Re: Third hand, Trick 1

On Feb 9, 5:09 pm, Charles Brenner <cbren...@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Feb 9, 2:07 am, rhm <r...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:



On Feb 8, 11:04 pm, Charles Brenner <cbren...@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:> On Feb 8, 9:19 am, David Howorth

<howorthd.dontincludet...@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Defending against a suit contract, partner makes whatever opening lead
you make from AK. Dummy comes down with a singleton in that suit. You're
third hand.

One of my partners insists that third hand play here "has to be" suit
preference. If it "has to be" only one thing, my preference would be
attitude. I reason that opening leader usually has a decent shot at
guessing the correct switch (after a discouraging attitude signal), but
only third hand is likely to know whether dummy should be tapped.

" I don't see why either defender is particularly more likely to know"

First third hand is more likely to know, since he is sitting over the
dummy,

If you have something in mind here I wish you would explain it. Why
are people who sit over dummy smarter?

but even if third hand does not know this may be exactly the
information opening leader neads.

Again, your comment is mystifying to me. Third hand may not know it is
right to tap dummy. Certainly opening leader would like to know. So
what?

If you play a middle card opening leader may deduce that you have a
similar holding in both suits or that a switch to either suit might be
dangerous from third hand perspective.

Three way signals are clear to your kibitzer, not so effective for
partner.

From this information and his own holding opening leader is often able
to deduce which suit switch is much more likely to succeed.

than the other but certainly third hand might be the one who knows
best, so it is useful to be able to signal encouragement.

As explained above this does not follow.

You have completely lost me. When third hand knows the best defense,
you claim it is NOT useful for third hand to be able to signal that
defense to partner?

What you post is usually convincing, and always clear. This case is
unique. I wonder if you substantially misread the post of mine to
which you responded.

Charles

Sorry if I made myself not clear. I tried to argue my point not by
giving examples, because it is fairly easy to find examples where any
particular signaling method looks good or terrible.I was also too lazy
to write down all those examples. .

If you have something in mind here I wish you would explain it. Why
are people who sit over dummy smarter?

Of course people who sit over the dummy are not smarter, but they have
an easier job to know whether a finesse works or not and they can help
partner finding the right switch.

In all my examples assume declarer plays a 4S contract. Partner leads
the HA and dummy has a small singleton heart.
Let us assume it was agreed to play suit preference signals in such a
scenario.

For example if dummy has 2 finesse positions in the minors like AQx
only third hand will know where he holds the KJx over it.
The leader usually can not tell without a signal, Attitude will only
tell whether he should switch, which is often fairly obvious.

Let us say dummy has Axx is both minors and you hold KJx in clubs and
nothing in diamonds.
You receive a middle card from partner., for example because he has
the queen in both minors.
In this case third hand does not know to which minor the opening
leader should switch.

But receiving a middle card it is at least obvious for opening leader
not to switch to diamonds.

Now two full illustrations (examples are taken from Lajos Lincmayer
book. They were not constructed by me)

S: AJ107
H: 6
D:876
C:Q10852

S: 3
H:AKQ752
D:QJ94
C:94

Bidding:

W N E S
1C
1H X 3H 3S
4H 4S X

You lead the HK

a) East plays the HJ
b) East plays the H4

in both cases declarer plays the H8

If you play suit preference a) is fairly clear. You switch to
diamonds.
In case b) the H4 is probably not East lowest card. He certainly does
not want a diamond switch. Try to force the dummy

East hands:

a) S:6542
H:J1043
D:AK3
C:63

b) S:KQ42
H:J1043
D:10532
C:3

In b) the only defense is to force the dummy. (Try it)

Example 2

S: KJ9752.
H::7
D: 975
C: 975

S:3
H:A9654
D:8643
C:KQ6

The bidding:

W N E S
1H 1S
3S 4S P P
X

You lead the HA. It is obvious that you will have to switch to a
minor, Partner plays

a) the HK
b) the H2

East Hand:

a) S:6
H: KQJT82
D: AJ10
C: 832

b) S: 6
H: KQJT82
D:JT
C:A832

I am not saying suit preference signal work in all cases. But I
believe they are superior in trump contracts, when partners honor lead
hits a singleton in dummy (or you lead the ace and dummy had Kx).

Rainer Herrmann
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Third hand, Trick 1
    ... Dummy comes down with a singleton in that suit. ... only third hand is likely to know whether dummy should be tapped. ... In when third hand signals low ...
    (rec.games.bridge)
  • Re: Third hand, Trick 1
    ... Dummy comes down with a singleton in that suit. ... If it "has to be" only one thing, my preference would be ... only third hand is likely to know whether dummy should be tapped. ...
    (rec.games.bridge)
  • Re: Third hand, Trick 1
    ... Dummy comes down with a singleton in that suit. ... only third hand is likely to know whether dummy should be tapped. ... Three way signals are clear to your kibitzer, ...
    (rec.games.bridge)
  • Re: Third hand, Trick 1
    ... Dummy comes down with a singleton in that suit. ... only third hand is likely to know whether dummy should be tapped. ... Three way signals are clear to your kibitzer, ...
    (rec.games.bridge)
  • Re: Third hand, Trick 1
    ... Dummy comes down with a singleton in that suit. ... One of my partners insists that third hand play here "has to be" suit ... I don't see why either defender is particularly more likely to know ...
    (rec.games.bridge)