| The Elimination Play
The "elimination play" is occasionally called the "Grand Exit" or "Strip Play." The basic idea is to remove low cards from your opponents' hands before giving up the lead safely. Of course, the Queen of Spades is a decisive factor, and if you are not in possession of a well-guarded Spade Queen, your task may be much more difficult. Remember, the game plan is to protect your exit, or "escape," card at all costs. This may necessitate taking some Hearts in order to ensure safety. Let us look at few hands (after the pass). We will assume that it is the early part of a game, and that the scores are close.
#1
 A K Q J 10
 A 3 2
 A K Q
 A K
This is real easy -- or it sure looks that way! You take the opening Club lead with the Ace, and immediately play the Ace and King of Spades. If everyone follows, the suit is "breaking." Draw another round of Spades with the Jack. If the suit is distributed 5-3-3-2, you are home free! If someone holds four Spades, then a fourth round will be necessary. Now you cash out the Club and Diamond suits. Hearts may be dropped; that is of no concern. Then you start the Hearts with the Ace followed by the three. You will be able to unload the Spade Queen comfortably.
What if someone holds five Spades? That will be determined by the time you win the third round with the Jack (the distribution will be 5-5-2-1 or 5-5-3-0). Now, this "easy" hand becomes more complicated! You shift to the Club and Diamond suits, after the third Spade round -- leaving the 10 of Spades in your hand. After cashing the Ace of Clubs and three top Diamonds, play the Ace of Hearts, followed by the Deuce. Yes, if no Hearts have been discarded to this point, you will be in trouble. However, that is most unlikely, as you hold the bottom two spots, and the others will be anxious to unload their middle and high Hearts. You will get burned only if the holder of the last two Spades keeps high Hearts to take your 3 and 2. If this is the case, you might want to recruit this player as a teammate in the partnership variation of Hearts!
A slightly stronger line (if someone holds five Spades in this instance) is to play the hand as described with one slight change. After removing the remaining Club and Diamonds, and assuming that a Heart has been dumped, try the 3 of Hearts! If the person with the long Spade grabs this and plays another Spade (round #4), use your 10. Now take the Ace of Hearts, and bail out with the 2! The odds are very reasonable that you will escape cleanly!
Now let's look at another deal (after the pass):
# 2
 A Q 5 4 2
 Q 9
 K Q 4 2
 A 7
You have some real big problems here! Although your Spade Queen is guarded, this doubleton Heart holding is a very big concern. And the minor suits are also shaky. If someone has five Spades, the hand is dead, unless the Spade King makes an appearance in front of your Queen, or you can execute the "spear" play (nailing a hanging King with your Queen)! If, if if…
Duck the opening Club lead. A middle Spade is a predictable shift. This must be ducked as well. Watch for the King! If he is played, on the first round, and Spades are continued, you must duck again. Suppose a third round of Spades appears. Take your Ace, and pray for a 5-3-3-2 break. Now you clear the Club Ace out of the way, and try the Diamond King. If he walks, play a fourth round of Spades, hoping for a Heart discard. If Hearts are returned, that is fine. You plan on taking at least one trick, after a good opponent wins the first round. If, instead, Hearts are not broken on the fourth Spade, you must play the Queen of Diamonds, hoping for the Ace to appear. You will be pretty much on your own here. Those two Hearts must be cleared -- ASAP! If your initial Diamond lead (the King) is taken, your task will be marginally easier. The key card here is the Deuce of Diamonds, and it provides a very narrow window of opportunity for escape. Finally, if someone holds four Spades, the task is very daunting, and the timing of the hand becomes more critical. If, if, if…Time for one more deal:
# 3
 9 8 3
 K 10 3
 A Q 7 4 2
 A 4
In this situation, you do not hold the Queen of Spades. Your Heart suit is also weak. Your best plan is to take the Ace of Clubs, and continue with the four. This will enable you to drop the 10 of Hearts on a third round of Clubs. Assume that a Spade is led. You probably will not win a Spade trick. A Diamond shift makes life very difficult. Remember the spots and do not take a chance by rising in any position except last seat. If you have any Spades left in your hand, by all means play them, if on lead. When Hearts do appear and are led, play the 10 on the first round. A lot depends on what the opponents play.
In Hearts, the vigilance must be constant -- and attention to details is essential.
Hearts Problem -- June 2001
Here is a neat mathematical puzzle.
Assuming no "moons," four players, no "Jack of Diamonds" rule, and a 100-point limit, what is the greatest number of hands that can be played in a game?
The fewest possible hands is four -- and someone would have to take 25 points on each of four consecutive hands at the beginning of a game!
Good luck!! | |
