The Rule vs. The Law

Questions and talk about interesting deals and situations.
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rod
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The Rule vs. The Law

Post by rod »

At yesterday's club game this deal came up. Matchpoints, EW vulnerable.

♠ 103
AKQ743
942
♣ 95

♠ J7
2
KQ10
♣ AQJ8764
♠ Q9642
1098
A5
♣ K103

♠ AK85
J65
J8763
♣ 2


I'm a big fan of The Rule of 2, 3 and 4.

As North in first seat, white vs. red, I counted my tricks. Six. 6 + 4 = 10. Applying this simple math and The Rule, I opened 4!

As the cards lie this is the par contract. We have 9 tricks in hearts and they have 10 tricks in clubs. And as so often happens, West was goaded into a 5♣ call, which would have been a below-average spot for them. Preempts work!

Unfortunately partner thought I was advertising 8 hearts, not 6 tricks. He applied The Law of Total Tricks which suggests that we can compete to the level of the number of trumps that we have. 8 + 3 = 11. More simple math. 5 says partner.

Down 2, mercifully undoubled, for a 50% score instead of 75%.
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