Puzzles 7HA0   Main


One Trump Loser!


  by Richard Pavlicek

On each of these deals the contract is 6 S doubled, and West leads the D Q. Amazingly, each can be made, losing only one trump trick. Can you perform the magic?

6 S× SouthS Q 9 2
H A K 5 4
D A K 3 2
C K 2
None VulWest

Pass
Pass
Pass
Dbl
North

2 NT
4 NT2
6 S
All Pass
East

Pass
Pass
Pass
SOUTH
2 S
3 C1
5 H3
Pass
S A J 8 7
H 8 7 6
D Q J 10 9
C 10 9
Table S
H Q J 10 9
D 8 7 6
C Q J 8 7 6 5



Lead: D Q
S K 10 6 5 4 3
H 3 2
D 5 4
C A 4 3
1. feature
2. Roman key-card Blackwood
3. 2 key cards (no S Q)

West appears to have two natural trump tricks, but a little magic might cure that.






Solution

Win the D A-K and ruff a diamond; win the H A-K and ruff a heart; win the C A-K and ruff the last diamond. This reduces West to all trumps with South on lead.

Lead a club; West ruffs with the S 7 and North overruffs with the nine. Finally, lead the last heart and ruff with the S K. If West overruffs with the ace, he will be endplayed in trumps; if he underruffs, he is left with S A-J in front of the queen.

For the next slam you may need some tranquilizer darts:

6 S× SouthS K 10 2
H 3 2
D A K 3 2
C A K 3 2
N-S VulWest

2 NT
Pass
Pass
North

Dbl
4 NT
6 S
East

3 C
Pass
Dbl
SOUTH
1 H
3 S?
5 H
All Pass
S
H 9 8 7
D Q J 10 9 8
C Q J 10 9 8
Table S Q J 8 6 4 3
H Q J 10
D 7 6
C 7 6



Lead: D Q
S A 9 7 5
H A K 6 5 4
D 5 4
C 5 4

Seeing East’s trumps might make you ill, but they can be neutralized. Do you see how?






Solution

Cash all your side winners and ruff a heart with the S 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 S 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 S 10 and watch East squirm.

For the final vanishing act you meet an escapee from the asylum:

6 S× SouthS K 2
H A K 2
D A K 3 2
C 8 7 6 5
Both VulWest

Pass
Pass
North

3 H
6 S
EAST
2 H1
Pass
Dbl2
South
2 S
3 S
All Pass
S J 8 7 6
H J 10 9
D Q J 10
C J 10 9
Table S A
H 8 7 6 5 4 3
D 9 8 7
C 4 3 2



Lead: D Q
S Q 10 9 5 4 3
H Q
D 6 5 4
C A K Q
1. lunatic on the loose
2. don’t lead a heart

It looks impossible to stop West from making his S J, but that’s an illusion. Harry Houdini would find a way.






Solution

Win the D A and cash the H A-K (ignore the H Q) to ditch a diamond; ruff a heart; win the D K; ruff a diamond and cash three clubs. This leaves West with all trumps.

Duck a spade to East’s blank ace. On the forced heart return play the S 9 and West’s 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   MainTop   One Trump Loser!

© 1998 Richard Pavlicek