Escape the endplay By Mike Lawrence

Source: February  2015 ACBL Bridge Bulletin      

The following deal is interesting in that it offers all manner of things to think about. It’s a deal in which the play was not best, the sort of thing you run into all of the time. Sorting out what is happening in these cases can be difficult. Playing in a matchpoint event against an unknown declarer, you have the following problem as West:
aaxx
You lead the K, East playing the 3, and declarer the ace. Declarer crosses to the A and back to the K. East plays the 7, then the 2. Declarer leads the A, on which East plays the 2. South leads a second club. How do you defend?

East’s high-low in trumps means, in your partnership, that he has three or five of them. Given the bidding, he is marked with three spades. East’s low heart at trick one denies a doubleton. East rates to have three hearts, although one or four is possible. Your partner just played the 2.

He has played four cards so far, all low ones, and they have given you a lot of information, assuming you were watching. Do you duck the club or do you take it? If you take it, what do you do next?

The winning play is odd, but it should be right if you consider the bidding. Win the club. East will follow with the 6, so you know for sure that declarer has three clubs. Next, cash the Q. Partner and declarer follow. You know from partner’s heart plays that he has the missing heart. What then? Lead a club to dummy. You are hoping that declarer has two diamond losers. By leading a club, you give declarer a trick he was entitled to, but you destroy his hopes for a discard on the good clubs. Declarer can’t cash clubs because your partner will ruff. If you find this defense, you still need to take two diamond tricks, and that will depend on what your partner has in diamonds.

Here is the complete layout:aaxx

Declarer could have made 4 if he guessed to play the K first, because that would leave a spade entry to dummy. South could also make 4 if he played the  A K and then conceded a heart trick. You would be endplayed. A diamond lead would give South his king, and a club lead would allow South to play three rounds of clubs, endplay-ing you a second time.

Note, by the way, that if West doesn’t cash his Q before leading the third club, South will win the club in dummy and play a heart, endplaying West. How do you defend if declarer wins the first heart, crosses to the A, and finesses the Q into your hand? Do you win or do you hold up?

If you hold up and declarer finesses again, you can win the club and can cash your heart trick. Now you can lead your remaining club to declarer’s ace. He will be in his hand with no way to use dummy’s good club.

Is that all there is to the play? Not at all. When declarer finesses the Q, you have to duck it smoothly. If you fuddle around for awhile before letting the Q win, declarer will work out what is happening.

The point of the deal is that when declarer takes the club finesse at trick three, you must be ready to duck in tempo. If you are in the habit of watching partner’s cards, you should realize what is happening and be able to duck smoothly enough that declarer may talk himself into finessing again. Of course, if declarer plays a second heart instead, the defense rests.

MAS DEL MISMO AUTOR

Thinking Bridge: SF NABC 8th Day

Norman Kay, Alfred Sheinwold, and Eddie Kantar at Hall of Fame induction February 29, 1996 in Philadelphia.

Spring NABC: New Orleans 2015 Day 4

Parisians Thomas Bessis and Cedric Lorenzini finished in the winner’s seat when the Norman Kay Platinum Pairs came to a close.

The Faulty Holdup by Ira Corn

"The grave's a fine and quiet place, but no one there will cash his ace". Can the hand be made, or must it go down to defeat?

Card reading by J. Becker

There are all kinds of clues that a competent declarer uses to figure out the composition of the unseen hands.

Support with Support Part I by Andrew Robson

Bridge is a game at which two people should combine rather than add together their efforts.

Franck Riehm elected as WBF President

The World Bridge Federation is pleased to announce the...

1st South American Online Mixed Teams Championship

All players belonging to any NBO affiliated to the WBF are welcome!

I Brazilian Online Bridge Festival 2020

Some of the best players in the world are Brazilians, and some of the most enthusiastic players too! Our Brazilian Online Festival has appeal to players of all levels. Your team will play in a friendly but competitive atmosphere, with very well-organized scoring and experienced Directors to ensure a pleasant experience for all.

WBF Robot Tournaments

Come and join the competition through our Providers, BBO, Funbridge and Ourgame, all offering you this great opportunity – we look forward to some challenging tournaments!”

The Endplay

An endplay (also throw-in), in bridge, is a tactical play where a defender is put on lead at a strategic moment, and then has to make a play that loses one or more tricks.

The Scissors Coup by John Brown

Scissors coup (or, Scissor coup, ) is a type of coup in bridge, so named because it cuts communications between defenders.

World Bridge Federation – Youth

The Championship is open to all players born on or after 1st January 1992 (Juniors & Girls) or born on or after 1st January 1997 (Youngsters) or born on or after 1st January 2002 (Kids) in good standing with their own NBOs.

Prevent a Ruff by Jon Brown

West led his singleton club, which dummy's king won. South read the lead as a singleton.

RELACIONADOS

CATEGORIAS POPULARES