[jallerton]

I'm naturally shy. Teammates didn't seem particularly impressed by the 2 IMP loss. In the other room, N/S bid to 4♠, East led a heart, and with the 3-3 ♠ break declarer soon wrapped up 11 tricks.

The fascinating thing about this hand is that is probably only right to play for this type of 'misdefence' against good opponents.

[rhm]

jallerton, on 2014-October-07, 16:18, said:

Thanks for the replies.

A very strong player failed to find the winning defence at the table, and it did not seem obvious to me why he should have done so.

This was the actual layout:

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Again running diamonds would make the contract by force. It would also make if the heart honors were exchanged between East and West.

Rainer Herrmann

[Fluffy]

jallerton, on 2014-October-07, 16:18, said:

Thanks for the replies.

A very strong player failed to find the winning defence at the table, and it did not seem obvious to me why he should have done so.

This was the actual layout:

---

One day I will learn to count to nine, and I will nail this problems

[jallerton]

rhm, on 2014-October-08, 04:06, said:

Again running diamonds would make the contract by force. It would also make if the heart honors were exchanged between East and West.

Rainer Herrmann

Yes, declarer might make the contract by running diamonds, but doesn't that need him to read the endgame?

[rhm]

jallerton, on 2014-October-08, 12:23, said:

Yes, declarer might make the contract by running diamonds, but doesn't that need him to read the endgame?

Sure, that is the nature of almost all advanced endgames.
But there are usually a lot of inferences late in the game what the actual situation is.
Terence Reese once said in his books there is no excuse for mis-playing at trick ten or eleven.
That may be too harsh, but if you work hard on this type of deal reading you will rarely go wrong.

Rainer Herrmann

[Fluffy]

Except when defence also plans from trick 1, then they can discard creating a false image, but it is obviously a lot harder, not only imagine what is going on, but also both players need to create the same false image. A lot easier when only one opponent is at stake.