Trump Management

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Another on Counting your Losers

Posted on May 23, 2021 by Harry • 0 comment

You opened one heart in 2^nd seat and West overcalled two diamonds. Partner had enough strength to make a negative double at the two level. Having 5-5 in the rounded suits increased the value of your hand. So, you were willing to go to three clubs for your rebid. Partner took the suit preference for hearts and you bid game. Opening lead was the king of diamonds.

Here is what you saw summary of the bidding:

You were in a good contract. How would you play to make four hearts? Your thoughts on opening lead:

West should have the ace of hearts.
Other than that you have the remaining high hearts.
You have the top three clubs, and there is a good chance they will split no worse than 4-2 (84%).
You should lose no more than two spades and the ace of hearts.
Hearts should split no worse than 4-2 (84%).

Do those clues shed light on how you should play? Please let me know by email or in comments if you are unclear on what to do at trick two.

Category: Exercises: Declarer Play | Tags: Counting Losers in a suit contract, Negative Double, Plan your rebid, Remember the bidding, Setting up a long suit, Trump Management, Watch intermedates in hierarchy of each suit

Katz Play

Posted on April 11, 2020 by Harry • 0 comment

Here is a hand I saw played by Ralph Katz sitting South:

Note that Katz will go down immediately if West leads a diamond. However, West chose the reasonable lead of the ace of clubs.

Katz ruffed and visualized the East hand. This is what I infer that Katz was thinking: East had opened the bidding and, after rebidding his diamonds, should hold the ace and king of diamonds. West led the ace of clubs, so presumably has the king as well. Also, it appears that an unbalanced hand with length in clubs would justify West’s aggressive bidding. Therefore, it seems reasonable to assume that East holds the Q J of hearts to justify his opening bid.

Assume Katz visualized a hand like the one East held, do you see how he avoided losing one heart and two diamonds? He made his doubled contract! How did Katz Play?

Category: Exercises: Declarer Play | Tags: Counting Losers in a suit contract, Double Dummy, Remember the bidding, Think before you play to trick one, Trump Management, Visualizing the Opponents' Hands

Botched Play?

Posted on March 27, 2020 by Harry • 0 comment

This hand played by experts on BBO was bid nicely, but the play was botched. Follow along and see if you agree:

South got to four hearts after she opened the bidding one club, her LHO overcalled one spade, and her partner made a negative double.

Opening lead by West was the king of spades. Declarer won the ace, played a trump to dummy’s ace, and led a low club to the queen which won. Declarer can now conclude that West has the ace of clubs. If trumps split 3-2 and West has the king of diamonds, this contract should make: Go to dummy with a second round of trumps and lead a diamond toward the king-queen. If West plays the ace your diamonds are set up and your king of clubs is protected. If West plays low, you draw a third round of trumps and lead another diamond toward the queen. Contract should make with one spade loser, one diamond loser and one club loser.

Inexplicably to me, declarer led another club back toward the king at trick four and down she went. Here is the entire hand: