
pull the rest of the trumps, and claim 11 tricks". <br>
<br>
Jane felt even more miserable: "SIMPLY? It’s not at all simple for me".
<br>
Oren Lidorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359188603749759016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-940557744156568517.post-42774164472816329542018-11-22T01:36:00.002-08:002018-11-22T01:36:47.758-08:00200 km per hourOn Sunday morning Bill left home very early. Actually, it was 4AM, and
it was still night outside. He was heading to a Bridge tourney in
another village, about 160 kilometers from where he lived. The
village was celebrating 100 years of existence with, among other
festivities, a big Bridge tournament which was to begin at 9AM. <br>
<br>
So... why did he leave so early, you may ask (his wife asked that too).
Well, Bill owned a very old car (a 1959 model), and any speed over 60
km per hour was a real menace for the car's well being (it could go at
most 70... downhill). <br>
<br>
"That car is almost as old as you are! Time to replace it!", his wife
said often.<br>
<br>
"It is <span style="font-style: italic;">Not</span>!
We got it from my parents as a wedding gift. <span
style="font-style: italic;">You </span>are almost as
old as I am. Maybe I should replace you!", he used to shout back.<br>
<br>
And so today he was careful to take his time, planning to drive slowly,
take a few breaks along the way, and still arrive to the event royally
on time. <br>
<br>
But even though he was driving so cautiously, the car stopped abruptly
in the middle of nowhere, as if to say: "That's it, no more!". <br>
<br>
Bill had no choice but to sit out there, watching the sun rise and
waiting for a car to pass by. After almost 2 hours of waiting, a white
beautiful new Mercedes showed up and stopped next to him. <br>
<br>
"You need a ride, old man?", offered the Mercedes driver. <br>
<br>
"Would it be ok if I tie my car to yours and you pull me? I'm very fond
of my car and I don’t want to just leave it here. Here, I have a towing
cable in my trunk. I knew this unfortunate day will come, but I wasn't
expecting it to be today.... Will you please do me this favor?". <br>
<br>
The driver felt sorry for Bill, and agreed to pull his car. <br>
<br>
"One more thing: You can't go fast or it will break down. No more than
50 kilometers per hour, please", added Bill.<br>
<br>
"You must be joking. This baby is faster than 50 even when it's
parked!", he laughed loudly at his own joke and continued: "But you
know what, if I drive too fast, just honk your horn, and I'll slow
down, OK?".<br>
<br>
"Agreed! Thanks so much!", Bill was pleased. <br>
<br>
And so, they started to drive. Every now and then Bill honked, and the
Mercedes driver slowed down.<br>
<br>
All of a sudden a black BMW appeared out of nowhere and overtook them
at lightning speed. The Mercedes driver managed to see the other
driver, who was no other than his wife! Rather pissed at her nerve, he
started racing after her. The BMW went faster and so did the Mercedes
right behind it. A police patrol on the side of the road saw with
amazement three cars racing one after another at no less than 200
kilometers per hour!<br>
<br>
As the police car wasn't fast enough, the officer announced
headquarters, and a police blockade was formed quickly just outside the
village Bill was heading to. The drivers were stopped for investigation
and when the police officer came to face pale Bill, he noticed Bill was
in shock. Bill couldn't move nor talk. Looking at his ID, the police
officer said: <br>
<br>
"So, Bill. 200 kilometers per hour is not fast enough for you, is it?
You had to honk your horn like mad too? May I ask what was so urgent to
drive on a Sunday morning at this speed?".<br>
<br>
Bill finally managed to open his mouth and all he could mutter was:<br>
"Well, I was in a hurry for the Bridge tourney in the village". <br>
<br>
The officer looked at his watch: "Oh my God! It starts in 5 minutes.
I'd better drive you over there so that you are not late!". <br>
<br>
Bill's partner was not at all happy to see him there at the very last
minute. "I thought you said you'll leave home early to be on time. How
slow did you go this time to arrive so late?", he asked bitterly. <br>
<br>
"About as slow as 200 per hour", said Bill still shaking from the
shock. <br>
<br>
This hand, against the Village champion, reminded him of the mad race
he had just been through: <br>
<br>
Dealer East - North-South vulnerable:<br>
<iframe
src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SA43HAKQJT98DCAK2&w=S2H7654DAJ8CT9876&n=S65HDKQ765432CQJ3&e=SKQJT987H32Dt9C54&d=e&v=NS&a=3SXP6D%28%21%29P6HPPP"
height="300" width="400"></iframe><br>
<br>
Partner's jump to 6<span style="color: red;">♦</span>
seem like accelerating from 0 to 200 in 2 seconds to him. And so he
honked his horn and bid 6<span style="color: red;">♥</span>
("I must be losing my mind", he thought). <br>
<br>
East led the ♠2. Declarer had 11 top tricks. Assuming West had the <span
style="color: red;">♦</span>A and no more spades to
play, he saw it would be possible to establish a Diamond trick. But he
had transportation problems: He had 1 entry to dummy to play the <span
style="color: red;">♦</span>K , but no other entry to
cash the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q. <br>
<br>
Given that he managed to survive the surreal events in the morning, he
made up his mind and decided not to lose hope and battle it to
the end: He won the lead with the ♠A and pulled 6 rounds of Hearts.
Then he played ♣AK and a Club to the ♣Q. He was hoping West will have
only diamonds left. But West won the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K
with the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>A (Bill
discarded a spade) and played another Club. Bill had to ruff and
concede the last Spade to East. <br>
<br>
The Village champion was amused: "Trouble reaching dummy? Imagine that
you are stuck and you want dummy to get you out of trouble. So what do
you do? You use me as a rope! In other words use me to help you enter
dummy: After pulling trumps, play ♣A and then a low club to the ♣J. Now
play the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K and
discard the ♣K from hand! I'll get the trick with the <span
style="color: red;">♦</span>A but now whether I play
club or diamond – I will get you to dummy and you can discard your 2
spade losers on those Q's". <br>
<br>
A nerve wrecking day for poor Bill who was used to a slow, quiet life. <br>
<br>
Oren Lidorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359188603749759016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-940557744156568517.post-44797162502029234792018-10-02T05:02:00.004-07:002018-10-02T05:02:37.503-07:00The odd coupleIn my club there are players
from 9 years old till over 90, men and women, religious and non
religious, politically right and left, rich and poor, professors and
judges but also players who didn't finish high school. All playing in
perfect harmony. And where else will you find so many different types
of people sitting at the same table, spending 3 hours together?<br />
<br />
For example these two players who have been partners for at least 10
years: Esther is 60 and she is a fashion designer. She looks no more
than 40 years old (after a few plastic surgeries in several areas...).
She is very attractive, she has a lovely figure, and she dresses very
colorful (you will never see her wearing the same clothes twice). She
is very energetic and she is involved in most of the big social events
in the city. <br />
<br />
Her partner, Joseph, is an accountant. He is 50, but looks 70. He is
single, overweight, and always wears the same overly short t-shirt.<br />
<br />
While Joseph is quiet and has no sense of humor whatsoever, Esther is
chatty and lively enough for both of them. <br />
<br />
"Are you really 60?", she got asked once. <br />
"Only parts of me...", she winked, alluding to the (few) parts of her
body that weren't touched yet by the doctors. <br />
<br />
When asked about her long lasting partnership with Joseph, who is so
different from her, she would say: "With him it's a 'catholic wedding'.
I'm a lot more faithful to him than I was to my 3 ex-husbands. By the
way, he is the only man I have ever met who only showed interest in my
brains, and not other parts of my body..."<br />
<br />
And here is a an example of wonderful co-operation on defense,
emphasizing their partnership chemistry: <br />
<br />
Dealer West - All vulnerable:<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=S963HK843DQ2CA543&w=SAK54HJ97D83CKQ106&n=S1087HAQ65DAKJ65C2&e=SQJ2H102D10974CJ987&d=w&v=b&a=1CXP2HP4HPPP" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
Joseph, sitting West, lead the ♠A and Esther followed with the ♠Q.<br />
<br />
That card helped him understand that she also holds the ♠J and so he
continued with a low Spade at trick 2. Esther won the ♠J and continued
with a 3rd Spade to Joseph's ♠K.<br />
<br />
He paused for few seconds to count points: Declarer's 2<span style="color: red;">♥</span> bid suggested 9-11
points, dummy had 14 and he had 12.
That leaves 2-4 points for his partner, of which he already saw the
♠QJ. <br />
<br />
Therefore the ♣A must be with declarer (also, if Esther had the ♣A, she
would likely play it after winning the ♠J and before continuing with
the 3rd Spade) along with the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>K
and the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q. <br />
<br />
That means that the only chance left to set is to try to promote a
trump trick. Consequently, Joseph continued with his 4th Spade which
Esther ruffed (without a blink) with the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>10.
Declarer over ruffed with his <span style="color: red;">♥</span>K
but Joseph's <span style="color: red;">♥</span>J
got promoted now, no matter how declarer plays the Hearts. <br />
They were the only ones to set that "10 tricks off the top" 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span> contract. <br />
<br />
"Since you're such a great fashion designer, perhaps you could design a
normal shirt for your partner to wear?", hissed a frustrated declarer. <br />
<br />
"That would be a challenge! He'd need to lose a few kilos just to enter
a regular XXL. However, I have no plans to redesign
anything about him. Our tacit mutual understanding is that we
communicate with each other purely through cards". <br />
<br />
<br />Oren Lidorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359188603749759016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-940557744156568517.post-76638247375628333032018-09-04T02:42:00.003-07:002018-09-04T02:42:59.047-07:00Couple TherapyWhen a married couple has problems in their marriage – they go to
couple's therapy. <br>
<br>
John and Barbara are not married. They are not even a couple. They are
just Bridge partners, who have been playing together for a long time.
Well... long time in total. They took many breaks over time, when they
stopped playing together after harsh arguments and after "divorces" so
vocal that everyone in the club knew they had sworn to never play
together again. Each time this happened, they were so hostile
to one another that they didn’t even say hello. <br>
<br>
But after some time, after they managed to get into fights and
arguments with every other partner I tried to match them with, they
always got back to playing together. <br>
<br>
"How come they are together again?" people would ask me. "I did couple
therapy with them," I'd say without batting an eye. <br>
<br>
"You think it will hold?", asked the skeptic ones (which were about
everyone...). <br>
<br>
“Absolutely!" I'd answer, looking straight into their eyes. "I even got
a wedding invite from them..."<br>
<br>
As both of them always looked for mistakes in their partner's play, and
commented all the time (often wrong analysis), nobody wanted to play
with them, which was the real reason they kept going back to playing
together.<br>
<br>
And so, here is the hand that caused their final divorce.<br>
<br>
Barbara managed to produce a fabulous defense, and John, with
incredible talent... totally ruined it:<br>
<br>
Dealer North - None vulnerable:<br>
<iframe
src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=S9876HAJ6DAQ2C654&w=S54HT9543DJ83CA87&n=SKT3HKQDKTCQJT932&e=SAQJ2H872D97654CK&d=n&a=1CP1SP2CP2NP3S%283cards%29P3NPPP"
height="300" width="400"></iframe><br>
<br>
John lead the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>10
(which, according their agreement is top of sequence or two higher
honors, so he has either 109xxx or AJ10xx).<br>
<br>
Declarer won with the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q
in dummy and asked for the ♣Q. To her surprise, Barbara's ♣K won the
trick. <br>
<br>
Counting points, she concluded that since dummy has 14 points, she has
10 and declarer has 10-11, her partner should have around 5
points, 4 of which consist in the ♣A (else declarer would not
let her win the King). <br>
<br>
Therefore, the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>10
lead was from top of sequence, as there is no room for the <span
style="color: red;">♥</span>AJ in his hand. That means
2 Club tricks are guaranteed, and in order to set 3NT, defense needs 3
Spade tricks. From the bidding it is obvious that declarer has exactly
4 Spades. <br>
<br>
After some thought, Barbara found the only defense which sets: the ♠2! <br>
<br>
John exploded: "What are you doing??!! Play spade to dummy's strength,
and did you forget that declarer bid 1♠? You have no idea how to play
this game!" he added with his typical vulgar tone. <br>
<br>
I happened to be standing next to their table and I warned John (for
the millionth time) to stop talking during the play, to stop being rude
and actually... to stop talking at all. <br>
<br>
The play continued: <br>
<br>
Declarer won the spade trick cheaply with the ♠6, continued with Clubs,
and John, upon winning the ♣A on the 3rd round, played back a... Heart.
<br>
<br>
This time it was Barbara's turn to burst: "You have no more spades to
play? Play a spade, I win my ♠AQJ and set the contract. Why don't you
continue my line of defense?"<br>
<br>
I was called to the table once again and ruled 11 tricks for declarer.<br>
<br>
And that was it. After this last fight, I fear there is no "couple
therapy" that can save them... <br>
<br>
<br>
Oren Lidorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359188603749759016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-940557744156568517.post-60893766845054904602018-08-11T04:30:00.004-07:002018-08-11T04:30:58.879-07:00CinderellaDalia was so furious that you could almost see smoke coming off her
ears. She had left her house at 8AM to make sure she would get to the
Bridge Club early (the game starts at 10AM). Then she waited at the bus
stop for 40 minutes because the full busses passed by without stopping.
Then, when she finally managed to get on a bus – it got stuck in the
middle of the road. And when she rushed down to get out of the bus,
someone stepped on her heel and tore her shoe. <br />
<br />
Dalia took a taxi and managed to arrive at the club 5 minutes before
10AM, with only one shoe, barely breathing, only to find
out ... <br />
<br />
...That her partner phoned a few minutes ago to announce that she is
not coming:
"Yes, she called and said that the guy she had called to fix the
refrigerator arrived at 9:30 instead of 8:00", I told her and explained
further how the conversation with her partner went: "You know how it is
with technicians... You can never trust them to be in time", she said
and hung up... <br />
<br />
Dalia exploded: "Really? What about her!? Can <span style="font-style: italic;">she</span> be trusted? The
technician was late, but at least he showed up, while she didn't show
up at all!" <br />
<br />
But with all the bad luck she had that day, Dalia got the most angry
with ... me!<br />
<br />
"Why is Dalia mad at you?” one of the players asked. "Because I called
her Cinderella", I answered innocently and added with a smile: "How
else should I call someone who arrives at the club with one shoe?”<br />
<br />
Dalia wanted to go home but I didn't let her: "Don't move! I will find
you another witch...err... a nice partner to play with", I said.<br />
<br />
And indeed, I managed to match her with someone nice to play with. And
I also patched her broken shoe with tape: “Here, as good as new. With
such a wonderful shoe, the prince will find you in no time,
Cinderella", I pushed on, annoyingly.<br />
<br />
Dalia finally calmed down and her luck seemed to change: All morning
she got hands full of points. She didn't just get great hands, she
played them well too. Like this difficult hand for instance: <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SAKQ1096HAK2DAK54&w=S732HQT8DJ976CKT3&n=SJ4H654DQ32CJ8765&e=S85HJ973DT8CAQ942&d=s&v=n&a=2CP2DP3SP4SP6SPPP" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
West lead a Club. Declarer has two losers: a Diamond and a Heart. Most
declarers who bid the slam went down one after they pulled trump and
hoped for Diamonds to split 3-3. <br />
<br />
Dalia managed to improve her chances: <br />
<br />
She ruffed the lead and played <span style="color: red;">♦</span>A,
a Diamond to the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q
and a third Diamond from dummy. If Diamonds were 3-3 – the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K wins and she could pull
trumps and enjoy the fourth Diamond.<br />
<br />
But here, with the 4-2 split, East thought what to do: If he discards –
Dalia will win with the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K
and then ruff her 4th Diamond with the ♠J in dummy, losing just one
Heart trick in the end. <br />
<br />
Therefore he ruffed the third Diamond, and continued with another Club.
Dalia ruffed the club, played one round of trumps, continued with the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K from her hand
(discarding a Heart from dummy), then continued with <span style="color: red;">♥</span>AK and ruffed her Heart
loser in dummy to make her 12th trick. <br />
<br />
"Bravo, Cinderella!", shouted her partner (everyone were looking from
the other tables), and Dalia raised her first smile for the day. <br />
<br />
<br />Oren Lidorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359188603749759016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-940557744156568517.post-48535688647774206752018-08-09T06:12:00.002-07:002018-08-11T04:21:29.574-07:00Choose Your Finesse – Part 6On many occasions when you are declarer the success of your contract
would depend on a successful finesse. Sometimes declarer has a choice
between finesses. He has to decide which finesse to take (or whether to
take a finesse at all...) This is Part 6 of Oren's series on Finesses.
If you missed the previous articles, you can find them here: <a href="http://webutil.bridgebase.com/v2/news_fetch.php?id=4249" target="_blank"> Part 1</a>, <a href="http://webutil.bridgebase.com/v2/news_fetch.php?id=4273" target="_blank">Part 2</a>, <a href="http://webutil.bridgebase.com/v2/news_fetch.php?id=4308" target="_blank">Part 3</a>, <a href="http://webutil.bridgebase.com/v2/news_fetch.php?id=4439" target="_blank">Part 4</a> and <a href="http://webutil.bridgebase.com/v2/news_fetch.php?id=4627" target="_blank">Part 5</a>
<br />
<br />
Take these hands and see if you choose the right finesse:
<br />
<br />
<b>Start the test now!</b><br />
<br />
<b>51.</b> You play 6♠ on a <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q lead. When you win and pull out trumps, West shows out on the second round. Why is this hand here (what does it have to do with finesses)? How do you play? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SAKQ2HA2DK42CKQ92&n=S7643HK943DA8CA43&d=w&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SJT98HQT75D9765CJ&s=SAKQ2HA2DK42CKQ92&w=S5HJ86DQJT3CT8765&n=S7643HK943DA8CA43&d=w&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 6♠ on a <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q lead. Win with the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>A and play ♠AK. West shows out on the second Spade. Now it is time to be careful: Continue with the ♣A and with another club from dummy.
<br />
<br />
If East ruffs - it will be his last trick as you will win any return, pull out the last trump and claim (ruff Diamond in dummy and the rest is high).
<br />
<br />
If East discards (best) - Win with the ♣Q. Play the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K and a diamond ruff, then continue with another club from dummy. Again, if East discards - Win with the ♣K, and ruff the last club in dummy. East can overruff, but that will be his only trick.
<br />
<br />
So... playing a club from dummy is like a finesse (it's called expass here): playing from dummy towards a high card in hand when the second hand opponent has a higher card in hand. This time opponent had a trump instead of the ace, so if he ruffs – he ruffs "air", and if he doesn't – you score your honor.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>52.</b> You play 3NT and the ♠Q is led. You duck once and win the second
spade with the ♠K. How do you play the diamond suit? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SK3HA94DQ65CKQ543&n=SA42HKQ3DAJ943CJ2&d=w&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=S765H8765DKT87C76&s=SK3HA94DQ65CKQ543&w=SQJT98HJT2D2CAT98&n=SA42HKQ3DAJ943CJ2&d=w&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 3NT on a ♠Q lead. Hold up once and win with the ♠K on the second round. Play the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>A and then a low diamond to the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q. If West wins - You have 4 diamond tricks. If he plays low - Win the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q and when you see that West shows out - switch to Clubs. You make 2 Clubs, 2 Diamonds, 3 Hearts and 2 Spades. This line is good also against <span style="color: red;">♦</span>KTxx with West: After East shows out on the second round of diamonds, your <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q loses to East's <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K but you can finesse later to the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>9 and make 4 diamond tricks. If you try to run the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q – East will get the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K and play a third spade. You will go down now, as neither diamonds, nor clubs are high.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>53.</b> You play 6♣ on a <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q lead. Which finesse do you take, if any? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SAQJTHA4DJ2CKQJT3&n=S765H5DAQ543CA765&d=w&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=S843HK876DKT87C84&s=SAQJTHA4DJ2CKQJT3&w=SK92HQJT932D96C92&n=S765H5DAQ543CA765&d=w&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 6♣ on a <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q lead. Win in hand, play two rounds of clubs and play a LOW diamond from dummy.
<br />
<br />
If East has the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K and plays it - You score all the other diamonds and can discard 3 spades.
<br />
<br />
If he plays low - You don't lose any diamonds. If the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K is with West and your <span style="color: red;">♦</span>J loses to West's <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K, West cannot play the Spade suit and you are able to check if diamonds are 3-3, allowing you 3 spade discards. If not - You can still attempt the spade finesse.
<br />
<br />
If you play the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>J after pulling trump, and the finesse loses to East, East plays a spade and now you need to guess whether to finesse, or play for the diamonds to split 3-3.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>54.</b> You play 6♠ on a <span style="color: red;">♥</span>K lead. Which finesse do you take, if any?<br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SAQ98764HTDAKQ9C9&n=SK5HAJ93DT7CKJT76&d=e&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SJ32H654D65CAQ432&s=SAQ98764HTDAKQ9C9&w=STHKQ872DJ8432C85&n=SK5HAJ93DT7CKJT76&d=e&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 6♠ on a <span style="color: red;">♥</span>K lead. Win with the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>A and continue with the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>J, throwing your club loser when East fails to cover. West wins with the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q but your <span style="color: red;">♥</span>9 in dummy is promoted now. Win whatever West plays next, play ♠A and another spade to dummy's ♠K, and throw your diamond loser on the promoted <span style="color: red;">♥</span>9.
<br />
<br />
If you try the diamond finesse – You go down. If you try to ruff diamond – You still go down. Same if you try to play a club to dummy.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>55.</b> You play 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span> and West, who overcalled 1♠, leads the ♠K.
Which finesse do you take, if any? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=S5HAJT843DA54CK54&n=SAJ3HKQ9DKJ73C632&d=w&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=S9876H65DQT96CQ98&s=S5HAJT843DA54CK54&w=SKQT42H72D82CAJT7&n=SAJ3HKQ9DKJ73C632&d=w&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span> and West, who overcalled 1♠, leads the ♠K. Win the Ace, and play <span style="color: red;">♥</span>KQ. When all follow, you have a 100% successful line: Ruff low spade with the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>T, play <span style="color: red;">♦</span>AK and throw your third diamond on the ♠J. West wins, but he is endplayed now in three suits: a club return will establish your ♣K, a spade will give you a ruff/sluff, and a diamond (if he has any) will promote either your <span style="color: red;">♦</span>J or the fourth diamond if diamonds are 3-3.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>56.</b> You play 6<span style="color: red;">♥</span> on a ♣9 lead. Which finesse do you take, if any? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SKJ2HQ54DA54CAK43&n=SA3HAK9632DQ32C52&d=w&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SQT76HDKJ87CQJT87&s=SKJ2HQ54DA54CAK43&w=S9854HJT87DT96C96&n=SA3HAK9632DQ32C52&d=w&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 6<span style="color: red;">♥</span> on a ♣9 lead. Win in hand and play a low diamond to the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q . East wins and plays another club. Win in hand and play the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q, to protect yourself against <span style="color: red;">♥</span>JTxx in West. Play another heart and cover it if West tries the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>T. Return to hand on the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>A and finesse hearts again. Pull West's last trump, and play ♠A and another spade, finessing if East plays low. That line will be successful if the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K is with West, or if the ♠Q is with East, and also if trumps are 4-0 with West.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>57.</b> Against 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span> West lead the ♠J. Which finesse do you take, if any? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SA72H97532DT3CA84&n=SQ3HAKT8DK4CKQ953&d=e&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SK854H6DAQ852CT72&s=SA72H97532DT3CA84&w=SJT96HQJ4DJ976CJ6&n=SQ3HAKT8DK4CKQ953&d=e&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
Against 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span> West lead the ♠J. Cover the ♠Q but let East win the ♠K. That way you avoid West later on, as a diamond shift from West is unwelcome. Win the spade return with the Ace and play a heart to the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>T if West plays low. That way you will avoid again allowing West to win the trick in heart, in case he has <span style="color: red;">♥</span>QJx. If East has a heart honor you will lose no more than one diamond, one heart and one spade. As cards lay – You make now 11 tricks.
<br />
<br />
If you play the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>A – You go down, losing one heart, one spade and two diamonds.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>58.</b> You play 3NT and the lead is <span style="color: red;">♥</span>8. You tried the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>J but East covered with the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q. Plan your play.<br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=S2HAK6DK842CAKJT9&n=SAQ765HJ2DT53CQ53&d=w&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SKJ98HQ95DAJ6C876&s=S2HAK6DK842CAKJT9&w=ST43HT8743DQ97C42&n=SAQ765HJ2DT53CQ53&d=w&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 3NT on a <span style="color: red;">♥</span>8 lead. You tried the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>J but East covered with the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q. You have 8 tricks off the top: 5 clubs, 2 hearts and the ♠A.
<br />
<br />
Win the first trick in hand. Go to dummy on the ♣Q and play a diamond to the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K.
<br />
<br />
If the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>A is with East – The <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K will be your 9th trick. If not, you could still try later the spade finesse for your 9th trick (not likely that you lose 5 diamond tricks).
<br />
<br />
But if you try the spade finesse first and it fails, East can continue with another heart. If you duck East will switch to spades and the defense will set up 3 spades, one heart and one diamond (or all the hearts if you don’t duck once). All this before you get to set up your <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>59.</b> You play an ambitious 6NT and West leads a diamond. Which finesse do you take, if any? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SJ2HK763DQ76CAQ92&n=SAK943HA4DAKJTC63&d=w&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=S875HQT52D5CT8754&s=SJ2HK763DQ76CAQ92&w=SQT6HJ98D98432CKJ&n=SAK943HA4DAKJTC63&d=w&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play an ambitious 6NT and West leads a diamond. You have 9 tricks off the top. In order to know how to play the spade suit, you need to find out how many tricks you need in that suit. So to find out – You need to start with the club finesse. If it works – You need only 4 spade tricks to make your contract and then the best play is a spade to the ♠J, losing only one spade if spades split 3-3 or if East has ♠Qxxx. But if the club finesse fails – You need ALL 5 spades to make your 12 tricks. Your ONLY chance now is to find West with ♠Q10x: Play the ♠J and when West covers – win it with the ♠K, come back to hand and play another Spade to the ♠9.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>60.</b> You play 3NT on a ♣J lead. Which finesse do you take, if any? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SKQ2HA63DKJ987CA4&n=S653HQ4DAT54CKQ32&d=w&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SAT98HK9872D3C765&s=SKQ2HA63DKJ987CA4&w=SJ74HJT5DQ62CJT98&n=S653HQ4DAT54CKQ32&d=w&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 3NT on a ♣J lead. Win with the ♣A, play the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K and finesse diamond to the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>T. Why? To avoid losing the lead to West. That is why you need to play this way. If you play <span style="color: red;">♦</span>AK and a third diamond, and West wins the trick – a heart return from him will be most unwelcome. But, if the diamond finesse fails and you lose the trick into East's hand – your <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q protects you in case of a heart shift.
</div>
<br />
<br />
Stay tuned for Part 7 of the test!<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Oren Lidorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359188603749759016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-940557744156568517.post-34606416395619925552018-06-29T09:00:00.004-07:002018-06-29T09:00:36.932-07:00A Tragedy from A to ZThis story is sad from the
beginning to the end... So get your kleenex handy. <br />
<br />
Karla was crying on her best friend's shoulder: "I really don't know
who is dumber: Him, or me, for marrying him! I just can't stand him
anymore..."<br />
<br />
"What happened?" asked her friend.<br />
<br />
A week ago, my husband got a phone call and came home crying.<br />
<br />
"What happen?" I asked. <br />
<br />
"My father died", he said, sobbing. <br />
<br />
I tried to comfort him, but then the phone rang again, and he started
sobbing even harder: "My brother just called. His father died too..." <br />
<br />
Karla was crying, and her friend put a caring arm around her: "It can
happen, don't be harsh on him over this. Obviously he was upset, and
not thinking straight. How is he in normal life situations?"<br />
<br />
"Not much brighter... He heard somewhere that 1NT is the
toughest contract to make at bridge. So last time we played, when I
opened 1NT, he raised me to 3NT so that I will have an 'easier life'.
And then, on the way home I saw a dead bird and told him, 'look, the
poor bird died...'. But he raised his head up looking at the sky:
'where, where?'"<br />
<br />
"Do you see to what kind of Olympic level of stupidity I have to put up
with?", sighed Karla. <br />
<br />
Her best friend had an idea: "Why don't you take a lover? That will
make you feel better". <br />
<br />
"I already have two of them. But he doesn’t care... He said he would
only feel cheated if I played Bridge with another partner”, said Karla
wiping away some more tears. <br />
<br />
"So...? Cheat on him at bridge then, with another partner“, suggested<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>her best friend<i></i>.
<br />
<br />
Karla decided to listen to her best friend's advice and started to play
bridge, hiddenly, with another partner. It was a pleasant feeling of
freedom and mutual understanding.<br />
<br />
Here is an example of their great partnership co-operation:<br />
<br />
<br />
Dealer South, all vulnerable:<br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=S765HAQ987DAQC974&w=S98432H543D7654CA&n=SQJTHKJTD83CKQJ65&e=SAKH62DKJT92CT832&d=s&v=b&a=1HP2C2D2NP4HPPP" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
Karla lead the ♣A and her partner followed with the ♣10. Although they
agreed before that on an Ace lead a high card is an encouraging signal,
she realized, after seeing dummy, that partner can't possibly encourage
her to continue the suit. So her first instinct was to continue with a
Diamond, the suit her partner overcalled. However, after pausing to
think for a bit, and looking at the club suit in dummy, she realized
that the ♣10 must be suit preference, telling her to play the higher
remaining suit – <b>Spade</b>. And so she played the ♠9.
Her partner won the ♠K, lead back a Club, which she ruffed. <br />
<br />
Another Spade came to partner's ♠A, another Club got ruffed and the
cherry on the cake was a Spade ruff by partner. 3 DOWN!. <br />
<br />
All other declarers made 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span>
+ 1, as the other tables played a Diamond at trick 2, allowing declarer
to win, pull trumps, and get 5 Hearts, 4 clubs and 2 Diamonds.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, soon enough, her husband started to suspect something
was amiss. He hired a private detective, who confirmed his suspicions: <br />
<br />
"Your wife is cheating on you by playing Bridge with another partner". <br />
<br />
The husband got very upset. He bought a gun and came to catch her in
the act next time she had a bridge session scheduled (he got the place
and hour from the private detective).
And so he barged in like a terrorist, scaring everyone with his new gun
- and aimed it at Karla. <br />
<br />
He stood like that for a few long seconds, his hand shaking, then he
seemed to change his mind and put the gun to his own head.<br />
<br />
"Don't do it!”, shouted Karla.<br />
<br />
"Shut up, you cheater! And don't think I will spare you! You are
next!”, he said, and pulled the trigger. <br />
<br />
And so this sad story had a very tragic end.<br />
<br />
However, it has not ended the way you might think...<br />
<br />
Luckily for him, the jealous husband didn't realize he needed to put
bullets into the gun... and so he survived. But the marriage, which was
once (long, long ago) purely based on love, has ended. <br />
<br />
Karla got remarried to her Bridge partner and lived a happy life. Her
ex-husband found out that there are other Bridge partners but Karla (he
didn’t know it would possible...). <br />
<br />
So maybe happy ending after all?...
<br />
<br />
<br />Oren Lidorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359188603749759016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-940557744156568517.post-83070192855161164632018-06-29T08:58:00.002-07:002018-06-29T08:59:20.730-07:00Choose Your Finesse – Part 5On many occasions when you are declarer the success of your contract
would depend on a successful finesse. Sometimes declarer has a choice
between finesses. He has to decide which finesse to take (or whether to
take a finesse at all...) This is Part 5 of Oren's series on Finesses.
If you missed the previous articles, you can find them here: <a href="http://webutil.bridgebase.com/v2/news_fetch.php?id=4249" target="_blank"> Part 1</a>, <a href="http://webutil.bridgebase.com/v2/news_fetch.php?id=4273" target="_blank">Part 2</a>, <a href="http://webutil.bridgebase.com/v2/news_fetch.php?id=4308" target="_blank">Part 3</a> and <a href="http://webutil.bridgebase.com/v2/news_fetch.php?id=4439" target="_blank">Part 4</a>
<br />
<br />
Take these hands and see if you choose the right finesse:
<br />
<br />
<b>Start the test now!</b><br />
<br />
<b>41.</b> You play 6<span style="color: red;">♥</span>
on a ♠J lead . Which finesse do you take, if any? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=S652HKQ4DAK2CKJ87&n=SAQHAJT83DJ9853CA&d=w&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SK984H976DQT76CT2&s=S652HKQ4DAK2CKJ87&w=SJT73H52D4CQ96543&n=SAQHAJT83DJ9853CA&d=w&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 6<span style="color: red;">♥</span> on a ♠J
lead. Win with the Ace, play two rounds of trump, ending in hand, and
continue with the ♣K, throwing the ♠Q from dummy. Play <span style="color: red;">♦</span>A and continue with
another Heart to dummy. Now play the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>8,
intending to run it if West plays low (or playing the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K if West covers). That
way you will lose only one Diamond. <br />
<br />
If you play 3 rounds of Hearts and then <span style="color: red;">♦</span>AK
and another - You will lose two Diamond tricks and go down.
<br />
<br />
If East shows out on the second Diamond - Play the K and continue with a third Diamond to the J. That way you lose no more than 1 Diamond against any 4-1 split.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>42.</b> You play 4♠. East opened 1♣ and West lead the
♣8. East took the ♣A and switched to the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>2.
West won with the ace and played another Diamond. East ruffed and
played another Club to your ♣Q. Which finesse do you take, if any? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SAQT72H7DJ9CKJT54&n=S9653HAJT2DKQTCQ9&d=e&v=o&a=1c1sP2c(good+hand,+spade+fit)P4SPPP" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SKJ84HKQ98D2CA763&s=SAQT72H7DJ9CKJT54&w=SH6543DA876543C82&n=S9653HAJT2DKQTCQ9&d=e&v=o&a=1c1sP2c(good+hand,+spade+fit)P4SPPP" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 4♠. East opened 1♣ and West lead the ♣8. East took the ♣A and
switched to the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>2.
West won with the ace and played another Diamond. East ruffed and
played another Club to your ♣Q. <br />
<br />
<b>Count! </b>East has 4 Clubs and 1 Diamond, which
means he has 4-4 in the majors. That means that West is void
in Spade! Finesse Spades to the ♠10, come back to dummy on the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>A and finesse Spades
again. </div>
<br />
<br />
<b>43.</b> Against 3NT, West lead the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>2 (4th best of his longest
suit). Upon winning the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>A,
you played the Club suit and West followed twice... Which finesse do
you take, if any? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SJT3HA93DKT93CAK4&n=SQ8H65DAJ762CQJ82&d=w&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SK962HQT74D5C9653&s=SJT3HA93DKT93CAK4&w=SA754HKJ82DQ84CT7&n=SQ8H65DAJ762CQJ82&d=w&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
Against 3NT West lead the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>2
(4th best of his longest suit). The lead tells us that West doesn't
have 5 cards in any suit as the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>2,
the lowest card in the suit, shows he has only 4 cards in Hearts. <br />
<br />
The success of the contract depends entirely on finding the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q. Therefore, after you
decide to win the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>A,
play 4 rounds of clubs and watch what opponents discard. You will
notice that West follows only twice. This means he has at least 3
diamonds! (Because his lead indicated he has no 5 cards in another
suit). Play <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K and
finesse the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q
next. </div>
<br />
<br />
<b>44.</b> You play 4<span style="color: red;">♦</span>
after the auction below. West lead ♣AK and a 3rd club got ruffed by
East, who switched to spade. You won in hand and played <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q. West followed with a
low card. Finesse or Drop? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?&s=SAKH6DQJT865CQ432&n=S864HA84DA432CJ98&d=w&v=o&a=1CP1H2D2H3D3H4DPPP" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SQJT7HJT953DK9CT7&s=SAKH6DQJT865CQ432&w=S9532HKQ72D7CAK65&n=S864HA84DA432CJ98&d=w&v=o&a=1CP1H2D2H3D3H4DPPP" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 4<span style="color: red;">♦</span>. West
lead ♣AK and a 3rd club got ruffed by East, who switched to spade. You
won in hand and played <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q.
West followed with a low card. <br />
<br />
<b>Count!</b> West has 4 clubs (as East had 2), 4 hearts
(from the bidding ), and... 4 spades (spades must be 4-4 as neither
East, nor West bid 1♠). So... West has 1 Diamond and East had 2 (only
one now because he ruffed once). Play the Ace to drop the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K. </div>
<br />
<br />
<b>45.</b> You play 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span>
and West lead the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>J.
Which finesse do you take if any? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SK6HK9732DA7CKT86&n=S7532HAT4DKQCAJ94&d=w&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SJ94HQ65D86532CQ5&s=SK6HK9732DA7CKT86&w=SAQT8HJ8DJT94C732&n=S7532HAT4DKQCAJ94&d=w&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span>. Win
the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>J lead, play
another Diamond, continue with the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>A
and run the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>10
(gaining if West has no more Hearts to play). West will win the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>J but he is now endplayed
in 3 suits: either Club, solving the club finesse problem, or Diamond,
giving you a ruff/sluff (you can throw a spade loser from
hand), or Spade, helping you score your ♠K. </div>
<br />
<br />
<b>46.</b> You play 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span>
and West, who opened the bidding with 1♣, lead the ♣K (East responded
1♠). Which finesse do you take, if any? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SJ62HAQJT9865D4CA&n=SQ9H74DAQ652C9862&d=n&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SKT84H3DKT83CT743&s=SJ62HAQJT9865D4CA&w=SA753HK2DJ97CKQJ5&n=SQ9H74DAQ652C9862&d=n&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span> and
West, who opened the bidding with 1♣, lead the ♣K (East responded 1♠).
Win the ♣A, play a Diamond to the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>A,
and continue with a low spade from dummy. <br />
<br />
If East wins - you score a spade trick. If West wins, he cannot play
Heart, and so you will manage to ruff your 3rd spade in dummy. If, at
trick 2, you play a spade to the ♠Q (or ♠9), East wins, returns a Heart
and defense will manage to play two rounds of Hearts. You will lose 3
Spades and a Heart on that line of play. </div>
<br />
<br />
<b>47.</b>You play 6♠ on a ♣J lead. Which finesse do you
take, if any? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SAQJ9HJ43DAJ3CK65&n=SK86432HAK87DQ75C&d=w&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SHQ965DK9842CAQ83&s=SAQJ9HJ43DAJ3CK65&w=ST75HT2DT6CJT9742&n=SK86432HAK87DQ75C&d=w&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 6♠ on a ♣J lead. If you had the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q
instead of the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>J,
a good move would have been to throw a Diamond from dummy, promoting
the ♣K when East wins the ♣A, and later on to throw another Diamond
from dummy on the ♣K. <br />
<br />
But as you have a Heart and a Diamond loser, you need to ruff, draw 2
rounds of trumps and try the Diamond finesse first. If it fails, you
cannot afford any Heart losers and you need to play <span style="color: red;">♥</span>AK later, hoping for the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q to drop. <br />
<br />
But as it happens here, the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>J
holds the trick – which means you can afford to lose one Heart. Play
Heart to the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>K
and then a low Heart to the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>J,
scoring 3 Heart tricks whenever the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q
is with East, or if Hearts are 3-3 (and throw your Diamond loser on the
4th Heart). </div>
<br />
<br />
<b>48.</b> You play 6<span style="color: red;">♥</span>
on a <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q lead. Plan
your play.<br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SAK54HAQ654DK543C&n=S92HK732DA62CQJT9&d=w&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SJ76HT98D87CK8652&s=SAK54HAQ654DK543C&w=SQT83HJDQJT9CA743&n=S92HK732DA62CQJT9&d=w&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 6<span style="color: red;">♥</span> on a <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q lead. You have 9 top
tricks. If you try two spade ruffs – You will go down. <br />
<br />
Best play is to try the double finesse in clubs: Win the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K, play <span style="color: red;">♥</span>AKQ and then ♣Q from
dummy. <br />
<br />
If East plays low - Throw one of your losers. West wins and plays the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>J. Win the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>A and run the ♣J, ruffing
if East covers with the ♣K. Play ♠AK, ruff a spade and throw
two more losers on the good ♣109. <br />
<br />
Normally this line gives 75% chance to make your contract (you lose
only if West has ♣AK, but it is more than likely that with ♣AK, West
would choose to lead a top club, and not a diamond). </div>
<br />
<br />
<b>49.</b> You play 4♠ on a <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q
lead (East opened 1<span style="color: red;">♦</span>).
East won with the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>A
and returned a Diamond to your <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K.
Which finesse do you take, if any? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SAJT63HA7DK63C864&n=SKQ987HQJTD85CK73&d=s&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=S54HK65DAT742CAJT&s=SAJT63HA7DK63C864&w=S2H98432DQJ9CQ952&n=SKQ987HQJTD85CK73&d=s&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 4♠ on <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q
lead (East opened 1<span style="color: red;">♦</span>).
East took the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>A
and returned Diamond to your <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K,
play 2 rounds of trumps, finesse with the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q
(East will play LOW) and play 2nd Heart to the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>A. Ruff the 3rd Diamond,
play 3rd Heart and throw a club from hand! East wins the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>K but he is now
end-played: Either by playing a club = You make your ♣K, or Diamond =
you ruff in dummy and throw another club form hand. </div>
<br />
<br />
<b>50.</b> You play 3NT on a <span style="color: red;">♦</span>J
lead. Which finesse do you take, if any? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SAQ3HQ543DAKQ2C42&n=SJ5HA87D654CAQ865&d=w&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SKT942HJ962D73CT7&s=SAQ3HQ543DAKQ2C42&w=S876HKTDJT98CKJ93&n=SJ5HA87D654CAQ865&d=w&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 3NT on a <span style="color: red;">♦</span>J
lead. Win and play a low club, let it run without finessing. Later on
try to finesse the ♣Q. If that works, cash the ♣A and give opponents
the fourth club, promoting the last club. If the club finesse fails,
try cashing the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>A,
and the ♣A. <br />
<br />
If clubs split 3-3, you make the last two clubs, and if not - you can
still try to play a Heart to the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q
to establish your heart suit. </div>
<br />
<br />
Stay tuned for Part 6 of the test!<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Oren Lidorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359188603749759016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-940557744156568517.post-62875600280374987452018-03-25T01:55:00.003-07:002018-03-25T01:55:25.661-07:00A family of liarsA family of liars received a
surprise package in the mail. When they opened it up, it was a robot.
But not just any robot, a robot that would slap anyone who told a lie. <br>
<br>
It didn't take more than two minutes for the family to figure out what
the robot does... and end up with red cheeks:<br>
<br>
"Where have you been?", asked the father when his son came home. <br>
"What do you mean? I just returned from school", said the son.<br>
<br>
"Smack!", came a slap on his right cheek.<br>
"OK, OK. I saw a movie with friends", admitted the son. <br>
<br>
"What movie?", asked the father.<br>
"Err, Harry Potter", said the son.<br>
<br>
"Smack!!", came another slap on his left cheek. <br>
"OK, we saw a porn movie", the son broke into tears.<br>
<br>
"Porn? When I was your age I didn’t even know the meaning of this
word", said the father.<br>
"Smackk!", came the father's turn to get his correction.<br>
<br>
"Hahahah, you can immediately see that he is your son", laughed the
mother.<br>
"Smackkk!!!", came the hardest slap, and her laughter turned into
tears. <br>
<br>
They decided to teach the robot how to play Bridge to "help" him relax
a little and to become their 4th hand. And also to replace
"that nosy neighbor who can't keep her mouth shut", as the father put
it - before getting another slap. "But it is true! She really is nosy
and blabbers all the time", he said and got another slap. <br>
<br>
All went well with the robot's bridge game, he turned out to be an
excellent 4th, until they tried to teach him some basic conventions.<br>
<br>
"He is not willing to accept any artificial bid, he'll just keep
slapping us anytime we try to use one", protested the mother.
<br>
<br>
Here is an example: <br>
<br>
Dealer South, all vulnerable:<br>
<iframe src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=S72K1098HK2DAQ5CA8&sn=Father&w=S6H64DKJ1076CKQ1032&wn=Son&n=SA43HAJ9873D43CJ4&nn=Mother&e=SQJ5HQ105D982C9765&en=Robot&d=s&v=b&a=1S2N(5-5+in+the+minors)3D(good+hand+with+spade+fit)P3H(heart+control)P4H(control)P6SPPP" height="300" width="400"></iframe><br>
<br>
The bidding should have been longer, but due to all the slaps flowing
around during the process, South broke down and bid 6♠, skipping
Blackwood. <br>
<br>
The son, sitting West, bid 2NT to show both minors and got the first
slap (because he bid NT with an unbalanced hand). <br>
<br>
The mother, sitting North, cuebid HIGHEST of the two suits shown by
West (obviously 3<span style="color: red;">♦</span>
cannot be natural after West showed 5 cards in diamonds). Their
agreement was that LOW cue, 3♣, would show a forcing hand with hearts,
and high cue shows a forcing hand with spade support.
Mother's 3<span style="color: red;">♦</span>
showed a good hand with spade fit (3♠ would be non forcing) – and also
triggered a round of slapping from the robot, followed by two more
"corrections" on the next two control bids. <br>
<br>
West lead the ♣K. Declarer took the ♣A, tried to pull trumps by cashing
the ♠AK and finally went down two, losing a Club, a Diamond and a Spade
(he managed to ruff the third diamond in dummy). <br>
<br>
"Just bid 3♠ here, and we stop in 4♠. 6♠ can't make!", he said and felt
another hard slap.<br>
<br>
"Move over!", said the robot, who had learned to talk meanwhile, and
switched seats with the father. <br>
<br>
West lead again the ♣K and the robot won the ♣A and played the ♠K. Now
he switched to the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>AK
and ruffed the third heart with the ♠7. Then he played the ♠8 to the ♠A
and a fourth heart from dummy. East ruffed with the ♠Q but the robot
discarded his club loser. He ruffed East's club return with the ♠9,
continued with the ♠2 to dummy's ♠4, and on the two good hearts he
discarded his two diamond losers. <br>
<br>
"I learn very fast. I learned to talk, I learned to play and now I also
learned to analyze: If West has 10 cards in minors, and I need hearts
to break 2-3, I must assume that he has one spade. I therefore played
only one round of spades before starting to establish the heart suit.
That way I managed to preserve two possible entries to dummy. By the
way... I also learned how to lie", said the robot with a metallic
giggle. <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Oren Lidorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359188603749759016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-940557744156568517.post-70278908517975248572018-01-14T23:52:00.004-08:002018-01-14T23:52:14.789-08:00Choose Your Finesse – Part 4On many occasions when you are declarer the success of your contract
would depend on a successful finesse. Sometimes declarer has a choice
between finesses. He has to decide which finesse to take (or whether to
take a finesse at all...) This is Part 4 of Oren's series on Finesses.
If you missed the previous articles, you can find them here: <a href="http://webutil.bridgebase.com/v2/news_fetch.php?id=4249" target="_blank"> Part 1</a>, <a href="http://webutil.bridgebase.com/v2/news_fetch.php?id=4273" target="_blank">Part 2</a> and <a href="http://webutil.bridgebase.com/v2/news_fetch.php?id=4308" target="_blank">Part 3</a>.
<br />
<br />
Take these hands and see if you choose the right finesse:
<br />
<br />
<b>Start the test now!</b><br />
<br />
<b>31.</b> You play 4♠ on a ♣2 lead. East follows with the
♣7. Which finesse do you take, if any? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SJ875HK54D72CAKJT&n=SAQT9HQJT2DA3C965&d=s&v=o&a=1CP1HP1SP4SPPP" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SK3HA6DJ985CQ8743&s=SJ875HK54D72CAKJT&w=S642H9873DKQT64C2&n=SAQT9HQJT2DA3C965&d=s&v=o&a=1CP1HP1SP4SPPP" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 4♠ and although you opened 1♣, West lead the ♣2. East plays
the ♣7 and you win with the ♣10. <br />
<br />
The lead is almost clearly a singleton and therefore you need to play ♠A and
another Spade. That way opponents will manage to win only 1 Club ruff +
♠K + <span style="color: red;">♥</span>A. <br />
<br />
After pulling out trumps, you can finesse Club again and throw a
Diamond loser on the 4th Club. <br />
<br />
If you try the spade finesse - you go down: ♠K, Club ruff, Heart to <span style="color: red;">♥</span>A, Club ruff. <br />
<br />
If you try Hearts first - You go down: <span style="color: red;">♥</span>A,
Club ruff and Diamond, opponents get a Diamond trick after winning the
♠K.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>32.</b> You play 4♠ . West leads a Diamond and East
takes <span style="color: red;">♦</span>AKQ. Is
there any chance to avoid losing a spade trick? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SQ542HAK7DJ65CAQ9&n=SAT873HQ8D842CK83&d=s&v=o&b" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SJHT9542DAKQCJ654&s=SQ542HAK7DJ65CAQ9&w=SK96HJ63DT973CT72&n=SAT873HQ8D842CK83&d=s&v=o&b" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 4♠. West leads a Diamond and East takes <span style="color: red;">♦</span>AKQ. <br />
<br />
The only possibility to not lose ANY Spade trick is if East has a
singleton ♠J. So play the ♠Q. <br />
<br />
If West covers - you win the ♠A, return to hand and finesse another
spade to the ♠8. <br />
<br />
If the ♠10 was in hand, play ♠A to catch a stiff ♠K and then finesse
spade to the ♠Q10. </div>
<br />
<br />
<b>33.</b> You play 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span>
and West leads the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>J.
Which finesse do you take, if any?<br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SKJ3HQJT83DK73CJ3&n=SQ2HA952DA62CAT82&d=e&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SA974HK4DQ54CQ954&s=SKJ3HQJT83DK73CJ3&w=ST865H76DJT98CK76&n=SQ2HA952DA62CAT82&d=e&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span> and
West leads the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>J.
<br />
<br />
This one is easier: You have 4 losers. If you win in hand and try the
Heart finesse and it loses - East will continue with Diamonds and you
will always lose 1 trick on each suit. So, win with the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>A at trick 1 and start
playing on spades. That way you manage to develop the spades before
opponents set up the Diamonds. <br />
<br />
In addition, if they hold up once and win the second spade - you still
have the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K as an
entry to hand to throw the Diamond loser from dummy on the 3rd top
spade. </div>
<br />
<br />
<b>34.</b> Against an optimistic 7<span style="color: red;">♦</span>, West lead the ♠Q. Which
finesse do you take, if any? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=S873HKTDKJ862CAK5&n=SA54HAJ54DAQ974C3&d=w&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SK62HQ82D53CQT862&s=S873HKTDKJ862CAK5&w=SQJT9H9763DTCJ974&n=SA54HAJ54DAQ974C3&d=w&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
Against an optimistic 7<span style="color: red;">♦</span>,
West lead the ♠Q. <br />
<br />
You will make your contract only if you manage to take 4 Heart tricks:
Win ♠A, pull trumps and try to finesse Heart to the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>10. Cash the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>K, return to dummy with a
club ruff, and cash <span style="color: red;">♥</span>A.
You make your contract when the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q
falls from East, throwing your 2 spade losers on the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>AJ. Running the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>10 from hand will always
make you lose a 4th Heart trick as if the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q
with West – he will cover the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>10
and only allow you to make three Heart tricks. </div>
<br />
<br />
<b>35.</b> You play 6<span style="color: red;">♥</span>
and West, who opened 1♠, lead the ♠Q. Which finesse do you take if any?
<br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SAK7HKQ9764DQ4CA8&n=SHAJT8DK753CQJT75&d=w&v=o&a=1SXP2S(cuebid)P3CP3HP4HP4NTP5DP6HPPP" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=S6432H32D9862C643&s=SAK7HKQ9764DQ4CA8&w=SQJT985H5DAJTCK92&n=SHAJT8DK753CQJT75&d=w&v=o&a=1SXP2S(cuebid)P3CP3HP4HP4NTP5DP6HPPP" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 6<span style="color: red;">♥</span> and
West, who opened 1♠, lead the ♠Q. <br />
<br />
As it's clear that West has all the missing points, there is no use to
try the club finesse: Ruff trick 1, play a Heart to hand and continue
with a LOW Diamond at trick 3! West must play low (else he promotes
your <span style="color: red;">♦</span>KQ for a
club discard) and you win with the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K.
Run all your Hearts and the ♠AK. West must keep the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>A and ♣Kx. <br />
<br />
Play your <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q at
trick 11 and West, upon winning the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>A
will have to play a club from his ♣Kx and so you score the last two
tricks. </div>
<br />
<br />
<b>36.</b>You play 4♠ after a 1<span style="color: red;">♦</span>
opening from East and 2<span style="color: red;">♦</span>
support from West. Which finesse(s) do you take? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SAKJ8754HK532DCQ8&n=SQT9H874DJT9CAJT9&d=s&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=S6HQJTDAK8632CK64&s=SAKJ8754HK532DCQ8&w=S32HA96DQ754C7532&n=SQT9H874DJT9CAJT9&d=s&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 4♠ after 1<span style="color: red;">♦</span>
opening from East and 2<span style="color: red;">♦</span>
support from West. West lead the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>4.
<br />
<br />
The danger in taking a normal club finesse is to fall into East's hand
and get a Heart shift for 1 club and 3 Heart losers. <br />
<br />
So, ruff Diamond when East play the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K,
go back to dummy on spades and play the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>J.
If East covers with the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>A
- ruff again, play another spade to dummy and try the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>10. <br />
<br />
When East fails this time to cover it, throw a club from hand! West
will win with the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q
and switch to club (As the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>K
protects you against a Heart play from West). <br />
<br />
Win with the ♣A and continue with the ♣J , performing a ruffing finesse
against East. That way you will manage to throw two Hearts later on the
clubs and lose just 2 Hearts and 1 Diamond. </div>
<br />
<br />
<b>37.</b>You play 6♠ on <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K
lead. Which finesse do you take, if any?<br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SAKQJT3HQJ4DA6CA5&n=S64HAT83D74CKJT96&d=w&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=S82HK76DJ932CQ873&s=SAKQJT3HQJ4DA6CA5&w=S975H952DKQT85C42&n=S64HAT83D74CKJT96&d=w&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 6♠ on <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K
lead. <br />
<br />
You have a 100% line to make your contract! Win the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>A, pull trumps, play ♣AK
and run the ♣J, planning to throw the Diamond loser, if East doesn't
cover. <br />
<br />
Even if West has the ♣Q and he wins with it - you are safe as dummy's
remaining 2 clubs are high and you can throw the Heart losers on them
(Avoid the Heart finesse). <br />
<br />
If East covers the ♣J with the ♣Q - ruff, play a Heart to the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>A, and throw 2 losers on
the remaining good clubs. </div>
<br />
<br />
<b>38.</b> You play 6<span style="color: red;">♥</span>
and West lead a trump. Plan your play. <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SAJ42HAK4DAK92CAQ&n=S93HQ9862DQJ3C876&d=w&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SQ76HJT7D64CT5432&s=SAJ42HAK4DAK92CAQ&w=SKT85H53DT875CKJ9&n=S93HQ9862DQJ3C876&d=w&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 6<span style="color: red;">♥</span> and
West lead a trump. <br />
<br />
Beware! If you win in hand, play a Diamond to the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>J and try the club finesse
- West will win and play another Heart. You would need to win it with
the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>K, play
another Diamond to <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q
and ruff the 3rd club. <br />
<br />
But now you don't have a quick entry to the dummy and West can take the
2nd spade and give a Diamond ruff to his Partner.<br />
<br />
A safer line is to give up the club finesse and play ♣A and ♣Q from
hand. West wins the ♣K and plays a Heart, but you win the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>K, play a Diamond to the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>J, ruff the 3rd club,
continue with a Diamond to the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q,
pull opponents' last trump with the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q
and throw the spade loser on the 4th Diamond. </div>
<br />
<br />
<b>39.</b> You play 3NT on a <span style="color: red;">♥</span>6
lead. East plays the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>J
and you win with the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q.
Which finesse do you take, if any? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SAT4HAQTDAJ8CA532&n=SK53H42DT942CKJ76&d=w&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SQJ9HJ86DQ763CQT8&s=SAT4HAQTDAJ8CA532&w=S8762HK9753DK5C94&n=SK53H42DT942CKJ76&d=w&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 3NT. West leads a Heart and East follows with the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>J. <br />
<br />
Win the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q, play
♣AK and when the ♣Q doesn't drop, run the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>10,
and lose it to West's <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K.
The <span style="color: red;">♥</span>10 protects
you from a Heart return. Win the spade return with the ♠K, finesse
Diamond again and play a 3rd club. <br />
<br />
You promoted the 4th club too: 2 spades, 2 Hearts, 2 Diamonds and 3
clubs = 9 tricks. <br />
<br />
If you try the club finesse earlier, East will get the ♣Q, return with Heart, and West will make 4 Heart tricks, using the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K as entry.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>40.</b> You play 6♠ and West, who opened the bidding
with 1<span style="color: red;">♥</span> and later
rebid Hearts, leads the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>A.
Which finesse do you take, if any?<br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SKQT85HDAJ2CAKT94&n=SAJ63H73DQT5CJ863&d=w&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=S94HT9842D963CQ72&s=SKQT85HDAJ2CAKT94&w=S72HAKQJ65DK874C5&n=SAJ63H73DQT5CJ863&d=w&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 6♠ and West, who open the bidding with 1<span style="color: red;">♥</span> and later rebid Hearts,
lead the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>A. <br />
<br />
Ruff, play a spade to the ♠A, ruff the second Heart, play the ♣A,
continue with a second spade to the ♠J (spades were 2-2) and finesse
club when East follows with a low club . <br />
<br />
That will ensure the contract: <br />
- If East has ♣Qxx - the finesse works and you make all your clubs. <br />
- If the finesse fails - West takes the ♣Q but has to play either a
Diamond into your tenace, or a Heart, giving you a ruff/sluff. The
third diamond will get thrown on the 5th club (if West has ♣Qxx, he will be endplayed upon winning the ♣Q, after playing AK and a third club). </div>
<br />
<br />
Stay tuned for Part 5 of the test!</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Oren Lidorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359188603749759016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-940557744156568517.post-80926920316325006112017-12-13T10:40:00.001-08:002018-01-14T23:52:30.321-08:00Choose Your Finesse – Part 3On many occasions when you are declarer the success of your contract would depend on a successful finesse. Sometimes declarer has a choice between finesses. He has to decide which finesse to take (or whether to take a finesse at all...) This is Part 3 of Oren's series on Finesses. Click here for <a href="http://webutil.bridgebase.com/v2/news_fetch.php?id=4249" target="_blank"> Part 1</a> and <a href="http://webutil.bridgebase.com/v2/news_fetch.php?id=4273" target="_blank">Part 2</a>.
<br />
<br />
Test yourselves with the hands below, and see if you can choose the right finesse:
<br />
<br />
<b>Start the test now!</b><br />
<br />
<b>21.</b> You play 4♠ on a ♣J lead. Which finesse do you take? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SAJT72HA76DA8CK74&n=SQ843HQ2DT943CA65&d=s&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=S95HT953DKQ52CQ83&s=SAJT72HA76DA8CK74&w=SK6HKJ84DJ76CJT92&n=SQ843HQ2DT943CA65&d=w&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 4♠ on a ♣J lead. Best chance to make your contract is to win the first trick in hand with the ♣K and play a LOW heart to the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q. If the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>K is with West, he will win it and continue with another Club. You will win it with the ♣A, cash the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q, come back to hand with the ♠A and throw your club loser on the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>A. <br />
<br />
That way you will lose one Spade, one Diamond and one Heart. If you win the first trick with dummy's ♣A and try the spade finesse, you will go down if the finesse fails: West will continue with another club and you will lose a Club, a Diamond, a Heart and a Spade. <br />
<br />
And what if the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>K is with East?
<br />
He will take your <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q at trick 2 and continue with a Club. You will still have a chance to make if the spade finesse works. That way you have about 75% chance to make. You will go down only if the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>K is with East and the ♠K is with west.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>22.</b> You play 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span> and West leads ♣AKQ. Which finesse(s) do you take? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SKJTHAJT984D65C98&n=SA92HK72DAQ82CT72&d=w&v=o&a=1Dp1N2HP4HPPP" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=S654HQ65DK4CJ6543&s=SKJTHAJT984D65C98&w=SQ873H3DJT973CAKQ&n=SA92HK72DAQ82CT72&d=w&v=o&a=1dp1N2HP4HPPP" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span> after West opened 1<span style="color: red;">♦</span> and East bid 1NT. West leads ♣AKQ. Ruff and try to finesse Diamond to the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q. Points must be divided around 12-6 between opponents for their bidding, so if the Diamond finesse works, you can place both missing queens with East and finesse them accordingly (as West showed already 12 points: ♣AKQ and <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K).<br />
<br />
But here, East takes the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K and returns another Diamond. This means the missing queens are in different hands. So, play a third Diamond and ruff. Now count: East's 1NT bid denies 4 cards majors. This means West has 4 Spades. Also, West has 5 Diamonds (as East had <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Kx) and at least 3 Clubs; this shows that West has at most one Heart. Play the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>K, and when the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q doesn't drop, finesse to the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>J next and cash a third Heart. You can place the ♠Q with West now and run the ♠J to make 10 tricks.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>23.</b> You play 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span> on the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q lead. Which finesse do you take, if any? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=S63HAKJT97D83CAJ2&n=SAQ742HQ8DK54CK63&d=s&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SKJ95H52DA962CT74&s=S63HAKJT97D83CAJ2&w=ST8H643DQJT7CQ985&n=SAQ742HQ8DK54CK63&d=s&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span> (3NT from North would be cold.) Lead is <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q. Ruff the third Diamond and try the Spade finesse. If East wins and plays a Club - win it with the ♣A, play Spade to the ♠A and continue with a Spade ruff, Heart to the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q, another spade ruff, pull trumps and use your ♣K as a final entry to your 5th Spade for a Club discard. <br />
<br />
Playing for Spade being 4-2 (or 3-3) is 84%, while playing for the Club finesse is only 50% (as you need to win with the ♣K if you try the club finesse and it fails, losing your last entry for the 5th Spade).
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>24.</b> You play 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span> on a ♣J lead. Which finesse(s) do you take, if any? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SAT82HAQ943DQJ3C3&n=SJ53HJT752DTCAK42&d=s&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SQ76H8DK8652CQ876&s=SAT82HAQ943DQJ3C3&w=SK94HK6DA974CJT95&n=SJ53HJT752DTCAK42&d=s&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span> on a ♣J lead. Best is to count tricks: 1 Spade, 4 Hearts and 2 Clubs = 7 tricks. You can easily ruff 2 Clubs in hand = 9 tricks. <br />
<br />
The 10th trick should come from establishing a Diamond trick: Win ♣A and try the Heart finesse. West wins and plays another Club. Win the ♣K, throwing a Spade from hand. Cash a 2nd trump round, and play a low Diamond to the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>10.
<br />
<br />
If East wins and plays Spade – You always manage to limit yourself to only one Spade loser by playing low and losing the trick to West.
<br />
<br />
If East wins and plays a Club - Ruff, play <span style="color: red;">♦</span>J, and throw a Spade from dummy (loser on loser). Opponents win and play Spade, but you win it with the ♠A, and throw the last Spade from dummy on the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q.
<br />
<br />
If, instead of playing the Diamonds you start playing on Spades yourself – you go down.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>25.</b> You play 4♠ (after an ambitious bid...) and West leads the ♣Q. Which finesse do you take? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SAKQ93HAQDKT73C76&n=S762H982D9652CA92&d=e&v=o&a=1CXP1DP1SP2SP4SPPP" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SJ8HKJ76DAJ4CK843&s=SAKQ93HAQDKT73C76&w=ST54HT543DQ8CQJT5&n=S762H982D9652CA92&d=e&v=o&a=1CXP1DP1SP2SP4SPPP" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 4♠ on a ♣Q lead (East opened 1♣). Win the ♣A and play a Diamond to your <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K. <br />
<br />
To make your contract you need to hope that Diamonds are 3-2 (with <span style="color: red;">♦</span>A and <span style="color: red;">♥</span>K both most likely in East's hand for his opening bid). <br />
<br />
To make your contract you need to perform both finesses: Diamond to <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K and Heart finesse.
<br />
<br />
Did you spot the hidden entry? Play Diamond to the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K. If your <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K wins, play 3 rounds of Spade and continue with another Diamond. Opponents will win, cash the ♣K and continue with another Club. Ruff, and play your <span style="color: red;">♦</span>10. Opponents will win again but you have now promoted the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>9 as an entry to dummy to perform the Heart finesse. <br />
<br />
If you play the Heart finesse at trick 2, you will lose 3 Diamonds and a Club, since you won't be able to play a Diamond to your <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>26.</b> You play 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span> after East opened 1<span style="color: red;">♦</span>. West leads the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>QJ and you ruff the second Diamond. Which finesse(s) do you take? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SAJ4HKJT9852D6CK4&n=ST92HAQDK52CJ8652&d=e&v=o&a=1D1HX1NP3HP4HPPP" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SQ73H64DAT983CAQ7&s=SAJ4HKJT9852D6CK4&w=SK865H73DQJ74CT93&n=ST92HAQDK52CJ8652&d=e&v=o&a=1D1HX1NP3HP4HPPP" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span> after 1<span style="color: red;">♦</span> opening from East and double (negative) from West. West leads the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q and you ruff the second Diamond. <br />
<br />
As the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>QJ are marked with West, you can count at least one spade honor and the ♣A with East to justify his opening. So... plan your entries to dummy to perform both finesses: Lead a Heart to the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q and play a LOW spade to the ♠J. That play will save you an entry! West will win and play back a Diamond. Ruff, play a Heart to the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>A and continue with the ♠10.<br />
<br />
If East covers - the ♠9 will be an entry for the Club finesse. If East doesn't cover - You remain in dummy to play a Club to the ♣K.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>27.</b>You play 3NT and West leads the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q. Which finesse do you take, if any? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=S743HA9DAKJ3CKJ76&n=SAQ2H32D7652CAQ92&d=s&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SKJ95HK85DT94CT54&s=S743HA9DAKJ3CKJ76&w=ST86HQJT764DQ8C83&n=SAQ2H32D7652CAQ92&d=s&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 3NT and West leads the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q. You have 8 top tricks: 1 Spade, 1 Heart, 2 Diamonds and 4 Clubs. <br />
<br />
The 9th trick is likely to come from a successful finesse as you need to make 9 tricks without losing the lead (else opponents will make all their Hearts). But you can improve your chance by playing the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>AK first: maybe you manage to drop <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q or <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Qx. <br />
<br />
If that doesn't happen, try to finesse to the ♠Q. As cards lay, <span style="color: red;">♦</span>AK drops the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q and you have 10 tricks right away, not needing to take any finesse.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>28.</b> You play 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span> on a <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q lead. Why is this hand here? You tried low Diamond twice (maybe the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>A drops) but East played <span style="color: red;">♦</span>A on the third round of Diamonds, covering your <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K. Now what? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=S5HAQJT932D87C765&n=SA9732HK7DK32CA32&d=s&v=o" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SKJ6H6DA9654CQJ84&s=S5HAQJT932D87C765&w=SQT84H854DQJTCKT9&n=SA9732HK7DK32CA32&d=s&v=o" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span> and West lead the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q. You tried low Diamond twice but East played the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>A on the third round, covering your <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K. <br />
<br />
Now what? <br />
<br />
You have 9 tricks and you need to develop your 5th Spade as the 10th trick. For that you need 4 entries: 3 entries for Spade ruffs and another to enjoy your 5th Spade: Ruff the 3rd Diamond with a HIGH trump and play Spade to the ♠A, Spade ruff (HIGH), FINESSE Heart to the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>7 (!), 3rd Spade ruff (HIGH), Heart to the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>K, 4th Spade ruff, <span style="color: red;">♥</span>A to cash opponents last trump, Club to the ♣A, and finally the 5th Spade for a Club discard. <br />
<br />
<i>Note:</i> If you don't ruff high in hand, West can set if he plays the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>8 when you play a Heart to your <span style="color: red;">♥</span>7.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>29.</b> You play 3NT on a <span style="color: red;">♥</span>6 lead. East plays the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>10 and you win with the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q. Which finesse do you take, if any? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SK83HKQ3DJ876CKT9&n=SA2H98DA32CAJ8642&d=n&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SQT76HT54DK9CQ753&s=SK83HKQ3DJ876CKT9&w=SJ954HAJ762DQT54C&n=SA2H98DA32CAJ8642&d=n&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 3NT on a <span style="color: red;">♥</span>6 lead. East plays the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>10 and you win with the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q. <br />
<br />
The idea is to avoid losing the lead to East, as a Heart return from his side will set you: Play Spade to ♠A and continue with the ♣J, finessing if East plays low. That play will bring you to safety even if East has ♣Qxxx. Finesse again to the ♣10, Cash ♣K, and use the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>A to enter dummy for your high clubs.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>30.</b> You play 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span> and West leads the ♠Q. After winning the ♠A, which finesse will you take? Heart, Diamond or Club? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=S93HAKJT75DQ6CAQT&n=SA762H84DA984C843&d=s&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SK84H32DKT52CKJ52&s=S93HAKJT75DQ6CAQT&w=SQJT5HQ96DJ73C976&n=SA762H84DA984C843&d=s&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span> and West leads the ♠Q. After winning the ♠A, which finesse will you take? Heart, Diamond or Club? <br />
<br />
Diamond is not good as East may play the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K and you can no longer get 2 Diamond tricks. <br />
<br />
Heart finesse: even if it works, you would still need a successful Club finesse to make your contract. <br />
<br />
In other words, you will certainly need to take the Club finesse no matter what happens in the other suits. Therefore, finesse Club to ♣10 at trick 2: if you lose to the ♣J, try to drop the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Qx by playing <span style="color: red;">♥</span>AK, and use your Diamond entry for another Club finesse. If your ♣10 loses to the ♣K - use your entry to take a Heart finesse (you can play the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>A before, attempting to drop single <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q). And finally, if you are lucky (as here), your ♣10 will hold the trick. Try <span style="color: red;">♥</span>AK to drop the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q, and use your 2nd entry for another Club finesse.
</div>
<br />
<br />
Stay tuned for Part 4 of the test!</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Oren Lidorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359188603749759016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-940557744156568517.post-32715488665892378552017-10-11T09:36:00.004-07:002017-10-11T09:36:27.606-07:00Choose Your Finesse – Part 2On many occasions when you are declarer the success of your contract would depend on a successful finesse. Sometimes declarer has a choice between finesses. He has to decide which finesse to take (or whether to take a finesse at all...) This is Part 2 of Oren's series on Finesses. <a href="http://webutil.bridgebase.com/v2/news_fetch.php?id=4249" target="_blank">Click here for Part 1</a>.
<br />
<br />
Test yourselves with the hands below, and see if you can choose the right finesse:
<br />
<br />
<b>Start the test now!</b><br />
<br />
<b>11.</b> You play 4♠ and West leads the ♣J. Which finesse do you take, if any? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SKJ98HA87DAJ2CK87&n=SQT76HKJ96DT3CA54&d=s&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=S32HQT54DKQ98CQ32&s=SKJ98HA87DAJ2CK87&w=SA54H32D7654CJT96&n=SQT76HKJ96DT3CA54&d=s&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 4♠ and West leads the ♣J. Win in dummy and
lead a LOW Diamond to your <span style="color: red;">♦</span>J.
If East has the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>KQ, you manage
to promote a Diamond trick for a club discard. If not... You will
still make if the Heart finesse succeeds.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>12.</b> You play 6<span style="color: red;">♥</span> and West
leads the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q. Which finesse do you take, if any?<br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=S52HAJ9643D986CK4&n=SAQ863HKTDACAQJT7&d=s&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SKT97H2DK7543C965&s=S52HAJ9643D986CK4&w=SJ4HQ875DQJT2C832&n=SAQ863HKTDACAQJT7&d=s&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 6<span style="color: red;">♥</span> and West lead
the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q. As you want to make
your Clubs, you need to pull out trumps first. You cannot afford to
play the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>K and run the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>10, as if the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q is with West - you will lose this trick and the
Diamonds later. Planning to ruff Diamonds is not too good either
due to entry problems. <br />
<br />
The best line is to run the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>10. If West wins with the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q, your
<span style="color: red;">♥</span>K protects you from a Diamond continuation.
<br />
<br />
If West returns a Spade - you play the ♠A, pull out
trumps, and throw 2 Diamonds and a Spade on the good Clubs. If the
<span style="color: red;">♥</span>10 holds the trick, continue
with the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>K, a Club to the ♣K,
<span style="color: red;">♥</span>A (if Hearts split 3-2 you can claim 13 tricks) and Clubs, throwing 2 Diamonds
from hand. West can ruff the 4th Club and play a Spade - but you take the ♠A and throw your remaining Spade loser on the 5th Club.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>13.</b> You play 3NT on a ♠Q lead. Which finesse do you take, if any? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SK2HK9D8643CAKT95&n=SA3H8543DAQ75CQJ8&d=s&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=ST8765HAT2DKT2C72&s=SK2HK9D8643CAKT95&w=SQJ94HQJ76DJ9C643&n=SA3H8543DAQ75CQJ8&d=s&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 3NT on a ♠Q lead. You have 8 tricks off the top. the 9th trick will come from a successful Heart or Diamond finesse.
<br />
<br />
Question is, which finesse should you take first?<br />
<br />
You must take the Heart finesse. Win the ♠A and play a Heart to the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>K.
<br />
<br />
Why? If the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>A is with East - You will
score your <span style="color: red;">♥</span>K as the 9th trick. If not - You still have a chance to try the Diamond finesse later. But,
if you try the Diamond finesse first and it fails - East will return a Spade and now you are down for sure, no matter where the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>A is (you will lose one Heart, one Diamond and 3 Spades).
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>14.</b> You play 3NT and West leads the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>6. Which finesse do you take? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SKJHK53DT3CAKJ932&n=S543HAQ42DAQ42CT8&d=s&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=ST962HJT98DK8CQ76&s=SKJHK53DT3CAKJ932&w=SAQ87H76DJ9765C54&n=S543HAQ42DAQ42CT8&d=s&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 3NT and West leads the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>6. Win the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>A and run the ♣10 for
a finesse. As cards lay here – You make 10 tricks as the Club finesse works.
<br />
<br />
However, if Club finesse fails, you can still try to make the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q if West returns Diamond.
<br />
<br />
But as cards lay here, if you try the Diamond finesse at trick 1, you will not survive a Spade switch at trick 2 (after East winning the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K
at trick1).
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>15.</b> You play 4♠ and West leads the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>4. East wins with the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>A and continues with the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q. Which finesse do you take, if any? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SKJT94H82DKT32CAK&n=SAQ86HAQD965C8632&d=e&v=o&a=1D1SP2D(limit+or+better)P4SPPP" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=S5HKT43DAQJ87CQT9&s=SKJT94H82DKT32CAK&w=S732HJ9765D4CJ754&n=SAQ86HAQD965C8632&d=e&v=o&a=1D1SP2D(limit+or+better)P4SPPP" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 4♠ and West leads the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>4. (East opened the bidding with 1<span style="color: red;">♦</span>.)
<br />
<br />
East wins the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>A and continues
with the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q. As the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>4 cannot be doubleton (you have
the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>32) it is most likely
a singleton. If you cover with the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K,
West ruffs, returns a Heart and you lose one Heart, 2 Diamonds and a
Diamond ruff.
<br />
<br />
So play low on the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q. East wins and play another Diamond, but you finesse to the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>10 and when West ruffs and returns a Heart - win the
<span style="color: red;">♥</span>A, pull out trumps and throw the
<span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q on the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>16.</b> You play 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span> after West
opened 1NT. West leads the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>3
and you win with the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>9. Play it from here. <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SA932HAQJT9DJ5CAK&n=ST4H872DA432C7632&d=w&v=o&a=1NPPXP2DP2HP3HP4HPPP" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SQ87H65DT76CT9854&s=SA932HAQJT9DJ5CAK&w=SKJ65HK43DKQ98CQJ&n=ST4H872DA432C7632&d=w&v=o&a=1NPPXP2DP2HP3HP4HPPP" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span> after West opened
1NT. West leads the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>3 and you
win with the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>9. You need to
try to ruff 2 Spades, but also to try to avoid losing the lead to East, as a Heart return from East will sabotage your plan.
<br />
<br />
So, play Diamond to the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>A and
then a Spade from dummy, covering whatever card East plays (if East
plays the ♠Q - Win ♠A and continue with another Spade. East
cannot have more than one Spade honor as he has at most 2 points on this bidding).
<br />
<br />
When West gets the lead, he cannot afford another Heart, else he doesn't make his <span style="color: red;">♥</span>K. Now you manage to make your two Spade ruffs.
<br />
<br />
<i>Note</i>: If you play the ♠A and another Spade from hand – East
can win the trick and return a Heart – And you are down one.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>17.</b> You play 4♠ which East doubled. West, who bid 2<span style="color: red;">♥</span>, leads the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q. Where is the finesse here? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SA86543HAK42DJ3CA&n=S972H63DAK74C6432&d=s&v=o&a=1S2H2SP4SPPXPPP" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SKQJTH8D865CQ9875&s=SA86543HAK42DJ3CA&w=SHQJT975DQT92CKJT&n=S972H63DAK74C6432&d=s&v=o&a=1S2H2SP4SPPXPPP" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 4♠ which East doubled. West, who bid 2<span style="color: red;">♥</span>, leads the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q.
<br />
<br />
Win with the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>A, play a Diamond to the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K and then another
Heart from dummy, finessing East (sort of Expass = playing to your K).
<br />
<br />
If East ruffs - He ruffs "air", as you will follow with a low Heart. If East discards - You win the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>K
and ruff a third Heart. East can overruff and play the ♠K, but you win with the ♠A and ruff the fourth Heart too. Defenders make only 3 Spade tricks.
<br />
<i>Note</i>: If you play the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>K
from hand, East will ruff, continue with the ♠K and you will not
be able to ruff two Hearts in dummy as East will overruff the third
Heart and cash his trumps. That way you will lose 3 Spades and a Heart.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>18.</b> You play 6<span style="color: red;">♥</span> on the ♣J lead. Which finesse do you take?<br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SAQ4HAQJ974DAKCA5&n=SJ63HT63DQ82CK832&d=s&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SK982H5DJ9754CQ74&s=SAQ4HAQJ974DAKCA5&w=ST75HK82DT63CJT96&n=SJ63HT63DQ82CK832&d=s&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 6<span style="color: red;">♥</span> on the ♣J lead. The best chance is to win the ♣K and finesse spade to the ♠Q.
<br />
<br />
If the finesse loses to West, use the ♠J to try the Heart finesse. If the finesse wins, play <span style="color: red;">♦</span>AK and continue with the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q from
hand. When West wins his <span style="color: red;">♥</span>K
(this round or the next one – as when you continue with the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>J he must win), you will have the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>10 as entry to dummy in order to throw a Spade loser
on the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>19.</b> You play 3NT and West leads a Spade. Which finesse do you take, if any? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SAKHKQJ2DK843CK43&n=S832HT7DAQ2CQT765&d=e&v=o&a=1SXP2CP2NP3NPPP" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SQJT94HA83DJ7CAJ8&s=SAKHKQJ2DK843CK43&w=S765H9654DT965C92&n=S832HT7DAQ2CQT765&d=e&v=o&a=1SXP2CP2NP3NPPP" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 3NT and West leads a Spade (East opened 1♠). It is clear from the bidding that West has maximum 1 point, and both missing aces are with East. If you try to establish the Hearts, East will win the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>A, continue with Spades and you are stuck with 8 tricks, as Diamonds are not splitting 3-3.
<br />
<br />
Playing a club to the ♣10 is an option (a very
bad one...) to try and hunt for 4 Club tricks. Another option would be to play for the ♣J doubleton...
<br />
<br />
Best line is: Win the lead, play a Diamond to the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>A, and then a low Club from
dummy. East must play low, else you score 4 Club tricks. Win with the ♣ K and start playing on Hearts. That
way you steal a Club trick to be your 9th trick.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>20.</b> You play 4♠ on the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K lead. Which finesse do you take, if any?<br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SQJT7542HA3D96C83&n=SK983HQ652DA4CAQJ&d=w&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=S6HK987DJ853CKT97&s=SQJT7542HA3D96C83&w=SAHJT4DKQT72C6542&n=SK983HQ652DA4CAQJ&d=w&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 4♠ on the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K lead.
If you win the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>A and play a
trump - You will lose tempo! West will win and switch to the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>J. You can try the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q but East will cover
and now your contract depends on a Club finesse, which fails. You
lose one trick in each suit on this line of play.
<br />
<br />
Best chance is to play the ♣J from dummy at trick 2! Opponents
will win but that play will allow you to throw your Heart loser on
the third round of Clubs.
<br />
<br />
A matter of tempo: Establish your trick before opponents establish theirs (and also make sure to keep a Club entry: If you play ♣A
and ♣Q, you will not have a quick entry to dummy).
</div>
<br />
<br />
Stay tuned for Part 3 of the test!</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Oren Lidorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359188603749759016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-940557744156568517.post-71568876070190191942017-09-27T01:31:00.002-07:002017-09-27T01:31:08.042-07:00Choose Your Finesse – Part 1On many occasions when you are declarer the success of your contract would depend on a successful finesse. Sometimes declarer has a choice between
finesses. He has to decide which finesse to take (or whether to take a finesse at all...)<br />
<br />
Test yourselves with the hands below, and see if you can choose the right finesse:<br />
<br />
<b>Start the test now!</b><br />
<br />
<b>1.</b> You play 3NT, and West leads the ♠Q.
<br />
<br />
Which finesse do you take, if any? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SA65HK65DK65CA654&n=SK743HAJ3DAJ72C98&d=s&v=o&b=8&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=S82HT982DQ8CKJT32&s=SA65HK65DK65CA654&w=SQJT9HQ74DT943CQ7&n=SK743HAJ3DAJ72C98&d=s&v=o&b=8&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 3NT, and West leads the ♠Q.
<br />
<br />
You have 7 tricks and you need to get another 2 from the red suits.
<br />
<br />
Take the heart finesse first! If it fails, you must get 4 Diamond tricks. Take the diamond finesse and hope for the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q with West and diamonds splitting 3-3.
<br />
<br />
If the heart finesse works, you need only 3 Diamond tricks. In this case you must take the safety play, to avoid losing two Diamond tricks. Taking the diamond finesse here will make you lose two diamond tricks. Play <span style="color: red;">♦</span>A, then a diamond to the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K.
<br />
<br />
As cards lay here, the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q drops and 9 tricks are guarenteed. But even if the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q doesn't drop, you can play a third diamond to the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>J. You will make the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>J if West has <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Qxxx or if Diamonds are 3-3.
<br />
<br />
In other words, taking the heart finesse before touching diamonds will help you decide how to play the Diamond suit later on.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>2.</b> You play 4♠ on a Diamond lead. <br />
<br />
Which finesse do you take, if any? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SAQJT842HK8DQCA82&n=S65HT653DAK86C943&d=s&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SK97HAQ9D5432CQJ7&s=SAQJT842HK8DQCA82&w=S3HJ742DJT97CKT65&n=S65HT653DAK86C943&d=s&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
Win with the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>AK (throw club) and play a heart to the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>K.
<br />
<br />
If you try the spade finesse instead, you will need much more than 50%, because, even if it works, you need to hope for a 2-2 split, as you have no entry to repeat the finesse.
<br />
<br />
As cards lay here, both finesses succeed, but trying spade finesse – You will still lose to the ♠K and 2 heart tricks. While playing a heart to the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>K (has 50% chance) limits your heart losers to one.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>3.</b> You play 4♠ and West leads the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>4.
<br />
<br />
Which finesse do you take, if any? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SAJT654HA75DA4C74&n=SK32HJ2DKQ82C9632&d=w&a=1HP2H2SP3SP4SPPP" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=S7HQ86DT7653CKJ85&s=SAJT654HA75DA4C74&w=SQ98HKT943DJ9CAQT&n=SK32HJ2DKQ82C9632&d=w&a=1HP2H2SP3SP4SPPP" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 4♠. West leads the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>4.
<br />
<br />
From the lead and bidding, everything is clear: Points are about 12-6 with your opponents.
<br />
<br />
West does not have ♣AK (nor ♣KQ, else he would have lead a club), and he has one heart honor (with <span style="color: red;">♥</span>KQ, North would
lead the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>K).
<br />
<br />
This means East has ♣K + a Heart honor, and West has the rest of the top honors. So the ♠Q is surely with West, and you need to finesse West instead of playing for the drop. </div>
<br />
<br />
<b>4.</b> You play 3NT and West leads the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q.
<br />
<br />
Which finesse do you take? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SK83HA84DAQJCQJ42&n=SA762HK5D843CAT95&d=w&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SQJT4H932D962CK63&s=SK83HA84DAQJCQJ42&w=S95HQJT76DKT75C87&n=SA762HK5D843CAT95&d=w&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You are playing 3NT and West lead the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q. West is the dangerous hand, as he holds long hearts, so it is important to knock out his entry as early as possible, in case both finesses fail.
<br />
<br />
Win the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>K and finesse diamonds. West will win and play hearts, but you hold up, win the third heart and then finesse clubs. The finesse fails, but East has no more hearts and you have 9 tricks: 2♠, 2<span style="color: red;">♥</span>, 2<span style="color: red;">♦</span> and 3♣.
<br />
<br />
If West tries to get smart and ducks the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K – switch to clubs – You have your 9 tricks even if the club finesse fails (as the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>J won a trick). </div>
<br />
<br />
<b>5.</b> You play 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span> and West leads ♠AK and a third spade. You ruff, play club to dummy and try the heart finesse. West wins with the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>K, and continues with the ♣J.
<br />
<br />
How do you plan to avoid a diamond loser? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=S84HAJ954DAT4CKQ4&n=SJ92HQT72DKJ92CA7&d=w&v=o&a=PPP1HP2C(drury)P4HPPP" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SQT65H8DQ65C86532&s=S84HAJ954DAT4CKQ4&w=SAK73HK63D873CJT9&n=SJ92HQT72DKJ92CA7&d=w&v=o&a=PPP1HP2C(drury)P4HPPP" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span> and West leads ♠AK and a third spade. You ruff, play club to dummy and try the heart finesse. West wins with the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>K and continues with the ♣J.
<br />
<br />
Stop and count! West is a passed hand and you saw him already with 11 points: ♠AK, <span style="color: red;">♥</span>K and ♣J. This means the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q must be with East. So... Win the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K and finesse diamonds to your <span style="color: red;">♦
</span>10. </div>
<br />
<br />
<b>6.</b> You play 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span> and West leads the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K.
<br />
<br />
Which finesse do you take, if any?<br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SK654HKQT943D6CJT&n=S932HAJ82DA2CAQ98&d=n&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SQJTH76DJ754CK753&s=SK654HKQT943D6CJT&w=SA87H5DKQT983C642&n=S932HAJ82DA2CAQ98&d=n&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span> and West lead the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K. You need to try to avoid giving the hand to East, as a spade from him might set the contract (and that will happen if you try club finesse).
<br />
<br />
The way to avoid East is to let the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K win the 1st trick! Win whatever West continues. Draw trumps, throw club on the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>A, and continue with ♣A and another club, performing a ruffing finesse on East. Ruff East's ♣K, go back to dummy on hearts and throw 2 spades on dummy's clubs. Note that even if the ♣K is with West - you are still safe (as the ♠K protects you), losing ♣K + 1 more spade trick (you throw one spade before losing to the ♣K, and later 2 more spades on the promoted clubs).
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>7.</b> You play 3♠ and West leads <span style="color: red;">♦</span>AK, then switches to a low club. East wins the ♣J, cashes ♣A and continues with a spade. <br />
<br />
Do you try the finesse, or play for the drop?<br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SAKJT974H4DJ4C987&n=S2HAKJ532DT952CQT&d=s&v=o&a=3SPPP" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=S865HQT98DQ87CAJ6&s=SAKJT974H4DJ4C987&w=SQ3H76DAK63CK5432&n=S2HAKJ532DT952CQT&d=s&v=o&a=3SPPP" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 3♠ and West leads <span style="color: red;">♦</span>AK, then switches to a low club. East wins the ♣J, cashes ♣A and continues with a spade.
<br />
<br />
Do you try the finesse, or play for the drop?
<br />
<br />
<b>NOTE!</b> If East has ♠Qxx, all he has to do is play a third club, forcing you to ruff in dummy, and thus making sure you can no longer finesses spade... <br />
<br />
So... East is tempting you to make a mistake. Just play ♠AK and drop West's ♠Qx.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>8.</b> You play 3NT and West leads the ♠10. How do you plan to play the Heart suit?<br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SAK3HAJ9DA87CKQJ6&n=SJ42H752DT43CA742&d=w&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SQ65HQT63DQJ92C93&s=SAK3HAJ9DA87CKQJ6&w=ST987HK84DK65CT85&n=SJ42H752DT43CA742&d=w&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 3NT and West leads the ♠10. You ask East about the lead and he explains that a 10 lead can be either <i>Top of nothing</i> OR <i>2 higher cards than the 10</i>. So realizing that the ♠Q is surely with East (if the 10 lead means the 9 + a higher honor – try to play the ♠J), you play a low spade from dummy (maybe East has Q or Qx).
<br />
<br />
Win in hand and play ♣KQ. When all follow, play the ♣J to the ♣A and continue with a heart to the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>9. West wins the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>K and continues with another spade.
<br />
<br />
Win and play the ♣6 to your ♣7 in dummy. Play another heart and finesse to the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>J for your 9th trick. If you lose 2 heart tricks, you would need to hope to drop the ♠Q.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>9.</b> You play 6NT on a Diamond lead. Which finesse(s) you do you take?<br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=S54HAK92DAKJ6CAK9&n=SAQ7HJ6DQ872CQJT2&d=s&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SKT63HQ873D54C765&s=S54HAK92DAKJ6CAK9&w=SJ982HT54DT93C843&n=SAQ7HJ6DQ872CQJT2&d=s&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play 6NT on a diamond lead. You have 11 tricks. To maximize your chances, play a low heart to the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>J.
<br />
<br />
If the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q is with West, the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>J will be your 12th trick.
<br />
<br />
If the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>J loses to the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q, you can still try to drop the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>10 by playing <span style="color: red;">♥</span>AK (as happens here).
<br />
<br />
Finally, if this doesn't work either, you can try the spade finesse (or a Heart-Spade squeeze) as your last option.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>10.</b> Against 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span>, West leads a trump. Which finesse do you take?<br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SJ6HAKT42DK3CK987&n=SAQ32HQJ3D64CA543&d=s&v=o&" width="200"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;">
<div class="quotetitle">
<input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName
('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')
[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Click here to see the answer'; }" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;" type="button" value="Click here to see the answer" /></div>
<div class="quotecontent">
<div style="display: none;">
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?e=SKT87H65DJT95CQJ6&s=SJ6HAKT42DK3CK987&w=S954H987DAQ872CT2&n=SAQ32HQJ3D64CA543&d=s&v=o&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
Against 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span>, West lead a trump.
<br />
<br />
If you run the ♠J for a finesse – you will lose to the ♠K, and then you lose 2 more diamonds after a <span style="color: red;">♦</span>J switch. You will also lose 1 club trick later on.
<br />
<br />
So... Draw trumps and play a LOW spade from dummy to your ♠J. If East wins and plays a diamond – you will lose 2 diamonds and one spade, but you will be able to throw 2 clubs on your promoted spades. If East plays low – win the ♠J, which means you will not lose a spade trick. Also, if the ♠K is with West, your <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K will protect you from losing 2 diamond tricks and you will be able to throw a diamond loser on one of the spades later on.
</div>
<br />
<br />
Stay tuned for Part 2 of the test!<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Oren Lidorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359188603749759016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-940557744156568517.post-28395393073509731792017-06-26T00:22:00.003-07:002017-06-26T00:22:21.283-07:00One point too many"Oren, I'm leaving the club," Stella said to me in desperation. <br />
"Why? Am I not smiling enough at you?" I asked with a large smile.<br />
"No. It is just that in your club I never get any points while in other
clubs I get plenty. Today, for instance, every hand I lift – I have
zero points," she murmured. <br />
<br />
Her partner added immediately with a wink: "Which is very good, for
today she makes no mistakes at all." <br />
<br />
Stella got mad: "Obviously! How can I possibly make mistakes holding no
points? Come and have a look! Here, I am going to pick up the cards for
the next hand. I haven’t seen the cards yet. Let's make a bet that it's
another zero points hand." <br />
<br />
Stella is so cute. Especially when she is mad... She was sitting East
and picked up a hand with a whole one point, which seemed an
improvement... <br />
<br />
She threw me an angry "I told you so" look to prove her claim. <br />
<br />
I remained at her table to see what happens (and also to give her some
mental support).<br />
<br />
Dealer West, E-W vulnerable<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SAT8765HK743D3C65&w=SQHAT65DKQJ5CAKQT&n=SKJ32HQ82DA2CJ432&e=S94HJ9DT98764C987&en=Stella&d=w&v=e&a=1CPP1SD4SPPDPPP" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
Stella's partner doubled 4♠, angrily, with her heavy hand. <br />
<br />
She lead ♣AK. Stella followed first with the ♣7 and then with the ♣8. <br />
<br />
"At least I can help my partner with count giving," she whispered at
me, covering her mouth. <br />
<br />
Her partner understood that declarer has no more clubs and switched to
the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>K. Stella
rushed to follow with the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>10.
She looked very bored and just waited for the hand to end.<br />
<br />
Declarer won the trick with the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>A,
ruffed a Diamond and played a Heart. He asked for the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q when West played low.
Stella followed with the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>9
and continued whispering at me, still covering her mouth with her hand:
"You see? I keep jealously all my points," she said cynically. <br />
<br />
Declarer continued with a Club ruff and with the ♠AK. Then he played
another Heart from dummy, and When Stella played her <span style="color: red;">♥</span>J he played LOW from
hand, allowing her to win the trick!<br />
<br />
"What do you know? I managed to win a trick!" she continued
sarcastically. But now she was truly fixed, being on lead with only
Diamond cards remaining. <br />
<br />
When she played a Diamond, declarer was able to throw a Heart loser
from dummy, ruff it in hand and claim the rest, explaining he is
ruffing Hearts in dummy and Club in hand. <br />
<br />
Her partner was very angry: "Just when you finally got some points, and
you already manage to make mistakes,
giving away a doubled contract!"<br />
<br />
"What points?! I only got one point!" yelled Stella. <br />
<br />
"One point too many!!" her partner shouted back. <br />
<br />
I decided to interfere in the "conversation," in an attempt to prevent
the thirld world war breaking here, in my club: <br />
<br />
"Stella, you got end-played by winning that trick, it allowed declarer
a
ruff/sluff. You should have paid more attention to the play and throw
away that <span style="color: red;">♥</span>J when
declarer played the <span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q.
That way you will not get stuck in hand and declarer will always lose 2
Heart tricks, going one down."<br />
<br />
Stella was miserable: "You want me to throw away <span style="font-style: italic;">all my points of today's
session? </span>You are asking too much from me!..."<br />
<br />Oren Lidorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359188603749759016noreply@blogger.com0