Chapter 16
Bergenisms
© 2006 - Marty Bergen
Page 173
Bergenisms
Chapter 1 - Drawing Trumps
Page #
16.
When an opponent passed throughout after his partner opened, it
is reasonable to assume that the weaker opponent has virtually
nothing.
16. In
a suit contract, declarer’s fate is often determined by what
happens in his longest side suit.
19.
Except when scrambling or crossruffing, declarer never wants to
run out of trumps and lose control of the hand. When the
defenders try to repeatedly force him to ruff in his hand, he
must do whatever is necessary to maintain control of the trump
suit.
20.
When you need to develop two suits, deciding which suit to work
on first is often difficult but crucial. This is especially true
when you were not able to first draw trumps.
22. In
a normal
duplicate
game (matchpoint scoring), you need to think about both
overtricks and undertricks. However, when you’re not playing
matchpoints, life is
easier.
Then you can
focus all your energy on making the contract.
© 2006- Marty Bergen
Page 174
Bergenisms
Chapter 2 - Two For the Price of One
Page #
25.
Deciding what trump to use to ruff a loser is sometimes both
crucial and non-obvious.
26.
Always be on the lookout for a suit that is blocked. If you do
have one, you usually need to unblock it ASAP.
26. In
some cases, you can avoid blocking a suit merely by being
careful about your spot cards and intermediates.
27.
“When setting up a suit, use up the honors from the short side
first” is very important, but don’t forget the corollary: “Don’t
get stuck in the short hand.”
31.
When presented with a ruff-sluff, the key is to first decide
what loser you are most eager to sluff. Then, all you need to do
is ruff in the
other
hand.
31.
Making a hand on an endplay is great, but don’t try for one on
every deal.
© 2006- Marty Bergen
Page 175
Bergenisms
Chapter 3 - Suit Combinations
Page #
35.
When your side has a 10-card fit missing Kxx, the percentage
play is to finesse rather than play for the drop.
36.
When declarer is analyzing the right way to play a suit, his
first order of business is to identify (and then ignore) the
defenders’ holdings where his play does not matter.
38.
When declarer can guard
against any division of the opponents’ cards, he should do so.
39.
When declarer can’t guard
against all bad splits, he should do what he can.
42.
Knowing (or being able to
figure out) the best way to play a suit is essential for
declarer.
42.
When
developing a suit, declarer must be aware of the intermediates
he is missing as well as the ones he has.
44.
When your side has nine cards missing KQxx, the rank of the
missing spot cards can affect declarer’s line of play.
© 2006- Marty Bergen
Page 176
Bergenisms
Chapter 4 - Life in Notrump
Page #
49.
No one enjoys watching the
opponents run a long suit in notrump. On the other hand, because
notrump contracts are usually more straightforward than suit
contracts, it is often easier to declare a contract when there
is no trump suit.
51.
When the opportunity to finesse in a suit is created because of
the unexpected fall of an opponent’s honor(s), it’s usually
correct to take the finesse.
51.
Too many players think of finesses only in terms of missing
honor(s). Actually, deep finesses involving lesser cards are not
uncommon.
54.
There is no more important topic for declarer than managing his
entries. Trick 1 is
not
too early to
start.
54.
Applying The Rule of 11 to a fourth-best lead can allow declarer
to know a lot about the suit led.
56.
Declarer should lead an
honor for a finesse only when he will be well-placed if it is
covered.
© 2006- Marty Bergen
Page 177
Bergenisms
Chapter 5 - Maximizing Your Entries
Page #
59.
When the hand with the key long suit in notrump contains few
entries, declarer may have an entry problem that cannot be
resolved with normal play.
60.
Intermediate cards can be very relevant in providing entries.
62.
When you need to ruff several losers in dummy’s short suit, make
sure that dummy has enough trumps. It’s easy to run out –
especially after a trump lead.
62.
All 5-card suits deserve consideration for developing extra
tricks. If you have a realistic plan to set up the suit, it is
usually correct to begin ASAP.
66.
Many declarers don’t duck often enough in both suit contracts
and notrump. There are numerous situations where the best line
of play necessitates that you “lose your losers early.”
66. It
is a lot easier to fulfill a notrump contract when the strength
is evenly divided. 13 opposite 13 allows much better
transportation than 20 opposite 6.
© 2006- Marty Bergen
Page 178
Bergenisms
Chapter 6 - To Finesse or Not
Page #
70.
Everyone knows that the normal play when missing Qxxx is to play
for the drop. However, finessing with nine cards is only
slightly inferior, so even a small clue may be enough to cause
you to decide to finesse.
70.
Any time declarer is able
to acquire potentially useful information, he should be
delighted to do so. This is especially true when there is more
than one sensible way to play a particular suit.
70. Always strive
to learn all you can about the opponents’ distribution. Once you
know one player’s distribution, all you need to learn his
partner’s shape is some simple arithmetic.
74. Too many
players take too many finesses. Experienced players know better.
They prefer to develop suits based on length and/or strength.
76.
Never
take a
finesse if it won’t help you even if it happens to succeed.
These are often referred to as “practice finesses.”
© 2006- Marty Bergen
Page 179
Bergenisms
Chapter 7 - The Right Time to Finesse
Page #
80.
Intermediate cards can make all the difference in helping you
cope with bad splits.
81. It
is reasonable to assume that an opening lead in a suit contract
denies the ace of that suit. The only exceptions are a trump
lead or a lead of the king.
82
Because finesses lose half of the time, they should never be
your first choice. But sometimes they
are
the way to go,
for example:
•
when there is no
alternative;
•
when the
finesse is
odds on
based on the
bidding or early play;
•
when the
finesse offers the best chance to develop the key suit.
86.
Focusing on your goal is always crucial. This is especially true
when finessing. If you can afford to lose one trick in a suit,
the correct technique may be very different than the right way
to play the suit if you cannot afford
any
losers.
© 2006- Marty Bergen
Page 180
Bergenisms
Chapter 8 - YOU
Can
Execute an
Endplay
Page #
90.
When you
need the
defenders to lead a particular suit to you, draw trumps and
strip your hand and dummy’s of any irrelevant suit. Then, “throw
them in” with a sure loser.
92.
With tenaces such as AQ or Kx in your hand opposite small cards,
you love
to see
your LHO lead the suit.
92.
Endplays in notrump contracts are rare, but do exist.
92.
Sometimes, you desperately need an opponent to lead “to you” in
a notrump
contract.
Don’t avoid throwing him in just because he can cash
a few
winners in his
long suit before helping you out.
92.
It’s no fun to be “stuck in your hand,” so try to avoid using up
dummy’s last entry early on. Good declarers strive to maintain
good communication between their
two
hands.
92.
Squeezing an opponent is
fun; squeezing yourself is not.
© 2006- Marty Bergen
Page 181
Bergenisms
Page #
99.
Declarer should always memorize the opening lead. In addition to
the obvious information that it conveys, other inferences are
always available.
100.
Before playing a card in a suit contract, you should count your
losers.
100.
If a defender makes the opening lead of a low trump, assume that
he does not have the queen.
102.
Even if you intend to take a finesse, if you’re able to postpone
it, sometimes a favorable development in another suit will allow
you to avoid it altogether.
103.
You can’t always make your contract. Your only goal should be to
give yourself the best chance. If the defenders lead and defend
perfectly and the cards don’t cooperate, no one could make
‘em
all.
105.
It is usually wrong for declarer to be eager to shorten
his
trumps. Therefore,
dummy reversals
are rare.
© 2006- Marty Bergen
Page 182
Bergenisms
Chapter 10 - Surviving Bad Splits
Page #
109.
On some hands, identifying
your key side suit is not enough – you must also figure out
how
to handle that suit.
109.
No one enjoys having to deal with a bad split in his key suit,
but it does help when you know the story
before
having to play
that suit.
113.
When playing in a suit contract, always keep in mind: “When in
doubt, develop your side suit.” More often than not, declarer’s
key side suit is his longest suit other than trumps.
105.
When declarer has a choice of where to win a trick, he must
consider: “Where do I need to be
later?”
106.
When you’re looking at an
inevitable loser, cash your outside winners and preserve entries
to both of your hands. If you do, you’ll be amazed how often
your loser disappears when an opponent is squeezed (or
pseudo-squeezed).
© 2006- Marty Bergen
Page 183
Bergenisms
Chapter 11 - Sizing Up the Situation
Page #
119.
In a suit contract, declarer must often choose between two plans
to get rid of his losers. Should he set up a long suit, or
should he prefer a “short-suit plan?” Each hand must be
evaluated individually, but long suits always merit a second
look.
120.
On some deals, you must leave trumps in dummy even though you
are not intending to use them for ruffing.
120.
When you have an 8-card fit, the suit will divide badly almost
1/3 of the time.
123.
The number of trumps you
have does not determine whether you should draw trumps
immediately.
123.
One of the best reasons to not draw trumps first is that you
urgently need to get rid of a loser.
125.
When both opponents are passed hands, declarer can often locate
missing honors.
125.
Sometimes the inferences from a pass can be as useful as if the
player had bid.
© 2006- Marty Bergen
Page 184
Bergenisms
Chapter 12 - Appreciating a Second Chance
Page #
131.
When declarer is missing six cards in a suit, a 3-3 split occurs
only slightly more than 1/3 of the time.
131.
The technique of testing a
suit to learn more about how to proceed is an example of a
“discovery play.”
133 .
Don’t
waste brain cells regretting an action that has already taken
place.
133.
It is very important for declarer to distinguish inevitable
losers from those which may not have to be lost.
134.
With A K 10 opposite small cards, you have a legitimate 25%
chance to successfully finesse the 10.
135.
On some deals, because of entry considerations, declarer must
preserve a very small card to use later on.
140.
Sometimes, the normal way
to play a suit
is not the correct way to play
the hand.
140.
If you can give yourself
an extra chance, you’re sure to succeed more often.
© 2006- Marty Bergen
Page 185
Bergenisms
Chapter 14 - Counting Winners in Suits
Page #
143.
Although you usually count losers in a suit contract, on some
deals it is easier and more helpful to count winners. This is
especially true when:
a)
the contract is a part-score or slam; or
b) the trump suit is shaky; or
c) you are planning to crossruff.
144.
When your trump suit is inadequate, and drawing trumps is out of
the question, it may be wise to scramble (ruff whenever you can)
even though you will totally relinquish control of the trump
suit.
144.
Whenever you are intending to do a lot of ruffing, you should
cash your side-suit winners ASAP. When you have a choice, cash
the winners in the longer suit first.
147.
In a suit contract, if a player preempts but leads another suit,
it should come as no surprise that he is leading a short suit,
hoping for a ruff.
147.
Although you usually ruff low early and high later, special
circumstances may dictate a different approach.
© 2006- Marty Bergen
Page 186
Bergenisms
Chapter 14 - Good Guys, Bad Guys
Page #
155.
When you cash a winner, you usually throw off a card in the
weakest
suit in
the other hand. However, it is sometimes correct to make your
discard in a
stronger
suit.
156.
On some deals, you will be afraid of one defender gaining the
lead, but will not be concerned if his partner gets in.
This will almost always
greatly affect
the way
you play the hand.
156.
One of the best times to draw trumps first is when you want to
run a suit
and
it is likely that a defender will be able to ruff in.
158.
When you have a suit consisting of Kx in your hand and no
strength in dummy: you’re delighted if LHO leads the suit, but
very concerned if RHO leads it. This is one of
many
examples of
“playing last is best.”
158.
Although you hate to do it, sometimes you are forced to abandon
a winner in a notrump contract in order to retain a stopper in
that suit.
© 2006- Marty Bergen
Page 187
Bergenisms
Chapter 15 -
When
Not
to Trump Losers
Page #
163.
Some players only notice
honor cards. Better players are also aware of their
intermediates –
and make the most of them.
165.
Because the presence of aces ensures being in control, your
chances of success in any contract are far greater when your
side has all four aces.
167.
Good players try to make contracts without depending on a 50%
finesse.
167.
Transportation between the defenders’ hands is crucial for them,
so any time declarer can cut communication between defenders, he
should do so.
167.
Avoid playing instinctively. Although it is normal to ruff your
losers,
when you have a good reason,
you should prefer
to discard a loser in another suit.
167.
Always try to maintain flexibility in the trump suit while
drawing trumps. Keeping entries to both hands can be crucial in
the subsequent play.
© 2006- Marty Bergen
Order
More Declarer Play here
Chapter 1:
Drawing Trumps: All, Some, or None ............... 13
Chapter 2: Two
For the Price of One ................................ 23
Chapter 3:
Suit Combinations For Fun & Profit .................. 33
Chapter 4:
Life in Notrump ..............................................
47
Chapter 5:
Maximizing Your Entries
..................................
57
Chapter 6: To
Finesse, or Not to Finesse? .......................... 67
Chapter 7: The
Right Time to Finesse ............................... 77
Chapter 8:
YOU Can Execute an
Endplay .........................
87
Chapter 9:
Timing is Everything
.......................................
97
Chapter 10:
Surviving Bad Splits
.....................................
107
Chapter 11:
Sizing Up the Situation ................................. 117
Chapter 12:
Everyone Deserves A Second
Chance ...........
127
Chapter 13:
Counting Winners in Suit Contracts ............... 141
Chapter 14:
Good Guys, Bad Guys ................................. 151
Chapter 15:
When Not to Trump Your Losers .................. 161
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