Puzzles 7H23   Main


Delusions of Grandeur


  by Richard Pavlicek

I’m in a generous mood and will offer you three grand as a gift! Slams, that is. Can you win 13 tricks in each contract? If so, you’re a grand player. You may look at all four hands.

7 C SouthS
H A 3 2
D Q J 10 9 8 7
C Q J 10 9
None VulWest

Pass
Pass
Pass
All Pass
North

2 D
4 C
6 C
East

Pass
Pass
Pass
SOUTH
1 S
3 C
4 H1
7 C
S K Q J 10
H Q J 10 9 8
D
C 5 4 3 2
Table S 9 8 2
H K 7 6 5 4
D 6 5 4 3 2
C



Lead: S K
S A 7 6 5 4 3
H
D A K
C A K 8 7 6
1. heart control

It looks like 13 easy tricks, but the diamond suit is blocked. If you unblock the D A-K early, West will get a ruff. If you draw his trumps, dummy will have no entry.






Solution

Discard a diamond from dummy at trick one and win the S A. Lead a low club to dummy; ruff a heart with the C K; lead a low club to dummy; ruff a heart with the C A; then lead your last club. As you draw West’s trumps you can pitch one diamond, then cash the H A to throw your last diamond to leave dummy high.

Are you ready for your second grand? Then try to make this one:

7 D SouthS A 3 2
H A 3 2
D 4 3 2
C A K 7 6
N-S VulWest

Pass
Pass
All Pass
NORTH
1 NT
4 NT2
5 H3
East
Pass
Pass
Pass
South
4 C1
5 C
7 D
S K 6 5 4
H K 6 5 4
D 7 6 5
C 9 8
Table S J 10 9 8
H J 10 9 8
D
C Q J 10 5 4



Lead: C 9
S Q 7
H Q 7
D A K Q J 10 9 8
C 3 2
1. Gerber
2. 3 aces
3. 1 king

You have 11 top tricks, and all you need for the rest is a “double transfer repeating triple squeeze” — surely, a piece of cake (ha).






Solution

Win the C K and lead a diamond to reach your hand. Lead the S Q, king, ace (transfer no. 1); return to your hand with a diamond and lead the H Q, king, ace (transfer no. 2). Now run the diamonds. When you lead your last diamond, East will be triple squeezed. If he discards, say, his spade stopper, you will lead the now established S 7 to squeeze him again. What fun!

Few people made it this far! Here’s your third and final grand:

7 S SouthS A 6 5
H A Q 6
D A Q J 10
C A K Q
E-W VulWest

Pass
Pass
Pass
North

4 NT1
5 NT
7 S4
EAST
Pass
Pass
Pass
All Pass
South
4 S
5 D2
6 S3
S 2
H J 10 9 8 7
D 9 8 7
C J 10 9 8
Table S 4 3
H K 5 4 3
D K 6 5 4
C 7 6 5



Lead: H J
S K Q J 10 9 8 7
H 2
D 3 2
C 4 3 2
1. Roman key-card Blackwood
2. 1 key card
3. no side king
4. get lucky!

You have 12 top tricks. The contract looks doomed with the H K and D K offside, but a “double ruffout squeeze” saves the day.






Solution

Win the H A and lead all but one spade, discarding three diamonds from dummy; then cash the clubs. Dummy now holds H Q-6 and the D A; you have a spade and D 3-2. If East blanks his H K, you can ruff it out; if West blanks his H 10, you can lead the H Q through East. Hence, each opponent must keep two hearts; then cash the D A and your D 3 is a winner!

Puzzles 7H23   MainTop   Delusions of Grandeur

© 1993 Richard Pavlicek