Dealer
: North
Vuln : Both |
HAMMAN'S
TIPS #10
by Bob Hamman
the world's #1 ranked player
|
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OK,
I overbid (a bit). First thought: If the king of diamonds
and
ace
of clubs are both onside, I have 10 tricks by
attacking diamonds.
Second thought: West has the
king-queen of spades, so East
has the
king of diamonds
or ace of clubs, and it had better be the
king of
diamonds,
else I have no chance.
So
I decided to set up a club trick. I ducked the lead.
If
West
switched to diamonds, it would probably help me,
setting
up a diamond
trick (see my 8 and 9 of diamonds).
West continued spades.
At trick
three I led the 7 of clubs
and floated it to the 10. I was
now cold,
because East held
the diamond king. He shifted to a diamond,
a good
play if
his partner held the ace and I held the ace of clubs.
But
my
queen won and that was the end of the ball game.
The
kibitzer told me afterwards that West could defeat the
contract
by playing the jack of clubs on the 7. I can't duck
it, or
West may
shift to diamonds. So I win the king, come
back to my hand
and lead
the 2 of clubs. Then West hops
up with the ace to play a diamond
(that'll be the day).
Whereupon I challenged the kibitzer to
60 deals
at a
dollar a point, choose your partners. He declined.
My
tip: In an aggressive contract, you must play for
the
cards to lie
well for you, but don't forget to take the auction
into account. |