Thursday,
March 16, 2006 2:08 AM
Hand Evaluation – Visualization ( Card
Combinations )
PITBULLS:
Playing with an experienced player tonight who does not “think in
patterns”
. I found out what a horrible handicap that
is to your game of Bridge. How you play certain suit combinations for
maximum tricks is based on the application of patterns. She was in 3NT
with 10xxxx opposite AJx . How do you play this combination for the maximum number
of tricks ? You count the number of cards in the suit
on the board with the number in your hand & apply a
pattern. In this case the pattern is 5-3-3-2 . You now place cards
within the pattern. If there is a doubleton Qx or Kx to your right , you get 4
tricks in the suit. You play small & insert the jack. That loses so when
you play the Ace the honour drops ,
you take your 4 tricks. With no spots in the suit ,
our declarer led the 10 which got covered by
There
are entire books on card combinations which you can study &
memorize. However, if you have patterns memorized instead, you can work out the best way to play various suit
combinations at the table. If you do not have patterns memorized , the
likelihood that you will mess up the handling of the suits increases.
Suit establishment or just realizing whether your tricks are good
, require patterns. The
habit of counting the number of cards in a suit on the dummy &
plugging them into a pattern with those in your hand is an essential
Bridge skill. Visualization in bridge is defined as applying hand
patterns. You “think in patterns”.
Applying patterns
help you with card combinations on defense also. Whether you cover an honour with an honour is total
done via applying a pattern.
You apply the hand pattern first & well in advance , to
determine whether covering an honour with an honour makes sense. Here is an example where Tom Gandolfo
applies a pattern to determine whether he should cover an honour.
The opponent was in 3♥ with a
diamond holding of ♦109x & Tom held ♦J7xx . The
declarer ( a good player ) leads the ♦10 so do
you cover ? Of course not , as you would cover the 2nd
time if the pattern dictates it’s the right play. Anyway ,
Tom did not cover so I won the ♦Q & exited
another suit. Declarer now led the ♦9 so now do
you cover ? Apply patterns as usual to give you the
answer. If declarer has the ♦AK8x he is misplaying
the suit combination. He should have played his ♦AK playing
for a doubleton honour ( 4-2
break with split honours ) . Since he did not do that , he does not hold the ♦AK ! Tom
does not cover, so I win my now stiff ♦K . 3♥ goes down
one for a top our way.
Try these card combinations with patterns to assist you .
A K 10 3 2 opp. Q 4 with a 5-2 fit the probable pattern is 5-4-2-2 but the heart jack can be doubleton or tripleton . The correct way to play the suit is just play your top honours
A K 4 3 2 opp. Q 10
Probable
pattern is 5-4-2-2 so finessing the jack is
correct . Loosing to a doubleton jack does not hurt
you as there are still 4 to the 9 which would have taken a trick anyway.
A Q 6 5 4 opp. J 3
Pattern
5-4-2-2 so leading towards your jack provides for a doubleton king to your
right
A K 10 9 8 opp. 7 6
Pattern
is 5-4-2-2 so QJxx to your left .
Finesse twice wins on all 4-2 breaks to the left with an honour
in the 4 card side.
A 10 9 8 7 opp. K 6
Pattern is
5-4-2-2 but this time with the nice spots play top honours
as any doubleton honour gets you 4 tricks
Q 10 9 8
7 opp. A 6 5 Pattern is 5-3-3-2 so double finesse
is correct . Wins with honour 3rd
or doubleton to your right
so
prevents
guessing.
Q 10 9 8 7 opp. A
6 5 4 Pattern is 5-4-3-1 so cashing Ace prevents a guess the
2nd time as an honour will pop.