Comments on: Bernie at the Helm http://oldprofbridge.com/2005/12/22/bernie-at-the-helm/ Contract Bridge Themes with a Midwest Accent! Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:12:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.9 by: bernie miller http://oldprofbridge.com/2005/12/22/bernie-at-the-helm/#comment-64 Wed, 09 Aug 2006 20:20:54 +0000 http://oldprofbridge.com/2005/12/22/bernie-at-the-helm/#comment-64 opening lead was C8, very unusual lead on this auction. lead & auction convinced me to take line of ruffing 2d's in dummy rather than play for clubs no worse than 4-2. fortunately for our side this line worked (c's were 5-1) opening lead was C8, very unusual lead on this auction. lead & auction convinced me to take line of ruffing 2d’s in dummy rather than play for clubs no worse than 4-2. fortunately for our side this line worked (c’s were 5-1)

]]> by: Phil Warden http://oldprofbridge.com/2005/12/22/bernie-at-the-helm/#comment-63 Wed, 09 Aug 2006 20:20:34 +0000 http://oldprofbridge.com/2005/12/22/bernie-at-the-helm/#comment-63 In a situation like this where both 5NT and 6H show the Q of trump, and we believe it likely that we have an 8 card fit, my partner and I use 5NT to show the Q and the J. This is another variation of what I for fun have named 'the Jackass convention.' In a situation like this where both 5NT and 6H show the Q of trump, and we believe it likely that we have an 8 card fit, my partner and I use 5NT to show the Q and the J. This is another variation of what I for fun have named ‘the Jackass convention.’

]]> by: Jonathan Weinstein http://oldprofbridge.com/2005/12/22/bernie-at-the-helm/#comment-62 Wed, 09 Aug 2006 20:15:41 +0000 http://oldprofbridge.com/2005/12/22/bernie-at-the-helm/#comment-62 Important addendum to Jack's line B: When you discover that's righty has five clubs and three trumps, you're in a position to make it whenever he is 3-3-2-5, by just eloping with your top tricks and all your little trumps. He will follow suit helplessly to all 13 tricks. On the other hand: if you had cashed one high trump in each hand (B') it could make it when he is 2-3-3-5: you have just enough entries to take two diamond ruffs and pull his trump before scoring the third spade. The second distribution is mathematically more likely by 6:5, but I would trust the bidding just enough to prefer Jack's original line B. I also trust enough to prefer B to A. Important addendum to Jack’s line B: When you discover that’s righty has five clubs and three trumps, you’re in a position to make it whenever he is 3-3-2-5, by just eloping with your top tricks and all your little trumps. He will follow suit helplessly to all 13 tricks.

On the other hand: if you had cashed one high trump in each hand (B’) it could make it when he is 2-3-3-5: you have just enough entries to take two diamond ruffs and pull his trump before scoring the third spade.

The second distribution is mathematically more likely by 6:5, but I would trust the bidding just enough to prefer Jack’s original line B. I also trust enough to prefer B to A.

]]> by: Jack Oest http://oldprofbridge.com/2005/12/22/bernie-at-the-helm/#comment-61 Wed, 09 Aug 2006 20:14:33 +0000 http://oldprofbridge.com/2005/12/22/bernie-at-the-helm/#comment-61 I'm not sure what is best here: Line A: Win the (spade?) in hand, play ace and ruff a diamond, now two rounds of trumps ending in hand, then a second diamond ruff. Now back tohand in clubs and claim. This makes as long as diamonds are not 6-2 at my left or, if they are, if LHO has the third trump. Line B: Win the (spade?) in hand. Cash two high trumps in your hand, unblock the clubs, then over to the ace ofhearts. If clubs are 4-2 you are cold, if they are 5-1, you are probably down right now unless LHO has the five clubs + the third trump. But in that case you probably can't get back over to dummy for your minor suit squeeze unless he was 2-3-3-5 with the diamond king -- an obscure layout. If clubs are 5-1 but RHO has the five clubs plus the third trump, it's hard to see how to avoid taking the presumably losing diamond finesse. I vote for Line A. I’m not sure what is best here:

Line A: Win the (spade?) in hand, play ace and ruff a diamond, now two rounds of trumps ending in hand, then a second diamond ruff. Now back tohand in clubs and claim. This makes as long as diamonds are not 6-2 at my left or, if they are, if LHO has the third trump.

Line B: Win the (spade?) in hand. Cash two high trumps in your hand, unblock the clubs, then over to the ace ofhearts. If clubs are 4-2 you are cold, if they are 5-1, you are probably down right now unless LHO has the five clubs + the third trump. But in that case you probably can’t get back over to dummy for your minor suit squeeze unless he was 2-3-3-5 with the diamond king — an obscure layout.

If clubs are 5-1 but RHO has the five clubs plus the third trump, it’s hard to see how to avoid taking the presumably losing diamond finesse.

I vote for Line A.

]]> by: Sam http://oldprofbridge.com/2005/12/22/bernie-at-the-helm/#comment-60 Wed, 09 Aug 2006 20:14:00 +0000 http://oldprofbridge.com/2005/12/22/bernie-at-the-helm/#comment-60 I think that it is unlikely in the extreme that LHO holds KJ sixth of D and failed to bid over 2C, instead opting to direct his own lead with a x. Instead, he probably has 5 diam or 6 weak and is hoping partner can find the save. That increases the likelihood of shortness elsewhere in the hand. Therefore, I would try A of D and a rough and if no honor appeared, would draw 2 rounds of trump and try a second rough. If an honor did appear, I would switch to clubs. I think that it is unlikely in the extreme that LHO holds KJ sixth of D and failed to bid over 2C, instead opting to direct his own lead with a x. Instead, he probably has 5 diam or 6 weak and is hoping partner can find the save. That increases the likelihood of shortness elsewhere in the hand. Therefore, I would try A of D and a rough and if no honor appeared, would draw 2 rounds of trump and try a second rough. If an honor did appear, I would switch to clubs.

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