Article Collection 7A45 by Richard Pavlicek
Article Collection 7A45 by Richard Pavlicek
Planning the Play
4 
by South
None Vul | 9 7 4 2 K 3 7 5 4 A J 6 2 | |
| Q 5 Q 10 8 6 J 10 9 8 9 8 7 | ![[W - E]](t.gif) | J 10 8 J 7 4 2 K 3 K Q 10 4 |
| Lead: J | A K 6 3 A 9 5 A Q 6 2 5 3 |
| West Pass Pass All Pass | North 2 3 | East Pass Pass | South 1 NT 2 4 |
On this deal you hold eight trumps, and the five missing cards will usually break 3-2. Therefore, you will lose one trump trick; hence you will win three trump tricks.
In all the other suits (or in all suits at notrump) count only the immediately cashable tricks. These are tricks you can win “off the top” assuming no enemy ruff.
On this deal you have two top hearts, two top diamonds (because of the opening lead into your A-Q) and one top club. Adding this to your trump tricks gives you a total of eight top tricks. Therefore, you need two more tricks to make your contract.
On this deal you might gain one trick by ruffing a heart, and another by establishing your long diamond (or ruffing it in dummy if it is not good). Another possibility is to try ruff two clubs in your hand.
It is important to understand that tricks are gained by ruffing only when the ruffing hand has equal or fewer trumps than the opposite hand. Consequently, tricks can be gained only by ruffs in one hand.
On this deal West’s lead of the J is probably top of a sequence, though it does not indicate anything about West’s length.
On this deal you will win the Q (or the ace if East plays the king). The best plan is to try for two club ruffs. Since you must lose the lead, you cannot afford to draw two rounds of trumps (an opponent may lead a third trump).
Therefore, you should cash one top trump, then lead a club to the jack. This will surely lose. Win any return and cash a second top trump. Then proceed to ruff two clubs. This ensures your contract assuming a 3-2 trump break.
Disclosure Vs. Concealment
| West 2 | North 2 | East 3 | South 1 ? |
And you, South, hold:
| ![[W - E]](v.gif) |
| A Q J 8 2 4 A K J 5 4 4 3 |
Many experts recommend a bid of 4 , not for the purpose of trying for slam (which is relatively obscure), but to enlighten partner as to the nature of South’s hand. The contention is that partner will be in a better position to judge whether to double or bid 5 in the event that East-West persist to 5 .
I disagree. While the argument of disclosure may have merit, there are arguments in favor of concealment that are more important in my view. The debate is complex and will probably not be solved in this or any other article. Nonetheless, I am a “concealer” and wish to make some points on that behalf.
In the above bidding sequence I recommend a direct bid of 4 . Should South become declarer (certainly likely), this will be to his advantage in the play. The defenders will have no clue as to South’s side-suit lengths and the chances of a defensive error are thus increased. Disclosing the diamond suit would tip off the defense.
Another point is that concealing the diamond suit will make it more difficult for the opponents to decide whether or not to sacrifice. The enemy will have less information on which to determine the degree of fit of their hands. Keeping partner in the dark also keeps both opponents in the dark.
A third advantage is that a 4 bid (or any other new suit bid beyond three of the agreed major) can be recognized as a legitimate slam try. Knowing that your basic strategy is “concealment” makes partner aware you are trying for more than just game.
Of course, the above just touches on the subject. With the myriad of possible auctions, and varying vulnerabilities, the better strategy (disclosure vs. concealment) might vary from situation to situation. In general, though, I believe that concealment is the proper course. I could introduce example deals to illustrate my point, but any such deals would be biased because of the fact I chose them. Indeed, one could make almost any point convincing by choosing the right hands.
2. Aids partner in the defense (sometimes, the opening lead) should your side end up defending.
3. On rare occasions might lead to a slam based on the discovery of a tremendous double fit.
2. Avoids aiding the opponents in their decision whether or not to sacrifice.
3. Should you and partner be defenders, avoids aiding the opposing declarer in his play of the hand.
4. Allows the use of a bid in a side suit as a legitimate slam try.
Guessing a QueenOne day a fellow gambler offered Crawford a bet: “You leave the table and I’ll arrange the trump suit. When you come back, I’ll bet you $100 you can’t tell me which defender has the queen.” Sure enough, Crawford accepted the bet.
When he returned to the table, Crawford stared first at his left-hand opponent, and then at his right-hand opponent. Puzzled, he looked at each opponent again and again. “Darn it!” he said, “Neither one of ‘em looks like he has it. I can’t believe this!” Crawford was just about to concede the bet when the gambler tossed him a hundred-dollar bill — he had removed the queen of trumps from the deck.
How good is your queen guessing? Can you find the proper play to make this 4 contract?
4 by South
| 7 6 4 3 K 9 8 10 4 K 5 3 2 | |
| K Q 5 2 Q 3 Q 9 7 6 Q 10 9 | | A 9 8 5 4 2 8 5 3 2 J 8 7 |
| Lead: K | J 10 A J 10 7 6 A K J A 6 4 |
| West Pass All Pass | North 2 | East Pass | South 1 4 |
After winning the K, West leads a low spade to East’s ace, and you ruff the next spade with the 6. The typical play is to ruff your third diamond, cash the K and finesse East for the queen. As you can see, this would not be a success.
Would an expert actually guess this queen? Well, not exactly. An expert would not lead trumps! After ruffing a diamond, the proper play is to cash both top clubs ending in dummy; then lead the last spade and ruff it in your hand. Now exit with a club. Voila! Whoever wins will have to lead trumps (or a diamond) which guarantees your contract.
Moysian Fit
4 by South
| 3 A J 2 A J 7 6 3 K 8 7 4 | |
| K Q 10 6 7 6 5 4 9 5 Q 10 2 | | J 9 8 5 4 8 3 Q 10 8 A J 9 |
| Lead: K | A 7 2 K Q 10 9 K 4 2 6 5 3 |
| West Pass Pass All Pass | North 1 2 3 | East Pass Pass Pass | South 1 2 NT 4 |
West led the K and declarer quickly took advantage of dummy’s singleton: A; spade ruff (with heart ace); heart to nine; spade ruff; diamond to king. The remaining trumps were drawn; but when the diamond finesse failed, declarer went down one. He still fared better than he might have at three notrump (likely down two), but he should have succeeded.
Moysian fits are delicate contracts. With only a slight superiority in trumps declarer must time the play carefully to keep things under control. After winning the A, declarer should immediately lead a low diamond to dummy’s jack — if the finesse wins, great; but if it loses, there is no damaging return. East wins the Q and might as well return a diamond (nothing matters). Declarer wins the K, ruffs a spade with dummy’s A, draws four rounds of trumps (throwing clubs from dummy), then runs the diamonds for his contract.
22-Point Slam was a splinter bid showing a good heart fit and a singleton or void in clubs. South’s jump to 5 invited slam if North had control in diamonds (the unbid suit), and so it came to be. The good news: The A was onside.
6 by South
| N-S Vul | A Q 10 6 5 3 K 8 3 2 K 10 6 | |
| J 2 J 5 4 A Q 9 7 3 K 4 2 | | K 9 8 7 4 — J 6 5 Q J 8 5 3 |
| Lead: A | — A Q 10 9 7 6 8 4 2 A 10 9 7 |
| West Pass Pass | North 1 4 6 | East Pass Pass All Pass | South 2 5 |
West led the A and another diamond to remove dummy’s entry. The rest looked easy, as declarer saw no remaining losers. The bad news: He began by leading a club to the ace and ruffing a club; A (pitching a club); spade ruff; and another club ruff. The foul distribution now offered no way to succeed; West was destined to score an overruff with the J.
Let’s consider the play again by counting winners. Declarer has six trump tricks and three top side tricks, so it would be necessary to ruff three times in dummy to make 12. Not a good idea. A better plan is to establish the long spade suit. This would be easy against normal breaks and is still possible on the unfriendly layout.
After winning the K, cash the A and ruff a spade with the 10 (you must save the 7-6) noting the fall of West’s jack. Cash the A which reveals that East is void; then lead a low heart and finesse, winning the eight spot if West plays low. Ruff a low spade with the Q (beat that!) then cross to dummy with a heart, drawing West’s last trump. Finally, lead the Q for a ruffing finesse against East, and dummy is good.
Schneidered
4 by South
| Q 9 7 6 5 10 9 8 6 5 A J 2 | |
| K 10 3 K 2 Q 10 8 3 A J 9 3 | | A 8 4 J 3 9 7 6 5 4 7 6 5 |
| Lead: A | J 2 A Q 7 4 K 2 K Q 10 8 4 |
| West Pass Pass All Pass | North 2 2 | East Pass Pass | South 1 NT 2 4 |
Schneider was South on this 1986 deal at the FLBC. He opened an off-shape 1 NT, a reasonable bid having an honor in each doubleton. This caused West to huddle momentarily — a clue that Schneider would use later. North’s 2 was a Jacoby transfer and South obligingly bid 2 . North next bid 2 to show 5-5 in the majors and South jumped to game with his great heart fit.
West led the A and shifted to a diamond, won by dummy’s jack. The normal play to avoid a loser in the trump suit is to finesse the queen; but Schneider felt West had the king from his reluctant pass over 1 NT. Accordingly, he embarked on a clever campaign to induce an error. He cashed the A, crossed to the A, and led another heart; jack; queen; king.
West was on lead in an uncomfortable situation. Looking at all four hands it is obvious to lead a spade and defeat the contract; but West did not know his partner held the A. Clearly, a diamond lead would yield a ruff and discard, so West returned a “harmless” club. This indeed would have been harmless if declarer held a balanced hand; but the hidden five-card club suit provided four discards for North’s spades. I guess you could say that West was schneidered on this one.
Beautiful Bidding?
7 by South
| J 7 4 A K 3 A K 8 6 7 5 2 | |
| 6 5 Q J Q 9 5 2 J 9 8 6 4 | | Q 8 2 6 5 4 2 J 10 7 K Q 10 |
| Lead: 5 | A K 10 9 3 10 9 8 7 4 3 A 3 |
| West Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass | North 2 NT 4 4 NT 5 NT 7 | East Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass All Pass | South 1 3 4 5 6 |
The bidding should have ended in 4 , but Poore, North, had an attack of optimitis and launched into Blackwood. When South admitted to two aces and one king, she bid to the hilt. Seven spades!
West led a trump, solving any problem in that suit, and Davis, South, captured East’s eight with the nine. She next cashed the K and led the 10; jack, king. A spade to the ace was followed by another heart; queen, ace. Two more good hearts were cashed, discarding a club from dummy.
Davis, of course, knew all along there was no real hope. But she remembered a tip she had learned in the past: Lead those trumps! She continued by cashing her last two trumps, throwing clubs from dummy.
Meanwhile, the opponents (particularly East) were not so clever. Both were mesmerized by the sight of A-K-8-6 of diamonds in dummy and chose to keep three diamonds and only one club. The A was cashed and — presto! — the club three was good.
How sweet it was!
Waugh of Arabia?
4 by South
| 7 2 A J 6 3 2 3 A K 10 9 7 | |
| J 9 8 5 10 9 8 5 K 6 Q 8 4 | | K K Q 4 J 10 9 8 7 2 6 5 3 |
| Lead: 10 | A Q 10 6 4 3 7 A Q 5 4 J 2 |
| West Pass Pass Pass Pass | North 1 2 3 4 | East Pass Pass Pass All Pass | South 1 2 3 |
Waugh, South, became declarer in four spades after an auction that appeared to be a misfit. It is instructive to note the order of suit bidding: North’s hearts-clubs-clubs indicated 5-5 shape; South’s spades-diamonds-spades indicated 6-4 shape. This latter information allowed North to raise with a doubleton.
West led the 10, won by the ace, then a spade was led; king, ace. East’s card was an omen of the bad trump break, and Waugh took full advantage. He continued with the J to the ace; heart ruff; club to king (no finesse); and a heart ruff, felling East’s king. Next came the A; diamond ruff; J (diamond discard); and a club ruff as West helplessly followed suit.
At this juncture, South remained with the Q-10 and a diamond; West held J-9-8. Waugh simply led his diamond which West had to ruff. The forced spade return gave South the last two tricks.
Better be careful, Omar. I hear Rich Waugh has been reading some movie scripts, and he may be after your acting job next.
Back To the Future
4 by South
| A Q J K 7 6 J 9 8 A K J 5 | |
| 9 8 6 5 2 4 3 2 A 5 4 3 2 | | K 3 A 7 6 2 Q 10 8 7 6 4 3 |
| 10 7 4 Q J 10 9 8 5 K Q 10 9 |
| West Pass | North 4 | East All Pass | South 2 |
“How did we win on this board?” asked Joe.
“Easy!” said Bill, “We got a club ruff to beat 4 .”
“Oh, come on!” said Joe. “Against me West led his singleton club, taken in dummy, then a heart went to the ace. East returned a club, but it was pretty simple to ruff and pull trumps. Do you mean to tell me the other declarer discarded on the second club?”
“Yes. And he played correctly — at least in his own generation. You see, I figured it was futile to try for a club ruff, so I tried for a diamond ruff instead.”
“Come on! There’s no diamond ruff,” argued Joe.
“True, but you have to create that illusion. I led the A and continued with a diamond. As declarer, how would you play now?”
“Amazing. I would be a victim as well. Fearing a diamond ruff, the obvious play is to cash the top clubs and get rid of your last diamond. Ouch! I guess anyone would fall for that one.”
“Well, not me!” chimed Bill. “I’d figure if he really wanted a diamond ruff, he would’ve led a club.”
Two 4-1 Breaks opening, North was obliged to bid 1 NT since he lacked the values for a two-over-one response. South had a borderline jump shift but chose to bid only 2 because of the anemic texture in his suits. North raised to game with his excellent playing potential.
4 by South
| 9 3 Q J 10 4 A 10 9 6 5 3 2 — | |
| J 8 6 5 9 Q J 7 4 A 10 4 3 | | Q 10 A 8 7 6 8 J 9 8 7 5 2 |
| Lead: Q | A K 7 4 2 K 5 3 2 K K Q 6 |
| West Pass Pass | North 1 NT 4 | East Pass Pass All Pass | South 1 2 |
West had no knowledge of dummy’s long diamonds and chose to lead the Q. Declarer won the king and led the 2 to dummy’s queen as East ducked, then the 4 back to the king, learning the bad news. The K was led, covered and ruffed, then declarer tried to cash the A. Oops. East ruffed with the 8 (South could not overruff) and cashed the A leaving declarer in a hopeless predicament — down two.
Declarer violated an important principle: If there is no clear-cut path to making your contract, you should work on your side suit before drawing trumps. After the Q won, declarer should next lead the A; East ruffs and South overruffs; then a heart is led to the jack and ace. East’s best return is a club to the king and ace, but declarer does not ruff in dummy. No matter what West returns, the diamonds can be set up, losing one more trick. Lay out a deck of cards and try it — it’s a good exercise in suit establishment.
Copyright © 2002 Richard Pavlicek. All rights reserved.