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In a recent early round Waddington Shield teams of 4 match both North-South’s (hands rotated) bid this hand to 6 Clubs.
Board 28 E-W Vul
North
♠ AKJ96
♥ Q85
♦ Q
♣ AJ86
South
♠ 7
♥ AK1064
♦ 54
♣ K10952
How do you play after the lead of the Ace of Diamonds?
With no obvious losers outside the trump suit declarer was able to concentrate his attention on the trump position.
One thought that occurred to our declarer was the oft stated mantra, “8 ever 9 never”. Declarer also knew the odds. The defenders’ 4 card holding would break 2-2, 40.70% of the time and 3-1 or 1-3, 49.74% of the time, but the missing Queen would fall in 2, 53% of the time. Since a simple finesse (a priori) rates a 50% chance both the odds and the time honoured mantra favoured playing for the drop. But were there any clues available?
The opponents were silent throughout the auction but declarer knew that the play to the first 2 tricks provided considerable information.
West had banged the Ace of Diamonds on to the table without hesitation. Conversely, West had shown himself to be a very deliberate and considered opponent throughout the earlier hands and hadn’t previously banged down anything! West switched to a Heart at trick 2. Declarer won in hand and quickly laid down the King of Clubs, the 4 from West and the 7 from East. Declarer then played a small club towards dummy, 3 from West and declarer paused for reflection.
Another principle sprung to mind. The theory of symmetry which suggests that if both you and partner have singletons the odds are that at least one of the opposition hands will contain a shortage somewhere. Declarer continued his reflections.
The odds favoured the drop, as did our favourite mantra, but the theory of symmetry didn’t, and what about the clues from the play so far?
Why had West been so keen to release the Ace of Diamonds? Was it because he fancied he might come to a trump trick? Why had he petered in trumps? Was this an attempt to put up a smoke screen? The play surely had no signalling significance against a slam contract.
Declarer’s initial thought, upon seeing West play the Diamond Ace so uncharacteristically quickly was that West coveted a trump trick. The peter in trumps seemed to confirm this suspicion but in the event declarer was haunted by the spectre of, “8 ever 9 never” and whilst feeling it to be against his better judgement, played dummy’s Ace and……
….entered -50 on his scorecard (for a flat board). The 4 hands were:
Board 28 E-
♠ AKJ96
♥ Q85
♦ Q
♣ AJ86
South
♠ 7
♥ AK1064
♦ 54
♣ K10952
How do you play after the lead of the Ace of Diamonds?
With no obvious losers outside the trump suit declarer was able to concentrate his attention on the trump position.
One thought that occurred to our declarer was the oft stated mantra, “8 ever 9 never”. Declarer also knew the odds. The defenders’ 4 card holding would break 2-
The opponents were silent throughout the auction but declarer knew that the play to the first 2 tricks provided considerable information.
West had banged the Ace of Diamonds on to the table without hesitation. Conversely, West had shown himself to be a very deliberate and considered opponent throughout the earlier hands and hadn’t previously banged down anything! West switched to a Heart at trick 2. Declarer won in hand and quickly laid down the King of Clubs, the 4 from West and the 7 from East. Declarer then played a small club towards dummy, 3 from West and declarer paused for reflection.
Another principle sprung to mind. The theory of symmetry which suggests that if both you and partner have singletons the odds are that at least one of the opposition hands will contain a shortage somewhere. Declarer continued his reflections.
The odds favoured the drop, as did our favourite mantra, but the theory of symmetry didn’t, and what about the clues from the play so far?
Why had West been so keen to release the Ace of Diamonds? Was it because he fancied he might come to a trump trick? Why had he petered in trumps? Was this an attempt to put up a smoke screen? The play surely had no signalling significance against a slam contract.
Declarer’s initial thought, upon seeing West play the Diamond Ace so uncharacteristically quickly was that West coveted a trump trick. The peter in trumps seemed to confirm this suspicion but in the event declarer was haunted by the spectre of, “8 ever 9 never” and whilst feeling it to be against his better judgement, played dummy’s Ace and……
….entered -
North
♠ AKJ96
♥ Q85
♦ Q
♣ AJ86
West East
♠ 10842 ♠ Q53
♥ J97 ♥ 32
♦ A73 ♦ KJ109862
♣ Q43 ♣ 7
South
♠ 7
♥ AK1064
♦ 54
♣ K10952
If there is a moral to the tale it has to be that the science of bridge, although important should play 2nd fiddle to your table presence (nose!).
Postscript
As was commented at the time, declarer may have been unfortunate to hold 5 trumps, with a 4-4 fit he would have finessed for the Queen without a second thought.
Postscript 2
With only 4 trumps however, South would face a different dilemma since he would have a 2-way finesses position. He should though rise to the occasion and finesse against West on the basis of the opening lead and the manner in which it was made.
David Beresford
♥ Q85
♦ Q
♣ AJ86
West East
♠ 10842 ♠ Q53
♥ J97 ♥ 32
♦ A73 ♦ KJ109862
♣ Q43 ♣ 7
South
♠ 7
♥ AK1064
♦ 54
♣ K10952
If there is a moral to the tale it has to be that the science of bridge, although important should play 2nd fiddle to your table presence (nose!).
Postscript
As was commented at the time, declarer may have been unfortunate to hold 5 trumps, with a 4-
Postscript 2
With only 4 trumps however, South would face a different dilemma since he would have a 2-
David Beresford
Too Many Trumps
By David Beresford