The Schnapsen Log

Postponing Defeat (solution)

Martin Tompa

I suspect you have concluded that you do not have enough potential trick points to close the stock, and that you must lead a trump. If you were to lead one of those jacks, then even if a heart or spade remains in the stock, Emmi still must have a winner in each of those suits and she will reach 66 easily. Once you have decided that the only possibility is to lead a trump, you might as well lead ♦Q, because if you lead a higher trump, your ♦Q may not be a winner after Emmi draws that ♦K from the stock. There’s no reason not to cash it right now, while it cannot be beat. Emmi will probably discard ♣J, assuming she holds that card in her hand.

The real question today is what you will draw from the stock after winning ♦Q and how you will proceed in each case. If you haven’t thought through the possibilities, do it now before reading on, because some of those possibilities involve an interesting play. Here is the position again for your convenience:

Unseen cards:
♠ AT
♥ KQ
♣ J
♦ J

Your cards:
♠ J
♥ J
♣ —
♦ ATQ

Trump: ♦K
Stock: 1 face-down card
Game points: Emmi 2, You 5
Trick points: Emmi 55, You 21
On lead: You

Ready to read on?

© 2012 Martin Tompa. All rights reserved.

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