Interests:Bridge, juggling, disc sports, Jane Austen, writing, cosmology, and Mexican food
Posted 2012-May-25, 12:06
I think one of the hardest things about defense is identifying "tipping points": points in the play of the hand where a decision needs to be made by a defender, with the fate of the contract hanging in the balance. Sometimes there is only one tipping point, and if you get it wrong, it's too late. Sometimes, however, the defense gets more than one opportunity. This hand came up last night in the local club game; follow the play of the first few tricks and see if you can spot the tipping point (you are sitting East):
How has the defense gone so far? What's your plan, and does it matter?
Spoiler
Let's think about declarer's hand. He must surely have both missing aces for his bidding to be credible; also, if your partner held one along with the values she has already shown, she might have been more active in the auction. If that's the case, then declarer has seven tricks in the form of four trump tricks and three outside aces. Can you see what's coming? Sooner or later, declarer will play the ace of hearts and another heart, putting you in the lead. If you still have a diamond at that point, you can lead it, but it will be allowed to hold. You will eventually be forced to lead a club away from the king, presenting declarer with his eighth trick (the queen of clubs).
Is there anything to be done about it? Yes, and once you've identified the threat (being "thrown in" with the heart king), the solution is fairly obvious: when declarer plays the ace of hearts, you must jettison your king underneath it! This will allow your PARTNER to win the next heart trick, and the endplay will be foiled. This isn't really so farfetched; your partner did show hearts, after all. (Remember that negative double?)
Did you identify the first tipping point? If you had switched to the king of hearts at trick two, declarer would have have no chance. Hindsight is always 20/20! Partner could have lead a heart, of course, but it's hard to criticize her decision to lead the suit in which you opened the bidding. Also, she could have scuttled declarer's plans by switching to a club at trick four, after she won the spade jack.
If you can see that an endplay is looming, consider whether there is anything you can do to avoid being thrown in.
DISCLAIMER: This is not a "novice" hand. It's main theme is probably best described as intermediate, but I don't think it's a bad idea to start challenging players early in their bridge careers. If you found it too difficult to follow, I apologize; I wanted it to be tough, but not frustrating.
Revised Bridge Personality: 44 43 33 44
Dianne, I'm holding in my hand a small box of chocolate bunnies... --Agent Dale Cooper
When the ♦Q holds the first trick, I think it's very clear that declarer started with xx in ♦. Playing another ♦ seems mostly hopeless. I realize what forum this is, but I think switching to ♥K at trick 2 is automatic. I wouldn't necessarily call it a tipping point; partner showed ♥ with his negative double and dummy has four small. Attacking that suit seems very high priority, whereas ♦ present no opportunity at all for us to develop tricks.
We can see trumps are splitting well for declarer. Tapping him certainly won't gain anything for us.
But yes, recognizing when you're going to be endplayed is important, and jettisoning the ♥K is a good play.
playing 4th diamond is another mistake, play a trump and keep 2 diamonds to escape. This beats declarer if he has ♥AJ10 ♣Ax and fails to play last trump to squeeze us. (and even if he does we might pitch 2 clubs and hope he missguess)
Interests:Bridge, juggling, disc sports, Jane Austen, writing, cosmology, and Mexican food
Posted 2012-May-27, 07:27
Fluffy, on 2012-May-27, 03:54, said:
playing 4th diamond is another mistake, play a trump and keep 2 diamonds to escape. This beats declarer if he has ♥AJ10 ♣Ax and fails to play last trump to squeeze us. (and even if he does we might pitch 2 clubs and hope he missguess)
True. However, part of the point I was trying to make was that sometimes the defense gets a second--or third--chance after a suboptimal start. Also, squeeze defense seems like a pretty advanced topic, but "seeing that you are about to be thrown in and trying to do something about it" seems reasonable. Maybe that's too fine a hair to split, I don't know.
Revised Bridge Personality: 44 43 33 44
Dianne, I'm holding in my hand a small box of chocolate bunnies... --Agent Dale Cooper
Very interesting hand. I certainly could have been wrong but I would have switched to the K of Hs at trick 2. Partner did make a negative double. This gives you the potential of getting a ruff as well as endplaying the declarer. You can continue Ds later.
True. However, part of the point I was trying to make was that sometimes the defense gets a second--or third--chance after a suboptimal start. Also, squeeze defense seems like a pretty advanced topic, but "seeing that you are about to be thrown in and trying to do something about it" seems reasonable. Maybe that's too fine a hair to split, I don't know.
I agree with you, but avoiding getting out of exit cards is a very common mistake, the subtle implications are too subtle for this level surelly. But so is seeing the endplay after declarer refuses to ruff last diamond.
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