Puzzles 7HA0 Main |
| by Richard Pavlicek |
On each of these deals the contract is 6 doubled, and West leads the Q. Amazingly, each can be made, losing only one trump trick. Can you perform the magic?
6 × South | Q 9 2 A K 5 4 A K 3 2 K 2 | None Vul | West Pass Pass Pass Dbl | North 2 NT 4 NT2 6 All Pass | East Pass Pass Pass | SOUTH 2 3 1 5 3 Pass | ||
A J 8 7 8 7 6 Q J 10 9 10 9 | Q J 10 9 8 7 6 Q J 8 7 6 5 | |||||||
Lead: Q | K 10 6 5 4 3 3 2 5 4 A 4 3 | 1. feature 2. Roman key-card Blackwood 3. 2 key cards (no Q) |
West appears to have two natural trump tricks, but a little magic might cure that.
Win the A-K and ruff a diamond; win the A-K and ruff a heart; win the A-K and ruff the last diamond. This reduces West to all trumps with South on lead.
Lead a club; West ruffs with the 7 and North overruffs with the nine. Finally, lead the last heart and ruff with the K. If West overruffs with the ace, he will be endplayed in trumps; if he underruffs, he is left with A-J in front of the queen.
For the next slam you may need some tranquilizer darts:
6 × South | K 10 2 3 2 A K 3 2 A K 3 2 | N-S Vul | West 2 NT Pass Pass | North Dbl 4 NT 6 | East 3 Pass Dbl | SOUTH 1 3 ? 5 All Pass | ||
9 8 7 Q J 10 9 8 Q J 10 9 8 | Q J 8 6 4 3 Q J 10 7 6 7 6 | |||||||
Lead: Q | A 9 7 5 A K 6 5 4 5 4 5 4 |
Seeing Easts trumps might make you ill, but they can be neutralized. Do you see how?
Cash all your side winners and ruff a heart with the 2, leaving with East with all trumps. Lead a minor suit and overruff as cheaply as possible. Say, East ruffs with the jack and you win the ace. Ruff a heart with the K forcing East to underruff. Lead a minor suit to overruff again (if East ruffs with the queen, discard your last heart). Finally, ruff your last heart with the 10 and watch East squirm.
For the final vanishing act you meet an escapee from the asylum:
6 × South | K 2 A K 2 A K 3 2 8 7 6 5 | Both Vul | West Pass Pass | North 3 6 | EAST 2 1 Pass Dbl2 | South 2 3 All Pass | ||
J 8 7 6 J 10 9 Q J 10 J 10 9 | A 8 7 6 5 4 3 9 8 7 4 3 2 | |||||||
Lead: Q | Q 10 9 5 4 3 Q 6 5 4 A K Q | 1. lunatic on the loose 2. dont lead a heart |
It looks impossible to stop West from making his J, but thats an illusion. Harry Houdini would find a way.
Win the A and cash the A-K (ignore the Q) to ditch a diamond; ruff a heart; win the K; ruff a diamond and cash three clubs. This leaves West with all trumps.
Duck a spade to Easts blank ace. On the forced heart return play the 9 and Wests jack is smothered. If he overruffs, you will overruff with the king. If he underruffs, you will discard from dummy.
Keep practicing your magic. With a little more experience you will know enough to redouble!
Puzzles 7HA0 Main | Top One Trump Loser! |
© 1998 Richard Pavlicek