The Schnapsen Log
On Lead (solution)
Martin Tompa
This is one of those positions that illustrate the powerful advantage of being on lead, with the first chance to strike. What is it that you should consider first when on lead at the last trick before the stock is exhausted? You should consider closing the stock. Is it crazy to think of closing the stock with your weak trump holding? Not at all because, being on lead, you have the advantage that you can launch the first strike in a forcing defense.
Suppose you close the stock and lead ♦J to force Katharina to trump. Let’s assume that the last face-down card in the stock is ♥J, the least favorable for you. Katharina will trump with ♣Q and will be on lead from this position:
Katharina: (30 points)
♠ —
♥ TKQ
♣ A
♦ —You: (48 points)
♠ —
♥ A
♣ K
♦ AK
She will declare her marriage and lead ♥Q to knock out your one heart stopper, putting you on lead from this position:
Katharina: (50 points)
♠ —
♥ TK
♣ A
♦ —You: (62 points)
♠ —
♥ —
♣ K
♦ AK
You force Katharina once more with ♦K, knocking out her last trump and bringing her to the brink of a win with 65 trick points. But now your forcing defense brings home its reward, because you have established ♣K as the master trump and, at the next trick, will win the deal and 2 game points.
Even when you suspect you opponent has trump control, don’t be afraid to think about closing the stock. In these cases, it’s likely you will want to take advantage of the lead by initiating a forcing defense.
© 2015 Martin Tompa. All rights reserved.
