Obviously, as declarer's trump bleeds out, there comes a time which dictates the jettison of unprotected trump Aces. On this one trick, I have subtracted 1 trick (2 - 2.5 counters) from the defense's estimate and increased the expected take of my trump King from 0 to 3.Īssuming this type of thing happens three more times for roughly the same amount, we are not only gaining 12 counters, we are potentially limiting the non-trump weaponry of the defense. For example, after I ruff the first heart trick (revealing the opportunity for ruffing), my Partner gets in the lead and leads a and my RHO is forced to head the trick with and I can toss a then LHO completes the trick with some brick. ( )įurthermore, I quite like the agony that comes with setting up an opponent's aces/winners for predictable ruffing. The declarer already personally won 8 tricks (~20 counters) and saved without Partner throwing an ace.The defense fattened up our early tricks and may be forced to play non-counters on their own tricks later in the phase.The declarer's trump losers became winners that potentially scratched someone else's non-trump winners.However, if the declarer spends these trump losers while ruffing heart tricks, safely offloads the trump Aces, basically bleeds the trump strength dry and "loses control" by about trick 15, then: When I say losers, I mean the declarer estimates tricks/counters before play begins by scratching off the lowest trump cards assuming they will fall prey to trump aces that others hold. I mean, in the case of the original posted hand, by ruffing the void heart suit the declarer is converting assumed losers (or potential losers) into winners. Why is it always so devastatingly horrible to "lose control of trump"? I know this is going to *sound* like blasphemy, but I want to ask anyhow. I might take this moment to address the elephant in my head. But probably only if needing (or at least wanting badly) to pull 31. If you changed either a lower club or lower spade to an ace.4 black-suit aces.in the original hand, it might be worth trying the sandbag in spades. Sure, you have the same losers, but if the defense wins trick 2, they'll be cashing and getting rid of some losers for you, while your trump suit is untouched.ģ suited hands in pinochle are always, IMO, very hard to play for this reason.ĮDIT: the point that you'd have to lose the lead too much is significant. Boom.you're being attacked in trumps and you still have to lose the lead a LOT. It's too likely that the next lead is going to be no matter who wins the trick. So, OK, say you play then as your best sandbag approach. If you sandbag, spades is better because it's got more texture.the second ten is helpful. My exit suilt would be spades or diamonds.the melds might point the way. I'd play the side aces and see if anything interesting drops. You'll probably lose control of the hand the defense (and too often, your partner) will hammer away with hearts, hearts, hearts.
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