A bookful blockhead, ignorantly read
With loads of learned lumber in his head,
Fixed like a plant on his peculiar spot
To draw nutrition, propagate, and rot.
Read more »I have in my files a number of deals on which players at every level from the lowest to the very highest have been unaware of certain techniques in the field of safety play. An example follows on which Bridge Winners may test themselves. If they are found wanting, more examples will follow until they get one right.
West leads ♥3, jack, king, two. You return a heart, ace, queen, ♣2. Declarer leads ♦5, four (standard count), queen, seven. ♦J is led from dummy, three, six, eight.
Declarer leads dummy's last diamond. Your first discard is defined as standard attitude, others standard count or suit preference or random.
What do you discard and why?
Perhaps the most dramatic example of a missed advanced safety play cost a World Championship.
West leads ♣A, all following. He shifts to ♥K, seven, two (standard everything), ace. You, South, ruff a heart (six, ♦3, five), ruff a club with a middle trump (West discarding a spade) and lead ♥J, queen. ♦J, four. You play ♠K from dummy, jack, two, ace. LHO cashes ♥10.
What do you discard from the table and why?
