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Detail specifications 75OS - Level 2 ★
Safe handling of the dummy's long suit in NT contracts
Safe handling of the dummy's long suit in NT contracts
The fear of an unfavorable split of the opps cards in your dummy's long suit should lead you to use safety maneuvers when you don't have many dummy entries.
In fact, you should not aimm to maximize the number of tricks, but to ensure that the contract makes.
Example of a probe.
You are the declarer of a 3NT contract. West lead the Jack ♠ that you took with the Ace. You have just played the 2 ♣ from your hand, West supplies the 4 ♦.
The fear of an unfavorable split of the opps cards in your dummy's long suit should lead you to use safety maneuvers when you don't have many dummy entries.
In fact, you should not aimm to maximize the number of tricks, but to ensure that the contract makes.
- The rule = Anticipate. To fight effectively against an unfavorable split of the opps cards, you must have anticipated it!
- Implementation : Adopt one of the 3 insurance techniques :
- The probe
- The safety finesse
- Ducking
Example of a probe.
You are the declarer of a 3NT contract. West lead the Jack ♠ that you took with the Ace. You have just played the 2 ♣ from your hand, West supplies the 4 ♦.
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Ducking example
You are in defense in that NT contract SA. You overcalled 1 ♠, and your partner, logically leads ♠, the 7.
Which card will you play ?
You are in defense in that NT contract SA. You overcalled 1 ♠, and your partner, logically leads ♠, the 7.
Which card will you play ?
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Exercice 27351
How can you establish 3 tricks in ♠ ? by not playing the King on the first trick; When your partner gets back in hand, he'll probably have a ♠ left. You could also get back in hand with
the Ace ♣ to cash in the remaining ♠.
How can you establish 3 tricks in ♠ ? by not playing the King on the first trick; When your partner gets back in hand, he'll probably have a ♠ left. You could also get back in hand with
the Ace ♣ to cash in the remaining ♠.
Safety finesse example
You are in South, as declarer of a 4 ♥ contract. the LHO lead the Ace ♠ ♠ followed by the King ♣ . You take it with the Ace and play a small ♥ from the dummy.
Which card do you play, The Ace orthe 9 ?
You are in South, as declarer of a 4 ♥ contract. the LHO lead the Ace ♠ ♠ followed by the King ♣ . You take it with the Ace and play a small ♥ from the dummy.
Which card do you play, The Ace orthe 9 ?
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Exercice 27151
Play the 9 ♥ and never tha Ace. The direct finesse to the Queen e ♥ is a safety finesse. If it works, you have your 10 tricks. If it fails, the ♥ are split 2-1 and you have an entry to go get the Queen ♠ p (Your 6th card in C0 will be established after you hace cashed in your Ace ♥)
Play the 9 ♥ and never tha Ace. The direct finesse to the Queen e ♥ is a safety finesse. If it works, you have your 10 tricks. If it fails, the ♥ are split 2-1 and you have an entry to go get the Queen ♠ p (Your 6th card in C0 will be established after you hace cashed in your Ace ♥)
FR version
You have 9 cards in ♦ ♣ : East has 4 cards with the Jack (that can't be captured). As you only have one dummy entry with the 9 ♣, play a small ♣ and let East get his trick. He'll only have 3 cards left in ♣ and the dummy has Ace King Queen, and you have the 9 to get to dummy....Your contract is cold