Puzzle 7F28 Main

The Oblivious Shift Principle

by Richard Pavlicek

Despite all hands being flat as a pancake, this deal contains some intriguing play and defense possibilities. Three notrump is the obvious contract with 26 HCP, but it’s far from obvious how to make it — or even if it can be made, with every finesse destined to lose.

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

Step right up, ladies and gentlemen, and place your bets! After West leads the 9, can declarer make 3 NT with best play all-around? Or can the defense prevail?

Are you a player or a defender?

Puzzle 7F28 Main

Top The Oblivious Shift Principle

Solution

Assume the heart lead is ducked to the jack, and East shifts safely to a club.

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

Declarer unblocks the top clubs and makes the key play of a low diamond to the king. East cannot benefit by ducking, so he wins the A. What now, dear East?

A spade return gives the contract immediately, setting up South’s suit; and a heart into dummy’s A-Q leaves no defense when the J is led. Suppose East tries to establish his long suit and exits with a diamond; no matter which, but say the J.

NT win 6/8	10 3 2		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	A Q		6. E	J	Q	8	2
	10 2		7. S	K	5	2	6
	J		8. S	6	9	10	3
A 9 5		J 7 6	9. N	J	?
8 7 6		K 5		Declarer succeeds
9 8		J 4 3
—		—
	K Q 8 4
	4 3
	Q 6
East leads	—

South wins the Q and leads the K, ducked (best) by West, then a diamond to the 10. On the J East must pitch his long diamond and West his long heart to avoid losing a trick outright, then A and Q endplay East in spades.

So 3 NT can be made, right?

Leading to oblivion

Wrong. East can defeat 3 NT with the “oblivious shift” to a low diamond at Trick 2. Declarer is gifted a trick immediately, but the defense can thwart any further gain. If declarer wins the 10, unblocks clubs and leads a diamond, East ducks the Q (or captures the K and returns the suit) leaving declarer without recourse. A variety of other endings may ensue, but the defense can always prevail.

There could a useful tip here: When an endplay is inevitable, it is often better to surrender the trick sooner than later.

Puzzle 7F28 Main

Top The Oblivious Shift Principle

© 1995 Richard Pavlicek