Puzzle Collection 7A56 by Richard Pavlicek

Theatre of the Macabre

Under each of the following headings you will find three double-dummy problems with a common theme. Looking at all four hands, can you find the bizarre solutions? The answer to each problem follows immediately, so try to resist the urge to peek!

Quiz 7F02

Read My Lips!

I hereby announce my candidacy in the 1996 presidential race. Vote for me and I promise you that I will promise you anything to keep my campaign afloat. My platform consists of three tricky deals. So read my lips! No new finesses. Each of these 6

contracts can be made with a tricky play. Trust me. I am not a crook.

1. 6 by South

8 7 6
8
A K Q 6 5
J 8 5 2
9 5 3
K Q 6 5 4 2
4
Q 7 6 [W - E] 4
A J 10 9 7 3
J 3 2
K 10 9
Lead: K A K Q J 10 2
—
10 9 8 7
A 4 3

Answer

Twelve tricks look easy until you realize the diamond suit is blocked. If you ruff the opening lead, draw trumps and run the diamonds, all you can win are four diamond tricks; after cashing the A-K-Q you will be left with the 10 opposite dummy’s 6-5 with no way to reach the fifth diamond. Note that with 10-9-8-7 there is no way to unblock in the usual fashion.

The winning play is to discard a diamond at trick one instead of ruffing. Then no matter which suit is led, you will be able to draw trumps and run the entire diamond suit on which you will discard your two small clubs.

2. 6 by South

8 7 6
A 8 5 4 2
A Q 10 8 7
—
9 5 3
K 10 9 3
6
J 10 9 8 4 [W - E] 4
Q J 7 6
K J 9
7 6 5 3 2
Lead: J A K Q J 10 2
—
5 4 3 2
A K Q

Answer

You have 11 top tricks but the foul diamond division makes the 12th trick elusive. If you tried to discard three of dummy’s diamonds on the top clubs and then ruff a diamond in dummy (after losing a diamond), you would fail because West is able to score his

9 by ruffing in front of dummy.

The winning play is to establish dummy’s long heart which requires four entries to dummy. To achieve this you must ruff all of your high clubs in dummy! Ruff the opening club lead; heart ruff; club ruff; heart ruff; club ruff; heart ruff; then draw trumps. The 8 is established and you still have the A as an entry.

3. 6 by South

8 7 6
A K 2
9 8 6
Q J 5 4
9 5 3
Q J 10 9 4 3
Q
10 3 2 [W - E] 4
8 7 6 5
K J 10 2
9 8 7 6
Lead: Q A K Q J 10 2
—
A 7 5 4 3
A K

Answer

This time you have 13 top tricks but you cannot reach them. The blockage in the clubs prevents you from cashing more than two club tricks. Your first thought might be to discard the

A-K on the two top hearts, but this still gives you only two club tricks.

The winning play is to force West to provide your entry. Win the K (or optionally you can play the 2 and ruff with the 10) but do not cash the A. Win two top trumps, the A-K and the A, then lead the 2 to give West the nine. He must return a heart or a club, which allows you to discard all of your losing diamonds.

Quiz 7H23

Delusions of Grandeur

I’m in a generous mood and will offer you three grand as a gift! Slams, that is. Can you win 13 tricks in each contract shown? If so, you’re a grand player. You may look at all four hands.

1. 7 by South

—
A 3 2
Q J 10 9 8 7
Q J 10 9
K Q J 10
Q J 10 9 8
—
5 4 3 2 [W - E] 9 8 2
K 7 6 5 4
6 5 4 3 2
—
Lead: K A 7 6 5 4 3
—
A K
A K 8 7 6

Answer

It looks like 13 easy tricks, but your problem is communication; the diamond suit is blocked. The solution: Discard a diamond from dummy at trick one and win the

A. Lead a low club to dummy; ruff a heart with the

K; lead a low club to dummy; ruff a heart with the

A; then lead your last club. As you draw all of West’s trumps you can discard one diamond, then cash the

A to throw your last diamond to leave dummy high.

2. 7 by South

A 3 2
A 3 2
4 3 2
A K 7 6
K 6 5 4
K 6 5 4
7 6 5
9 8 [W - E] J 10 9 8
J 10 9 8
—
Q J 10 5 4
Lead: 9 Q 7
Q 7
A K Q J 10 9 8
3 2

Answer

You have 11 top tricks, and all you need for the rest is a “double transfer repeating triple squeeze” — surely, a piece of cake (ha).

Win the K and lead a diamond to reach your hand. Lead the Q, king, ace (transfer no. 1); return to your hand with a diamond and lead the Q, king, ace (transfer no. 2). Now run the diamonds. When you lead your last diamond, East will be triple squeezed. If he discards, say, his spade stopper, you will lead the now established 7 to squeeze him again. What fun!

3. 7 by South

A 6 5
A Q 6
A Q J 10
A K Q
2
J 10 9 8 7
9 8 7
J 10 9 8 [W - E] 4 3
K 5 4 3
K 6 5 4
7 6 5
Lead: J K Q J 10 9 8 7
2
3 2
4 3 2

Answer

You have 12 top tricks. The contract looks doomed with the

K and

K offside, but a “double ruffout squeeze” saves the day.

Win the A and lead all but one spade, discarding three diamonds from dummy; then cash the clubs. Dummy now holds Q-6 and the A; you have a spade and 3-2. If East blanks his K, you can ruff it out; if West blanks his 10, you can lead the Q through East. Hence, each opponent must keep two hearts; then cash the A and your 3 is a winner!

Quiz 7H32

Magic Tricks

In each diagram your goal is to win six of the seven tricks. Spades are trumps and South leads. Warning: The key plays are tricky!

1. Spades by South

A
A Q
5 4 3 2
—
3
K J 10 9
K
2 [W - E] 2
3 2
6
K 9 8
—
—
A Q J
A Q J 10

Answer

If North were on lead, this would be a breeze; but South is unable to draw the missing trumps. There is only one solution: South must lose to the singleton king of diamonds even looking at all four hands.

Cash the A, discarding the Q from North, then lead the J (or queen). West must give North the lead, and South sheds his two top diamonds on North’s aces. North remains with all good diamonds.

2. Spades by South

A J 8 2
K
—
A 3
K Q 9
—
A 8 7
2 [W - E] 10
A
J 10 9
Q 4
3
—
K Q
K J 10 9

Answer

The object is to hold West to one trump trick. South leads the

K, West covers and North must ruff with the eight. Lead the

3 to the jack (unless East plays the queen), then cash the

Q to discard the ace of clubs. Got all that?

South continues with the K: If West ruffs high, North discards the K; on a diamond return, North ruffs low and South overruffs to effect a trump coup against West.

3. Spades by South

Q 2
—
2
A Q 9 8
—
—
A J 9 8
K J 10 [W - E] K 10
K Q
—
4 3 2
A J
A 2
K Q 10
—

Answer

This ending is perhaps the most bizarre of all. South must lead the

A and ruff it with the queen of spades! Next finesse the spade and draw the last trump, discarding a club from dummy.

South now leads his 2 to East, squeezing West. If West discards a club, North discards the 2, and North’s A-Q-9 win the last three tricks. If West instead discards the A, North keeps the 2.

Quiz 7H86

Believe It Or Not!

Move over, Ripley! Each of these contracts can be defeated with a remarkable defense that would never occur in real life. Can you find the bizarre solutions?

1. 3 NT by South

K 3 2
5 4 3
A K J 10 9 8 7
—
7 6
Q J 10 9 8
4 3 2
K 3 2 [W - E] Q J 10 9 8
7 6
Q 6 5
A 5 4
A 5 4
A K 2
—
Q J 10 9 8 7 6

Answer

To defeat the contract the defense must lead all four suits! West must start a spade, which declarer ducks (else East can establish his spade suit). East must shift to a heart, and again declarer ducks (else West can establish his heart suit).

West now must lead a diamond. If declarer wins and tries to set up clubs, West can win the first club and continue diamonds. So assume declarer tries the diamond finesse. East wins and shifts to clubs to take the setting tricks.

2. 6 by South

A 7 6 5 4
J 10 9
K 6 5 4 3
—
K J 10 9 8
Q 8 2
8 7
K Q 10 [W - E] 3 2
—
Q J 10 9
A J 9 8 7 6 5
Q
A K 7 6 5 4 3
A 2
4 3 2

Answer

After any routine lead declarer has nine top tricks and can easily ruff three clubs in dummy to make 12. If West leads a low trump, it limits dummy to just two ruffs; alas, this costs West’s his trump trick so there is no net gain.

To defeat the contract West must send a queen to the guillotine. The killing lead is the queen of hearts. If declarer now proceeds to ruff two clubs, it will restore West’s 8 into a natural trick. There is no way for declarer to succeed.

3. 6 by South

Q J 10
K 9 8
Q 10 9 8
A K 3
—
6 5 4 3 2
4 3 2
Q J 10 5 4 [W - E] 4 3 2
A J 10
A K J 7 6 5
2
A K 9 8 7 6 5
Q 7
—
9 8 7 6

Answer

After a normal lead like the

Q, North wins and a heart is led to the queen. Play continues:

Q covered and ruffed;

10 covered, ruffed;

10;

9 covered, ruffed. Next lead a club; West must cover and North wins. Discard your last heart on the

8, then give up a club and claim.

There is just one way to stop this. West must lead a diamond and East must duck the first trick. South has to choose his discard prematurely, and the contract cannot be made.

Quiz 7HA0

One Trump Loser!

On each of these deals the contract is 6

and West leads the

Q. Amazingly, each can be made, losing only one trump trick. Can you perform the magic?

1. 6 by South

Q 9 2
A K 5 4
A K 3 2
K 2
A J 8 7
8 7 6
Q J 10 9
10 9 [W - E] —
Q J 10 9
8 7 6
Q J 8 7 6 5
K 10 6 5 4 3
3 2
5 4
A 4 3

Answer

West appears to have two natural trump tricks, but a little magic will cure that. Win the

A-K and ruff a diamond; win the

A-K and ruff a heart; win the

A-K and ruff the last diamond. This reduces West to all trumps with South on lead.

Lead a club; West ruffs with the 7 and North overruffs with the nine. Finally, lead the last heart and ruff with the K. If West overruffs with the ace, he will be endplayed in trumps; if he underruffs, he is left with A-J in front of the queen.

2. 6 by South

K 10 2
3 2
A K 3 2
A K 3 2
—
9 8 7
Q J 10 9 8
Q J 10 9 8 [W - E] Q J 8 6 4 3
Q J 10
7 6
7 6
A 9 7 5
A K 6 5 4
5 4
5 4

Answer

Seeing East’s trumps might make you ill, but they can be neutralized. Cash all your side winners and ruff a heart with the

2. East now has all trumps with North on lead.

Lead a minor suit and overruff as cheaply as possible. Say, East ruffs with the jack and you win the ace. Ruff a heart with the K forcing East to underruff. Lead a minor suit to overruff again (if East ruffs with the queen, discard your last heart). Finally, ruff your last heart with the 10 and watch East squirm.

3. 6 by South

K 2
A K 2
A K 3 2
8 7 6 5
J 8 7 6
J 10 9
Q J 10
J 10 9 [W - E] A
8 7 6 5 4 3
9 8 7
4 3 2
Q 10 9 5 4 3
Q
6 5 4
A K Q

Answer

It looks impossible to stop West from making his

J, but that’s an illusion. Harry Houdini would do it this way: Win the

A and cash the

A-K (ignore the

Q) to ditch a diamond; ruff a heart; win the

K; ruff a diamond and cash three clubs. This leaves West with all trumps.

Duck a spade to East’s blank ace. On the forced heart return play the 9 and West’s jack is smothered. If he overruffs, you will overruff with the king. If he underruffs, you will discard from dummy.

	8 7 6 8 A K Q 6 5 J 8 5 2
9 5 3 K Q 6 5 4 2 4 Q 7 6		4 A J 10 9 7 3 J 3 2 K 10 9
Lead: K	A K Q J 10 2 — 10 9 8 7 A 4 3

	8 7 6 A 8 5 4 2 A Q 10 8 7 —
9 5 3 K 10 9 3 6 J 10 9 8 4		4 Q J 7 6 K J 9 7 6 5 3 2
Lead: J	A K Q J 10 2 — 5 4 3 2 A K Q

	8 7 6 A K 2 9 8 6 Q J 5 4
9 5 3 Q J 10 9 4 3 Q 10 3 2		4 8 7 6 5 K J 10 2 9 8 7 6
Lead: Q	A K Q J 10 2 — A 7 5 4 3 A K

	— A 3 2 Q J 10 9 8 7 Q J 10 9
K Q J 10 Q J 10 9 8 — 5 4 3 2		9 8 2 K 7 6 5 4 6 5 4 3 2 —
Lead: K	A 7 6 5 4 3 — A K A K 8 7 6

	A 3 2 A 3 2 4 3 2 A K 7 6
K 6 5 4 K 6 5 4 7 6 5 9 8		J 10 9 8 J 10 9 8 — Q J 10 5 4
Lead: 9	Q 7 Q 7 A K Q J 10 9 8 3 2

	A 6 5 A Q 6 A Q J 10 A K Q
2 J 10 9 8 7 9 8 7 J 10 9 8		4 3 K 5 4 3 K 6 5 4 7 6 5
Lead: J	K Q J 10 9 8 7 2 3 2 4 3 2

	A A Q 5 4 3 2 —
3 K J 10 9 K 2		2 3 2 6 K 9 8
	— — A Q J A Q J 10

	A J 8 2 K — A 3
K Q 9 — A 8 7 2		10 A J 10 9 Q 4
	3 — K Q K J 10 9

	Q 2 — 2 A Q 9 8
— — A J 9 8 K J 10		K 10 K Q — 4 3 2
	A J A 2 K Q 10 —

	K 3 2 5 4 3 A K J 10 9 8 7 —
7 6 Q J 10 9 8 4 3 2 K 3 2		Q J 10 9 8 7 6 Q 6 5 A 5 4
	A 5 4 A K 2 — Q J 10 9 8 7 6

	A 7 6 5 4 J 10 9 K 6 5 4 3 —
K J 10 9 8 Q 8 2 8 7 K Q 10		3 2 — Q J 10 9 A J 9 8 7 6 5
	Q A K 7 6 5 4 3 A 2 4 3 2

	Q J 10 K 9 8 Q 10 9 8 A K 3
— 6 5 4 3 2 4 3 2 Q J 10 5 4		4 3 2 A J 10 A K J 7 6 5 2
	A K 9 8 7 6 5 Q 7 — 9 8 7 6

	Q 9 2 A K 5 4 A K 3 2 K 2
A J 8 7 8 7 6 Q J 10 9 10 9		— Q J 10 9 8 7 6 Q J 8 7 6 5
	K 10 6 5 4 3 3 2 5 4 A 4 3

	K 10 2 3 2 A K 3 2 A K 3 2
— 9 8 7 Q J 10 9 8 Q J 10 9 8		Q J 8 6 4 3 Q J 10 7 6 7 6
	A 9 7 5 A K 6 5 4 5 4 5 4

	K 2 A K 2 A K 3 2 8 7 6 5
J 8 7 6 J 10 9 Q J 10 J 10 9		A 8 7 6 5 4 3 9 8 7 4 3 2
	Q 10 9 5 4 3 Q 6 5 4 A K Q