When I lecture, I often talk about “how to see declarer’s hand.” Defense would indeed be easier if you know what declarer held, but strategically placing a mirror on the wall behind him would get you tossed out of the game. You can “see” declarer’s hand — with your mind’s eye — by drawing inferences. […]
I begin a second week of deals focusing on defensive play, an area in which I suspect many players can improve. Counting is essential in producing best defense. Defenders must count declarer’s points and shape. Above all, defenders must count their own possible tricks. Against today’s four hearts, West leads his singleton club, and East […]
Cy the Cynic is by no means so cynical that he observes Christmas by acting like Ebenezer Scrooge. But Cy says if Dickens wrote “A Christmas Carol” today, the happy ending would be that Scrooge gets a tax break. In a penny game, Cy was declarer at 3NT, and West led a low heart although […]
This week’s deals have treated deceptive play. I came across today’s deal in the archives of my colleague Alfred Sheinwold, the product of his six decades as a columnist. It appeared in “Sheinwold on Bridge” on July 25, 1986, about when our collaboration began. At six spades, South leads a diamond to his hand at […]
On a Monday, an environmental advocacy group sent out a press notice that read “Save the whales. Tomorrow may be too late.” The notice was marked, “For release Tuesday.” Today’s West led the ten of spades against 3NT, and South won in dummy and let the ten of clubs ride. He hoped for five clubs, […]