[blml] normal lines

[David Burn]

[SW]

> From: "David Burn" <dalburn at btopenworld.com>
> Yes. You see, a declarer might claim in this kind of position:
> 
>         None
>         None
>         None
>         432
> 8                  64
> None               None
> None               None
> AK                 Q
>         75
>         3
>         None
>         None
> 
> South in a heart contract claims saying "there are no more trumps out and
> both my spades are good". How many tricks does he make?

Seems a perfect example for "suits played top down."  Can anyone offer 
an example where it works badly?

[DALB]

Here, "top down" does work badly - from the claimer's point of view, since
he would lose two tricks by playing the seven of spades first, only one by
playing the five of spades first. "If I think both my spades are good", he
will complain having been ruled against according to the de Wael protocol,
"why shouldn't I lead either of them first?" Why indeed?

David Burn
London, England