Puzzle 7F25 (Mar 95) by Richard Pavlicek
Puzzle 7F25 (Mar 95) by Richard Pavlicek
bid implied no heart control), and he was headed for a rout. East’s Lightner double requested an “unusual” lead (not a heart or a trump), which is typically based on a void suit. If West could have put his hand on a diamond, the contract would be down five.
6 x by South
 | K 10 3 2 10 4 3 2 A K Q 9 2 | |
| 7 6 5 — K J 9 8 7 J 10 8 7 6 | ![[W - E]](t.gif) | 4 3 2 A J 9 8 7 6 5 — 5 4 3 |
| A Q J 10 9 8 K Q 4 A Q 6 5 — |
| West Pass Pass | North 5 Pass | East 3 Pass Dbl | South 4 6 All Pass |
Alas, West reasoned that East’s void could be in either minor. If it were in diamonds, the ruff might not be necessary since West rated to win one or more diamond tricks; but if it were in clubs, the ruff might be crucial. Hence, West led the club jack. Oops.
South can now succeed, but it requires exacting play. Can you make 6 after the J lead?
Solution
| — 10 3 2 10 4 3 K Q 9 | |
| — — K J 9 8 7 10 8 7 6 | | — A J 9 8 7 6 5 — 5 4 |
| 10 9 8 K Q 4 A 6 5 — |
South leads the K and East is forced to duck — if he takes the ace, he is endplayed and must give dummy the lead and declarer the contract.
Now it’s West’s turn. South leads a low diamond, which West must win (else declarer gets to dummy) and he is hopelessly endplayed. The importance of discarding the Q early is now evident: If South remained with A-Q-6 and led the queen, West would simply duck to leave South stuck in his hand without recourse.
Curiously, based on East’s final double, the play of this hand is not really double-dummy. Once East follows to the club lead, one can deduce that he is void in diamonds. Therefore, a great player like Bob Hamman would visualize the neat double endplay from the start — but that’s hardly relevant, since he would not have bid 6 in the first place.
Copyright © 1995 Richard Pavlicek. All rights reserved.