Friday: A bridge lesson

This deal came up in play with a student yesterday.  We discussed the deal after the match but sometimes with each of us frantically typically in the chat room (especially me) it is hard to fully convey the ideas.  So here is a student’s eye view of what you should do when you are declarer.

Linda ♠ AQ865 ♥ A94 ♦ 1085 ♣ 95

Student ♠ 9 ♥ KQ532 ♦ AQ6 ♣ AKJ8

South was in fourth chair not vulnerable against vulnerable and opened 1♥ .  West overcalled 1♠ and I passed.  I could have raised hearts and some of you may think that would have been better but if partner didn’t reopen game was not likely and I was content to defend my vulnerable opponent’s spade contract.  Partner did reopen with 2♣ and we soon (very soon) arrived in the heart game.  The opening lead playing low from odd was the ♠2.

Students:

Step 1: When you see dummy you stop and count your losers.  If you have a finessing position count it as a loser.  Here you have four losers if trump break, two diamonds and two clubs.

Step 2: Figure out what you will do with excess losers.  You can ruff them or discard them or take a finesse.  Here you could ruff clubs, take the spade finesse to discard a diamond.  You could also finesse diamonds or clubs.  So with all these opportunities which is best.

Often a finesse is not the best option but after West overcalled spades with not very many high cards so he is very likely to have the ♠ K.  So I like that finesse.  But diamonds and clubs are INTO the hand that probably has the points.  One nice thing about the spade finesse is that even if it loses you can still use the ace to discard a diamond later in the hand so it isn’t a do or die finesse.  In a way this is a sort of “free” finesse.  Maybe not free but low cost anyway.

You take the spade finesse and it wins.  By the way what do you think West holds in spades?  The J and 10 are missing.  It seems quite possible that West might have led the ♠ J with KJ10 although you can’t be certain.  The lead of the lowest outstanding spade suggests a five card suit.  The poor spades would suggest some cards elsewhere (i.e. the missing minor suit cards).

The second thing I want students to think about is should they draw trump right away.  If not why not.  Here if trump break you have your contract.  Let’s go that route for now.  Save the ♠ A for later just in case West has six.  You draw two rounds of trump with your king and dummy’s ace. West shows out on the second round.  Since you may not be in dummy again you cash the ♠ A and East drops the ♠ J.  So West’s spades weren’t all that good.

		Linda ♠ 865 ♥ 9 ♦ 1085 ♣ 95
		Student ♠ — ♥ Q53 ♦ AQ ♣ AKJ8

You have a choice now you can take a finesse or you can  ruff.  The ruff is almost 100%.  If East follows to two rounds of clubs then ruffing ensures the contract.  It doesn’t matter if East overruffs.  He always has that trump trick.  You don’t care when he takes it.  There is nothing the defense can do.  You are safe.    However if East has a singleton club then you could go down.  He would ruff your ♣K and return a trump.  You would have no trump in dummy to take care of your club loser.  True, East doesn’t have one club.  (West would have 6 clubs and the auction would have been different).  But just in case you can improve your odds slightly.  Cash the ♣A before you play the second trump to dummy.  Now if West shows out on the trump, lead a club from dummy towards your hand.  If East ruffs then he is “ruffing air” rather than ruffing your club honor.

What about a club finesse?  Actually if you have played as suggested cashing the ♣A in hand first, playing a heart to dummy, cashing dummy’s spade winner and then leading a club from dummy when East follows to the second club it is safe to take the finesse.  If West wins and returns a spade you ruff and play a small club ruffing in dummy.  It doesn’t help East to overruff as before.   There is nothing that can hurt you and if the club finesse wins you have a chance of an overtrick.

Here is the whole deal as it was at the table:

Dealer: Vul:	North ♠ AQ865 ♥ A94 ♦ 1085 ♣ 95
West ♠ K10432 ♥ 7 ♦ K94 ♣ Q1076		East ♠ J7 ♥ J1086 ♦ J732 ♣ 432
	South ♠ 9 ♥ KQ532 ♦ AQ6 ♣ AKJ8