Puzzle 7E79 Main |
| by Richard Pavlicek |
As South, you reach slam quickly after a spirited auction:
6 South | K Q J 10 9 7 6 5 4 3 2 A K | Both Vul | West ?1 Pass | North 6 | East Pass | SOUTH 1 Pass | ||
? ? ? ? | ? ? ? ? | |||||||
7 6 5 4 3 2 A K Q J 10 9 A | 1. West bid something (hidden for now) |
Alas, down one.
North is quick to criticize, Why didnt you open one spade? With two six-card suits, bidding the higher is routine; then wed get to six spades.
Youre just playing results, South argued. Surely, suit quality counts for something, and opening one heart stands out a mile.
Down one stands out a mile too, countered North.
If it would make you feel any better, quipped South, Six spades would also be down one.
Interesting! Assuming the dialog is correct:
What are the exact East-West hands?
Puzzle 7E79 Main | Top Major Fantasy |
It is easy to construct layouts where one of the slams fails. For example, 6 can be defeated if West holds A-8 and East holds the 8; but then 6 would be a simple make. Similarly, 6 can be defeated if West has the 8 and East has the 8; but then 6 would be ice-cold.
Only one layout allows both slams to be defeated:
6 South | K Q J 10 9 7 6 5 4 3 2 A K | Both Vul | West 6 Pass | North 6 | East Pass | SOUTH 1 Pass | ||
8 K Q J 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 | A 8 Q J 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 | |||||||
Lead: K | 7 6 5 4 3 2 A K Q J 10 9 A |
Against either slam, West leads a club for East to ruff (or overruff dummy); then in spades, West scores the 8 on any return.
Oh well, lamented South. It was a good save, as West was cold for six clubs.
Why save? North nagged. With a club stopper, all you had to do was bid six notrump and wed be plus a bundle.
Good point, said South. And if I tied you up with a stopper in your mouth, Id have a bigger bundle.
Puzzle 7E79 Main | Top Major Fantasy |
© 1980 Richard Pavlicek