Puzzle 7E93 (Feb 83) by Richard Pavlicek

Up For Promotion

Your 4

contract would usually be easy, but not this time. West begins with the

A then a diamond to East’s queen. You have three obvious tricks to lose, and West is threatening to get a trump promotion as well.

4 x by South

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

West
1
Dbl North
Pass
All Pass East
1 South
4

Assuming you ruff the second diamond lead, routine play will not suffice. As soon as West gets the lead with the K, he will lead a low club to East’s K. Then a third round of diamonds will promote West’s 9 into the setting trick.

Can you make West pay for his double? Make 4 .

Return to Main

Solution

The trump promotion, in fact, is inevitable. But there is something you can do about that losing club. Cross to the

A in dummy and lead a diamond, which East must cover (else you could just throw your losing club as West ruffs). Now comes the spectacular play: Up for promotion! Ruff with the ace of hearts! Assume West discards a club to leave the ending in the diagram.

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

Cash two more spades then ruff your last spade with the 3 as East is helpless holding only the lowly deuce. Now lead the good diamond and discard your club as West ruffs. It is a simple matter then to force out West’s K and draw the rest of this trumps.

Variation: If West had thrown a spade as you ruffed with the A, you would ruff the third round of spades in dummy, etc.

West may think twice before he doubles you again.

Return to Main

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

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