Puzzle 7F22 Main

Crazy Eights

by Richard Pavlicek

You may not approve of the bidding, particularly by North. Was 4 natural? Waiting? A control-bid in non-support of clubs? Who knows, but it meets my criterion for a good bid: It was sufficient. At least South’s bidding is easy to understand, though a tad optimistic.

North deals A 8 5 4 3 West North East South
None vul 6 5 4 3 2 1 Pass 2
A K 10 Pass 2 Pass 4
— Pass 4 Pass 6
K Q J 7 Table 10 9 6 Pass Pass Pass
A 7 Q J 10 9
J 9 6 5 4 3 2
3 2 7 6 5 4
2
K 8
Lead: 5 Q 8 7
6 South A K Q J 10 9 8

West found the best lead. Note that a heart would give you the contract outright, and either black suit would allow you to establish the fifth spade, utilizing three diamond entries.

Would you rather play or defend?

Puzzle 7F22 Main Top Crazy Eights

Solution

Six clubs can be made. The crucial early play goes against the grain of normal technique: You must win the diamond lead in dummy (ace or king) wasting an entry, then lead the 10 to your queen — frightening in real life.

6 South A 8 5 4 3 Trick Lead 2nd 3rd 4th
6 5 4 3 2 1. W 5 K! 2 7
A K 10 2. N 10! 3 Q 4
— 3. S A 2 2 4
K Q J 7 Table 10 9 6 4. S K 3 3 5
A 7 Q J 10 9 5. S Q 6 4 6
J 9 6 5 4 3 2 6. S J 7 3 7
3 2 7 6 5 4 7. S 10 J 4 9
2 continued below…
K 8
Q 8 7
A K Q J 10 9 8

Next lead five rounds of trumps. If West ever pitches a heart, you can simply duck a heart; but that would be too easy. Suppose West lets go two spades to reach this ending:

win 5/6 A 8 5 Trick Lead 2nd 3rd 4th
South leads 6 5 8. S 2! Q A 6
A 9. N 5 9 8 K
— 10. S 9! 9 5 10
K Q Table 10 9 6 11. S 8 J A J
A 7 Q J 10 12. N 6 Q K A
J 9 — Declarer succeeds
— —
2
K 8
8
9 8

Cross to the A, ruff a spade, and lead your last trump. West must throw a diamond, as North and East throw hearts. Then lead the 8 to the ace, which catches East in a vice squeeze. East must hold a high spade to guard the 8, so he can keep only one heart; then a heart to the king establishes the 8.

If West had pitched a diamond at Trick 7, the ending is different:

win 5/6 A 8 5 Trick Lead 2nd 3rd 4th
South leads 6 5 8. S 9! J 5 6
A 9. S 8 J A! 10
— 10. S 8 Q 5 J
K Q J Table 10 9 6 11. S 2 K A 9
A 7 Q J 10 12. N 6 Q K A
J — Declarer succeeds
— —
2
K 8
8
9 8

Lead the 9 (all hands pitch a spade) then the 8. If West throws a spade, throw a heart from North; then lead the 8 to the ace, squeezing East as above. If West instead throws his last diamond, you must throw the A from North! Then the 8 may be the craziest eight of all, completing a jettison vice squeeze.

Puzzle 7F22 Main Top Crazy Eights

North deals	A 8 5 4 3		`West`	`North`	`East`	`South`
None vul	6 5 4 3 2			1	Pass	2
	A K 10		Pass	2	Pass	4
	—		Pass	4	Pass	6
K Q J 7		10 9 6	Pass	Pass	Pass
A 7		Q J 10 9
J 9 6 5 4		3 2
3 2		7 6 5 4
	2
	K 8
Lead: 5	Q 8 7
6 South	A K Q J 10 9 8

6 South	A 8 5 4 3		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	6 5 4 3 2		1. W	5	K!	2	7
	A K 10		2. N	10!	3	Q	4
	—		3. S	A	2	2	4
K Q J 7		10 9 6	4. S	K	3	3	5
A 7		Q J 10 9	5. S	Q	6	4	6
J 9 6 5 4		3 2	6. S	J	7	3	7
3 2		7 6 5 4	7. S	10	J	4	9
	2			continued below…
	K 8
	Q 8 7
	A K Q J 10 9 8

win 5/6	A 8 5		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
South leads	6 5		8. S	2!	Q	A	6
	A		9. N	5	9	8	K
	—		10. S	9!	9	5	10
K Q		10 9 6	11. S	8	J	A	J
A 7		Q J 10	12. N	6	Q	K	A
J 9		—		Declarer succeeds
—		—
	2
	K 8
	8
	9 8