Puzzle 7F29   Main


A Ditch in Time


  by Richard Pavlicek

North-South have shown little respect for point count in the bidding, and their brash contract is likely to make. Your job as East-West is to teach them a lesson. How can 3 NT be defeated against best play by declarer?

3 NT South
None Vul
S 3 2
H K 10 9 8 7
D K 8 7 6
C K J
West

1 S
Pass
North

2 H
3 NT
East

Pass
All Pass
SOUTH
1 D
2 NT
S Q 9 8 7 6 5
H A Q 6 5
D A 10
C 10
TableS 10
H J 2
D J 9 2
C A 8 7 6 5 4 3
Lead: ? S A K J 4
H 4 3
D Q 5 4 3
C Q 9 2

Clearly, a spade lead is disastrous — declarer gets three spades, three diamonds (by first leading low through West), two clubs and a heart with routine play. And after a passive lead, West must be careful not to get endplayed.

Take it from there.

Solution

The only successful lead is the C 10, but even then declarer can succeed with routine defense. If East ducks the first club, South wins a spade and leads a diamond, which West wins and exits with a diamond. North wins the D K; South the D Q; then a heart to the king and another heart put the defenders at bay.

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



Lead: C 10
S A K J 4
H 4 3
D Q 5 4 3
C Q 9 2

Suppose East wins the C A and returns a club. The only way for East to establish his suit and avoid pressure on West requires some fancy footwork. On the second club West must ditch the D A! Assume declarer wins in dummy and leads a low diamond; East plays the jack (else South ducks to West) and South wins the D Q. North wins the D K, then a third diamond goes to East to reach this position:

NT win 6
Failure
S 3 2
H K 10 9 8 7
D 8
C
Trick
6 E
7 S
Lead
C 4
D 5
2nd
Q
H A!
3rd
H Q!
H 7
4th
D 8
C 5
W-L
W1
W2
S Q 9 8 7
H A Q 6 5
D
C
Table S 10
H J 2
D
C 8 7 6 5 4



East leads
S A K J 4
H 4 3
D 5
C Q

East must return a club. West cannot part with a spade, else South will lead the S J; nor one of his two low hearts, else South will lead a heart and duck if West plays the H Q, eventually endplaying West. Therefore, West ditches the H Q. When South next leads his last diamond, West completes the spectacle by ditching the H A to leave declarer helpless — and no doubt speechless.

Well, there you have it, folks: A ditch in time saves nine. Isn’t that how you would defend at the table?

Puzzle 7F29   MainTop   A Ditch in Time

© 1995 Richard Pavlicek