OCP Forums
General Bridge Discussion => Interesting Play Hands => Topic started by: OliverC on December 14, 2017, 02:07:11 AM
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I'm not a naturally greedy person but... It's always worthwhile to ask yourself exactly what all of the bidding means before settling on a line of play. This hand was a good example: You are North, at Game All, and Partner was the Dealer.
North
!S A9863
!H AQ10
!D 5
!C A872
Bidding
South West North East
No No 1 !S No
1NT X 2 !C No
3 !S X All Pass
East leads the !H Jack and Partner puts down
South (Dummy)
!S Q1054
!H 854
!D A6
!C KJ105
!H Jack led
North
!S A9863
!H AQ10
!D 5
!C A872
West plays the !H King at trick 1, which was pretty sporting of them, I thought, but in essence is makes no difference. So how do you view the bidding?
West is a passed hand but you have to take their initial double as a takeout double of Spades (at least, 99% of the Bridge World will play it as that). Does the second Double by West cancel that message out? Absolutely not!. Indeed, it seems likely that it was still 100% for takeout, and Partner East (who presumably is sitting there with !S KJxx) simply decided to pass it for penalties.
Crossing to the !D Ace and leading the !S Queen is definitely not the best move in the world, therefore, because it's a line that is only gaining when East has the singleton !S Jack or when West has both the King and the Jack, and if the bidding has told you anything it's that West is short in Spades.
Eszter still made 2 overtricks in 3 !SX, but these were vulnerable doubled overtricks and so doubly precious! LOL. As the cards lie, 12 tricks in this contract is pretty simple once you start trumps with the Ace from hand. West held !C Qxx, which was also effectively suggested by the bidding, so there's only the !S King to lose.