The fascination of Bridge has many dimensions. But despite all its glossary on the bidding systems, when it comes to the final show down, it is always the dummy play that is the determining factor in the fate of the contract. As such dummy play has its own levels which characterise a declarer's caliber and class in Bridge.
It goes without saying that while adopting a certain approach to the problem at hand, different players would adopt variable lines of play with the one that combines the best odds usually falling in the expert's lap. Hence there are categories given to Bridge players from novices to the average plus and advancing players finally culminating as experts. Let us see as south in today's illustration, where do you fit in as you tackle this dummy play which south faced when he battled on to bid 6NT as per the bidding given below:
The bidding: The opening lead is the 10H. When the dummy comes down on this neutral lead of 10H, south as usual counts his winners and losers. One glance reveals he has 3 winners in hearts, 4 in diamonds and definitely 3 or 4 in clubs depending on the successful club finesse plus one sure spade winner which make up the 11 or 12 tricks depending on the KC being right. On the other hand if you count your losers, you have one in spade and possibly one in clubs if the KC is not right for you.
Depending on one's ability to comprehend and conjure the opponents possible distribution in the various suits, there would be some different approaches to the problem at hand. The novice would straight away go for the club finesse. The average plus player would play out his winners to know more about the distribution before taking the plunge in clubs. The advancing player would keep the possibility of developing an extra trick in spades. But the expert would try to combine all his chances for finding the best odds play in his approach to the problem thinking even of a possible pseudo squeeze too.
As south, what did you do in your approach to the problem? On the face of it you have 9 sure winners and have 2 chances to get the 3 extra tricks you need: club K finesse or east having both missing spade honours or even a singleton or doubleton honours. The vital question remains: what is your sequence of play. If you try the club finesse first and it fails, there would be no going back.
Thus the key lies in testing the spade suit first. Here the timing is of the essence. After winning the opening heart lead in dummy, lead a low spade. If east produces K or Q singleton or doubleton, you have your 12 tricks with 4 in spades, 4 in diamonds, 3 in hearts and one in clubs. But suppose east plays low, you need to finesse the 10S which west is allowed to win with either the K or Q of spades. When you regain the lead, you now have the extra chance of dropping the other spade honour under your AS, failing which you fall back on the club finesse. Of course if your 10S wins by chance, you should immediately switch to the clubs fully confident of your 12 or even 13 tricks depending on the KC position. In Bridge, timing is all importing and combining all your chances vitally significant too. So look for them first before taking your last straw.
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North South
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J9852 A10
KQ AJ2
AQ10 KJ43
QJ3 A1096
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N E S W
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- - 1NT P
2H P 2S 4NT
P P 6NT All Pass
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