Heartaches by the Number

It’s been 66 years since Guy Mitchell’s recording of the title song became a #1 Hit, though my fond memories are of the later recording by Connie Francis — especially because I saw her in person during the filming of Where the Boys Are in Fort Lauderdale. Also, a tribute to Ms. Francis is like returning a favor, as her song Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool was probably dedicated to me.

Never mind. Now it’s your turn to have heartaches by the number — six, that is — as each of the following contracts can be defeated if you find the right lead. Even looking at all four hands, it won’t be obvious, so test your analytical skills. Find the six killing leads!

Problem 1

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

Killing lead? 

Problem 2

East deals	Q J 9 7		West	North	East	South
N-S vul	9				Pass	Pass
	A Q J 10 5		1	Dbl	4	4
	A 9 2		Pass	Pass	Pass
A 4 3		10
A K Q 8		J 7 6 3 2
9 8		6 4 3 2
Q 5 4 3		K 10 8
	K 8 6 5 2
	10 5 4
	K 7
4 South	J 7 6

Killing lead? 

Problem 3

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

Killing lead? 

Quit

Top Heartaches by the Number

Problem 4

West deals	A K J 6		West	North	East	South
Both vul	K 10 6		Pass	1 NT	Pass	2
	A 9		Pass	2	Pass	3
	6 5 4 3		Pass	4	Pass	6
10 9 8 7 2		Q 5 4 3	Pass	Pass	Pass
Q 9 7		J 3 2
K 10 6 5 4		J 8 3 2
—		A 2
	—
	A 8 5 4
	Q 7
6 South	K Q J 10 9 8 7

Killing lead? 

Problem 5

North deals	A 5 4 3 2		West	North	East	South
N-S vul	J 10 9			1	Pass	2
	5		Pass	3	Pass	4 NT
	A Q 3 2		Pass	5	Pass	6
10 9		K Q J 8 7	Pass	Pass	Pass
K 8 7		—
K Q J 10		9 8 7 6
J 10 9 8		K 7 6 5
	6
	A Q 6 5 4 3 2
	A 4 3 2
6 South	4

Killing lead? 

Problem 6

East deals	K Q 8 4		West	North	East	South
E-W vul	A 2				Pass	1
	A K 2		Pass	1	Pass	1 NT
	Q 4 3 2		Pass	3	Pass	3
J 10 9		A 7 6 5	Pass	4 NT	Pass	5
Q 5 4		10 9 8 7 6	Pass	6 NT	All Pass
Q 7 6 5 4		J 9
8 7		6 5	Poor bidding (6 is unbeatable)
	3 2
	K J 3
	10 8 3
6 NT South	A K J 10 9

Killing lead? 

Quit

Top Heartaches by the Number

Heartaches by the number,
Troubles by the score.
Every day you love me less,
Each day I love you more.

Did you catch my hint?

If you chose the wrong suit to lead on any of these deals, you should have paid more attention to my title and pictures. Yes, the killing lead against each contract was a heart, although which heart was important too.

Puzzles 7F83 Main

Top Heartaches by the Number

© 2025 Richard Pavlicek