Four Spades For Sure

As South, assume you are declarer in 4 on each deal.
Can you find the surefire play to guarantee making your contract?

Problem 1

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

Your play?

A. Win A, A-K-Q, 2 to king B. Win A, A-K-Q, 3 to queen C. Win A, A-K-Q, 3 to nine D. Win A, A-K-Q, 4 to king

Problem 2

Total points	A 3 2			West	North	East	South
None vul	—						1
	9 8 6 5 4			Pass	2	Pass	2
	A K J 10 4			Pass	3	Pass	4
				Pass	Pass	Pass
Lead: 9		East plays 6
	K Q J 10 4
	A 8 5 4 3
	2
4 South	3 2

Your play?

A. Win 10, ruff heart high B. Win 10, ruff heart low C. Win 10, lead 2 D. Win 10, finesse J

Problem 3

Total points	K 10 8 7 4			West	North	East	South
Both vul	A Q J 2						4
	5 4 3			Pass	Pass	Pass
	K
Lead: A
	A Q J 9 6 5 3 2
	6 4
	K 7 2
4 South	—

Your play?

A. Ruff, finesse Q B. Ruff, win K, 3 to king C. Pitch a heart D. Pitch a diamond

Quit

Explanations

Top Four Spades For Sure

Problem 1

You have 9 top tricks, and there is only one way to be sure of 10. Win the A and draw the missing trumps (three rounds if necessary). Lead a club to the king and ruff the last club in your hand.

Next lead a diamond and finesse the nine (unless West plays the 10 or jack, then finesse the queen). When East wins this trick he will be endplayed: A heart lead allows you to win the K; a diamond lead gives you a free finesse; or a club lead allows you to discard a heart and ruff in dummy.

Problem 2

A number of plays might succeed in practice, but there is only one surefire technique. Win the spade lead in hand and immediately ruff a heart with the A (do not cash the A). Lead dummy’s last spade to your hand and draw all the enemy trumps.

Next lead a club and finesse the jack. If this loses you will have 10 guaranteed tricks: five spades, the A, a heart ruff, and three clubs. Note: If the club finesse works, do not repeat it (a clever East player might duck with the queen).

Problem 3

Did you notice you have all 13 trumps? Even so, you are in danger of going down if the heart finesse loses and a diamond is returned through your king.

The lifetime guarantee: Discard a heart at trick one. West’s only safe return is a heart, but now you can hop up with dummy’s ace and lead the Q for a ruffing finesse (if East does not produce the king, discard a diamond). Even if West wins the K, your K cannot be led through and dummy’s J will be established for a discard.

Quiz 7H26 Main

Top Four Spades For Sure

© 1994 Richard Pavlicek