Puzzle 7F17   Main


Oversold Overcall


  by Richard Pavlicek

Somewhere you read that bridge is a bidder’s game, and it appears to have gone to your head. Partner’s raise to 4 S is a thing of beauty compared to your lame overcall, but justice may be served, as you will have to play it. Evidently your reputation has preceded you, as East promptly doubles.

4 S× South
N-S Vul
S K 9 8 4 3
H Q J 10
D 4
C J 10 5 4
WEST
1 D
2 C
North
Pass
4 S
East
1 H
Dbl
South
1 S
All Pass
S 2
H 9
D A K J 10 9
C A Q 9 8 7 6
TableS Q 10 7
H K 8 7 6 5 4
D 3 2
C K 3
Lead: D K S A J 6 5
H A 3 2
D Q 8 7 6 5
C 2

At trick two, West shifts to his singleton heart, ducked by East. Nine tricks are easy simply by drawing trumps; but where is the 10th? The first thought is to negotiate some kind of crossruff, but East’s doubleton diamond leads to trouble. Another possibility is to endplay West — think again.

If you can overbid like this, you will have to overplay — like a magician — to bring this home. How can the contract be made?

Warning! This is a tough one.

Solution

All routine attempts are foiled by accurate defense. The only successful line begins in remarkable fashion:

4 S× South S K 9 8 4 3
H Q J 10
D 4
C J 10 5 4
Trick
1 W
2 W
3 N
4 S
5 N
6 N
7 S
8 W
Lead
D K
H 9
S 9!
D 6
H Q
H J
C 2
C 9
2nd
4
10
10
9
5
6
8
5
3rd
2
4
A!
S 3
3
A
4
K
4th
5
2
2
3
C 6
C 7
3
S 5
W-L
L1
W1
W2
W3
W4
W5
L2
W6
S 2
H 9
D A K J 10 9
C A Q 9 8 7 6
Table S Q 10 7
H K 8 7 6 5 4
D 3 2
C K 3



Lead: D K
S A J 6 5
H A 3 2
D Q 8 7 6 5
C 2

When East covers the S 9 with the 10 (best) declarer must win the ace. That’s right! No finesse. Ruff a diamond, win two hearts with the finesse, and exit with a low club from each hand. Assume West wins cheaply and exits with a low club, ruffed by South to reach:

S win 4
Success
S K 8 4
H
D
C J 10
Trick
9 S
10 E
Lead
D 7
S 7
2nd
10
J!
3rd
S 8!
?
4th
S Q
W-L
L1
S
H
D A J 10
C A Q
Table S Q 7
H K 8 7
D
C



South leads
S J 6
H
D Q 8 7
C

Next ruff a diamond with the S 8. East must overruff and return a trump (else declarer succeeds by a crossruff) on which South plays the jack to catch West in a seesaw ruffout squeeze. If he discards a diamond, declarer can establish a diamond; if he discards a club, declarer overtakes the S J to establish a club.

Variations

1. If West covers the S 9 with the queen, the play is essentially the same.

2. If West ducks the S 9, South also ducks; win two hearts and ruff a diamond (order depends on if East covers heart); then a spade to the jack forces West to part with a club (else diamonds can be set up); exit with a club — if East wins and returns a trump, win in North and lead a club and discard a diamond, forcing West to establish another trick for you.

3. If East wins the club exit and returns a heart, ruff low in dummy, ruff a club, ruff a diamond high, etc.

4. If East wins the club exit and returns a trump, draw trumps and lead the C J, pitching a diamond to endplay West.

Puzzle 7F17   MainTop   Oversold Overcall

© 1993 Richard Pavlicek