Vil Tells It Like It Is
This time, I had a different pair to keep my eye on. The session result was mid fifties, but they scored well on this deal, thanks to opponents not playing Acol and South not opening 1NT.
Board 11 from Thursday 25/01/18
Dealer S Nil Vul
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QJ32
A974
52
AJ8South opened 1C, North responded 1H, 2H from South and 4H from North. East had a very easy opening lead and started with the jack of diamonds. Declarer lost the first two diamond tricks and later, two hearts and a club, though Deep Finesse would not have lost a club. But even down one would have been a good score, because, at other tables, South opened 1NT, North bid 2C (Stayman) and South ended up in 4H.
The opening lead for West is not obvious and some Wests led the three of clubs. If declarer does not give in to the temptation to immediately try the jack (the finesse can be left for later), playing low from dummy picks up East's queen and if the defence then fail to win the second heart trick in the East hand and switch to a diamond, declarer can end up making.
Then there were the Wests who simply could not resist leading their one certain trick on the opening lead, the ace of diamonds! And you can see how THAT turned out! Another hand from the same session:
Board 23 Dealer S All Vul
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There was only one EW pair that made the most of the above layout, and the reason was, simply, sloppy declarer play. Well, maybe not sloppy, but certainly unthinking. I shudder to think how many Wests, even given the very favourable lead of a LOW diamond, would fail to take twelve tricks in a 3NT contract. Only one of those playing on the night at the Hutt Club made twelve tricks in No Trumps, were your declarers any better?
The problem is simple, and so is the answer: too many declarers simply run off all their top tricks and hope that will be enough, or hope that they may make some extras at the end. That does not always happen, so why not develop the obvious extra tricks where possible? Five clubs tricks are almost certain, so there is no need to run off that suit immediately. A very bad habit to get into, and showing lack of imagination. The one declarer who made twelve tricks was not favoured by a low diamond lead, but received the lead of the queen of diamonds. She won this with the ace and took one top round of clubs only. Then she led a heart, taking the finesse by putting in the ten from hand. This took the ace from North and North switched to the sensible jack of spades. Declarer won her king and only now led a second club. This served as an entry to dummy for a second heart finesse. The clubs were now run, and declarer was able to lead yet another heart through South, who only had the queen left anyway, and twelve tricks were made easily enough, with just a bit of thinking required about tricks, entries, and finesses, and establishing extra tricks - not just grabbing what you can see.
The “ Thirteen Tricks” series will be kicking off with the first issue due mid February. An enrollment form, plus more information, is available, just drop me an email . I will GUARANTEE that if you read, or have read the book “Tips and Quips” and enroll in “Thirteen Tricks” your results will improve considerably over the next year, especially if you have a regular partner to try the tricks with. Are you up for the challenge?
For information, email villyn@xtra.co.nz
