Count Cards for Slam by Oswald Jacoby

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spingold 1931 Oswald Jacoby, P. Hal Sims, Willard Karn y David Burnstine

The Tuscaloosa News – 3 Abr 1967          

Oswald: «How about devoting this week’s articles to lessons on dummy play?»

Jim: «Good idea. I happen to have some hands that Eddie Kanter uses in his teaching in Los Angeles.»

Oswald: «Let’s use one that illustrates how declarer can count the number of cards held in an important suit, so he can change a guess into a sure thing?»

Jim: «This is one he uses in his advanced classes. South is declarer at a normal six no-trump contract.

Lead: 9

How would you go about playing it?»

Oswald: «So I’m an advanced pupil! I start by counting 11 sure winner plus a potential trick in hearts or diamonds. If either suit breaks I am home. If the jack of diamonds drops I am home and there will be a squeeze of some sort if one opponent is long in both those red suits. In any event it is up to me to work on the black suits first. I win the spade in my hand and lead the king of clubs.»

Jim: «West wins and leads a second spade.»

Oswald: «I cash two clubs and a spade. Are there any discards?»

Jim: «West discards a spade on the third club: East a club on the third spade.»

Oswald: «What happens when I play three rounds of hearts?»

Jim: «West drops his last spade on the third heart.»

Oswald: «I’m going to pass this course. West has shown up with exactly five spades, two hearts and two clubs. He must hold four diamonds. I play my ace and queen and if the jack doesn’t drop I finesse against it with certainty of success.»