MSN Bridge Club

The rule "8 ever, 9 never" refers to 8 or 9 card fits and whether to finesse or play for the drop of the missing queen. With 8, you finesse. With 9, you play for drop. The LRC refers to the case when there are TWO missing high cards of equal rank and a defender plays one of them. LRC says the odds are 2-1 that the player had no play choice and that the other defender has missing high card.

You play the ace and East drops the jack.

Correct play: Lead from South hand and finesse 9. You will need to return to the South hand a second time and finesse the 10.

If you don't have 2 more entries to the South hand, you might as well play the king.

North South

AKQ9 xxx

You play the ace and both follow. You play the king and East plays the 10.

Correct play: Lead from South hand and finesse 9.

North South

AKQ8 xxx

You play the ace and East follows with the 9. You play the king and East follows with the 10.

Correct play: Lead from South hand and finesse the 8.

The following situation is NOT a restricted choice situation. It looks like one, but it isn't. I wrongly thought it was and lost a cold slam. :-((((

North South

AKQ9xx xx

You play the ace and East follows with the 10.

Correct play: Play the king. Since East can false card with J10x, this is not a restricted choice situation.

Important Announcement The MSN Groups service will close in February 2009. You can move your group to Multiply, MSN’s partner for online groups. Learn More
MSN Bridge Club	[email protected]