Chapter 15
When Not to Trump Your Losers
© 2006 - Marty Bergen
Page 163
When Not to Trump Your Losers
Love Your Intermediates
Some
players notice only the top four cards in a suit. Better players
are also aware of their intermediates
–
and make the most of them.
Contract: 4
Lead:
 K |
|
North
A
J 10
10 9 8 4
10 6 2
J 5 2 |
|
|
| |
West
8
K
Q J 5
Q J 7 4
K 9 6 4 |
|
East
7
4 2
7
6 3 2
K 9 8
Q 8 7 |
|
| |
|
South
K
Q 9 6 5 3
A
A 5 3
A 10 3 |
|
|
West North
East South
--
-- --
1
Pass
2
Pass 4
All Pass
Four
losers – what else is new? However, there is a way for
you to avoid a loser by making West regret his obvious opening
lead. Do you see it?
© 2006- Marty Bergen
Page 164
When Not to Trump Your Losers
Because dummy has almost no help for your four
minor-suit losers, the contract is definitely in jeopardy.
However, just look at the potential of North’s heart
intermediates. After the first trick, the defenders have only
two hearts higher than dummy’s
10
9 8.
Win the heart lead with your ace, and lead a
spade to the
A.
Now lead the
10
from the board and instead of ruffing, discard your
3.
West wins with the
Q.
The remaining hearts are:
|
|
|
North
9
8
|
|
|
| |
West
J
5
|
|
East
7
6 |
|
| |
|
South
-- |
|
|
West
will shift to the
Q,
but you are in control. Win the
A
and lead a spade to dummy’s jack. Continue setting up hearts by
leading dummy’s
9.
When East plays low, discard your last diamond. West wins his
J
and leads another diamond, but you are now able to ruff.
Lead a
spade to dummy’s
10
to draw the last trump. Now, cash the winning
8
and discard your
3.
Concede a club and score up your game.
© 2006- Marty Bergen
Page 165
When Not to
Trump Your Losers
In
addition to winning the obvious six spade tricks and three
outside aces, you set up the
8
for your critical tenth trick.
If
West had shifted to clubs after winning the
Q,
you would still be okay. You would play low from the board, and
capture East’s
Q
with the ace. The
J
or
10
would then provide your tenth trick.
{deal repeated for convenience}
Contract: 4
Lead:
K |
|
North
A
J 10
10 9 8 4
10 6 2
J 5 2 |
|
|
| |
West
8
K
Q J 5
Q J 7 4
K 9 6 4 |
|
East
7
4 2
7
6 3 2
K 9 8
Q 8 7 |
|
| |
|
South
K
Q 9 6 5 3
A
A 5 3
A 10 3 |
|
|
West North
East South
-- --
-- 1
Pass 2
Pass 4
All Pass
© 2006 - Marty Bergen
Order
More Declarer Play here
Chapter 1:
Drawing Trumps: All, Some, or None ............... 13
Chapter 2: Two
For the Price of One ................................ 23
Chapter 3:
Suit Combinations For Fun & Profit .................. 33
Chapter 4:
Life in Notrump ..............................................
47
Chapter 5:
Maximizing Your Entries
..................................
57
Chapter 6: To
Finesse, or Not to Finesse? .......................... 67
Chapter 7: The
Right Time to Finesse ............................... 77
Chapter 8:
YOU Can Execute an
Endplay .........................
87
Chapter 9:
Timing is Everything
.......................................
97
Chapter 10:
Surviving Bad Splits
.....................................
107
Chapter 11:
Sizing Up the Situation ................................. 117
Chapter 12:
Everyone Deserves A Second
Chance ...........
127
Chapter 13:
Counting Winners in Suit Contracts ............... 141
Chapter 14:
Good Guys, Bad Guys ................................. 151
Chapter 15:
When Not to Trump Your Losers .................. 161
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