Puzzle 7F26 Main

A King’s Ransom

by Richard Pavlicek

Defending against 3 NT, can you find the plays to send declarer packing? Surely no one would find the winning defense at the table, as even looking at all four hands, it’s far from obvious.

South deals A 5 4 West North East South
E-W vul K J 1 NT
Q 10 8 7 6 Pass 3 NT Pass Pass
J 8 4 Pass
K 9 7 6 3 Table 10 2
7 6 5 4 10 9 8
K J A 9 2
10 2 K 9 7 6 3
Q J 8
A Q 3 2
5 4 3
3 NT South A Q 5

Beware! Declarer is a shrewd dude and a master of the holdup play. For example, if West leads a spade to East’s 10, South will duck to break the defenders’ communication.

How can 3 NT be defeated?

Puzzle 7F26 Main Top A King’s Ransom

Solution

West must lead the 10, which South must duck (or cover with the jack and duck East’s king). If South wins the first club, it is a simple matter for West to take the first diamond lead and clear the club suit while East has an entry.

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

At trick two West must lead a low spade to East’s 10 (or East must lead the 10 if on lead) and South again must duck to shut out the spade suit in similar fashion.

East then leads a club to South’s queen. Declarer now seems to be in good shape since the defenders lack the communication to establish clubs or spades. But the defenders have a bombshell in store:

NT win 8 A 5 Trick Lead 2nd 3rd 4th
K J 4. S 3 J! Q A
Q 10 8 7 6 5. E 7 A K! J
J 6. S Q 6! 5 2
K 9 7 6 Table 2 Declarer fails
7 6 5 4 10 9 8
K J A 9 2
— K 9 7
Q J
A Q 3 2
5 4 3
South leads A

South leads a diamond; jack, queen, ace. East returns a club and — sound the trumpets — West jettisons the K. This presents declarer with a diamond winner, but since hearts are blocked, there is no way to score nine tricks. Note that East still has a diamond stopper with the guarded nine, and West can stop hearts if declarer overtakes an honor on the second round.

If declarer could unblock hearts before leading a diamond from hand, he could succeed; but if hearts are unblocked, the diamond must be led from dummy, else cross to the A which is certain failure. Indeed, there is no way to make 3 NT with the given defense.

Puzzle 7F26 Main Top A King’s Ransom

South deals	A 5 4		West	`North`	East	`South`
E-W vul	K J					1 NT
	Q 10 8 7 6		Pass	3 NT	Pass	Pass
	J 8 4		Pass
K 9 7 6 3		10 2
7 6 5 4		10 9 8
K J		A 9 2
10 2		K 9 7 6 3
	Q J 8
	A Q 3 2
	5 4 3
3 NT South	A Q 5

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

NT win 8	A 5		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	K J		4. S	3	J!	Q	A
	Q 10 8 7 6		5. E	7	A	K!	J
	J		6. S	Q	6!	5	2
K 9 7 6		2		Declarer fails
7 6 5 4		10 9 8
K J		A 9 2
—		K 9 7
	Q J
	A Q 3 2
	5 4 3
South leads	A