Analyses 7V08  Main Challenge

Bewitched and Bewildered

Scores  by Richard Pavlicek

These six play problems were published on the Internet in October of 2000, and all bridge players were invited to submit their answers. On each problem you are declarer in a contract of 4 , and your opponents are presumed to be strong players using standard leads and carding.

Problem 1

2

3

4

5

6

Final Notes

Radu Mihai Wins!

Bidding is standard, and your opponents use standard leads and signals.
For a reference see Standard American Bridge. Assume all players are experts.

The problems are all quite different but have a common theme of timing the play at a suit contract. Among the choices on most problems was whether to win the first or second round of the suit led, the difference of which may be slight but clearly existent. The merit of each choice is rated on a 1-to-10 scale, based on my judgment.

Problem 1

IMPs	8 5 4			West	North	East	South
None vul	7 3 2			LHO	Partner	RHO	You
	7 6 4						1
	A K 7 6			Pass	2	Pass	4
				Pass	Pass	Pass
Lead: 6		East plays K
	A K 6 3 2
	A 4
	A K 3 2
4 South	4 2

Your Play	Award	Votes	Percent
D. Win second heart, A, duck diamond	10	77	39
A. Win first heart, A, duck diamond	8	31	16
F. Win second heart, A, A-K, lead a diamond	6	47	24
C. Win first heart, A, A-K, lead diamond	5	22	11
E. Win second heart, A, A, duck diamond	4	10	5
B. Win first heart, A, A, duck diamond	2	11	6

The first problem addressed the proper technique in establishing (or ruffing) your fourth diamond, and the consensus of the respondents was on target. Assuming a 3-2 trump break (else there is no hope) the problem is obvious: If you cash both top trumps before giving up a diamond, an opponent might be able to cash the third trump. If you don’t cash both top trumps, you are in danger of a diamond ruff (or an overruff of dummy). Here is a typical layout to consider:

IMPs	8 5 4		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
None vul	7 3 2		1. W	6	2	K	4
	7 6 4		2. E	J	A	5	3
	A K 7 6		3. S	A	9	4	7
J 9		Q 10 7	4. S	2!
Q 10 8 6 5		K J 9		Declarer succeeds
10 5		Q J 9 8
Q 10 8 5		J 9 3
	A K 6 3 2
	A 4
	A K 3 2
4 South	4 2

The best technique to minimize risk is to cash just one top trump then duck the first round of diamonds, as prescribed in Lines A and D. When you regain the lead, you will cash the K, then continue diamonds to ruff the fourth round in dummy.

The remaining question is whether you should win the first or second heart. The holdup play is better because it breaks the enemy communication. (If you were worried about your A being ruffed, that is virtually impossible on the auction and play.) To see the advantage, switch the 10 and Q — Line A would fail because West could underlead in hearts to get two diamond ruffs, while Line D would succeed.

Comments for D. Win second heart, A, duck diamond

Radu Mihai: I need trumps 3-2. Line D is the best; it wins with diamonds 3-3, 4-2 or even 5-1 (singleton diamond with three trumps). …

Carl Hudecek: Line D makes unless someone started with two trumps and a stiff diamond lower than the queen.

Jane Eason: Playing for 3-2 spades and 4-2 or 3-3 diamonds, but the contract can be made with worse diamond breaks. Ducking the heart hopefully scissors the communication.

Steve White: Line A is almost as good, but West could have five diamonds, two spades and a heart entry.

Julius Linde: I see no significant difference between Lines A and D, but Line A loses to someone having a stiff diamond and three trumps, when his side will get a diamond, a heart and two ruffs. After ducking the first heart, the defenders are an entry short. Could as well protect against this unlikely layout.

Kieran Dyke: Marginally superior to Line A because it makes unless an opponent has one diamond and two spades. …

Tim Bolshaw: Must assume 3-2 spades. Basic plan is to ruff fourth diamond in dummy if they do not break. …

Nate Ward: … Cashing even one high diamond before giving one up can let the opponents score a ruff with the short (two) trump hand.

Andrew de Sosa: Intending to win the next lead, draw a second round of trumps and play the A-K, followed by a diamond ruff if required.

Simon Cheung: …I was taught in the cradle that it is good bridge to lose a trick quickly that you have to lose eventually. …

Michel Mayeur: That’s what we call in France, la manoeuvre de Guillemard.

Charlotte Vine: Cut opponents’ communication.

Problem 2

IMPs	A 8 4 3			West	North	East	South
E-W vul	K 7 6 2			LHO	Partner	RHO	You
	Q J 4				1	Pass	1
	K 2			Pass	2	Pass	4
				Pass	Pass	Pass
Lead: J		East plays 5
	Q 7 5 2
	A 3
	K 9 2
4 South	A J 8 3

Your Play	Award	Votes	Percent
B. Win K, lead spade to queen	10	40	20
A. Win K, lead Q	7	71	36
F. Win A, K, lead spade to queen	6	19	10
E. Win A, A, lead spade to queen	4	32	16
C. Win K, K, A, ruff club	3	18	9
D. Win A, K, ruff heart	2	18	9

The object here was to find the line of play that will always succeed against normal breaks. The voting favored Line A, but leading diamonds first only increases the things that might go wrong. For example, if the Q holds, what next? If you lead another diamond, you might even fail when diamonds are 4-3 by enabling a subsequent trump promotion.

It is clearly inferior to cash the A early, since you cannot afford to have a third round of trumps led. It is also inferior to start ruffing immediately, as this only adds another risk. This leaves Lines B and F, but Line F has a glitch: Suppose West wins the K and returns a spade to the ace; you now lack the high-card communication to ruff twice in one hand without shortening the opposite hand.

IMPs	A 8 4 3		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
E-W vul	K 7 6 2		1. W	J	K!	5	3
	Q J 4		2. N	3	6	Q	K
	K 2		3. W	10	2	4	A
K J 10		9 6	4. S	2	10	A	9
J 10		Q 9 8 5 4	5. N	6	Q	5	5
A 7 6 5		10 8 3	6. S	3	7	K	4
Q 10 9 7		6 5 4	7. N	7	9	7
	Q 7 5 2			Declarer succeeds
	A 3
	K 9 2
4 South	A J 8 3

With Line B, everything flows smoothly. If West returns a heart, win the ace; A; heart ruff; K; heart ruff; then lead diamonds. If West instead returns a trump, win the ace; K; A; club ruff, A; club ruff, etc. Note that when you force out the A you will have completed all your ruffing and still remain with two trumps in one hand to ensure success. Line B also has good chances against 4-1 spades if East holds the king.

Comments for B. Win K, lead spade to queen

Radu Mihai: I have to make two tricks in each side suit and four trumps. Line B makes 10 tricks with spades 3-2 and even some 4-1 breaks ( K well placed). …

Jane Eason: Trying to keep control. …even if the K is offside, the contract should make on 3-2 trumps, and with it on, it can make on worse distribution. …

Robin Wasko: I prefer leading to the queen first, rather than ace then queen, to guard against a trump continuation.

I was running short of comments on this problem, so when the campaign trail hit Florida, I put on my press badge and aimed for a scoop. Fortunately, I was able to corner both candidates:

Al Gore: With my name, I couldn’t resist another Halloween contest. This sure beats smashing pumpkins! I’m completely stumped on this one, so I’ll choose Line B for the Bill of Rights. That’s the least I can do after serving eight years under the Bill of Wrongs.

George W. Bush: The problem here is not one of card-play technique, but of dedication and conviction. I’ve considered the issue thoroughly, and to succeed we must downsize the role of declarer and rely more on the private sector. It’s not a question of whether my play will work, but only a matter of how long it will take; or vice versa, I think.

Problem 3

IMPs	K 3			West	North	East	South
None vul	6 5 4 3			LHO	Partner	RHO	You
	Q 9 8 4						1
	A 4 2			Dbl	1 NT	2	3
				Pass	4	Pass	Pass
Lead: K		East plays 2		Pass
	A 8 7 6 5 4
	A 7
	3
4 South	K Q 6 5

Your Play	Award	Votes	Percent
B. Win first heart, lead 7	10	19	10
D. Win second heart, lead 3	8	68	34
A. Win first heart, lead 3	7	26	13
F. Win second heart, K, ruff heart	4	28	14
E. Win second heart, K, A, lead club	2	35	18
C. Win first heart, K, A, lead club	1	22	11

This is a complex problem. Assuming a 3-2 trump break (else there is no chance) and a 4-2 club break (likely on the auction) there are two good chances to achieve a 10th trick: (1) Lead the third round of clubs from dummy forcing East (who likely has the third trump) to ruff a loser, else discard and allow you to ruff your fourth club, or (2) develop a heart-club squeeze against West. The problem with (1) is that you must first break up the enemy communication in the red suits (to prevent East from getting two ruffs) and two rounds of trumps would kill it. The problem with (2) is that you must first correct the loser count, and two rounds of clubs would kill it. Nonetheless, by keeping both options alive, declarer can prevail. Here is a typical layout for the enemy bidding:

IMPs	K 3		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
None vul	6 5 4 3		1. W	K	3	2	A
	Q 9 8 4		2. S	7!	J	4	8
	A 4 2		3. W	2	K	9	4
10 2		Q J 9	4. N	5	10	5	Q
K Q J 9		10 8 2	5. S	3!	6	8	10
A J 6		K 10 7 5 2	6. E	Q	A	10	3
J 10 9 7		8 3	7. S	8!	J	4	J
	A 8 7 6 5 4		8. E	8	K	7	2
	A 7		9. S	7	A	9	2
	3		10. S	6
4 South	K Q 6 5			Declarer succeeds

The winning play is Line B (win the first heart and lead a heart). Line D looks strong, too, but ducking the first heart would allow West to shift to a trump; then if you win in dummy, you don’t have the entries to isolate the heart threat against West, or if you win in hand, you lose option (1) and subsequent club leads would ruin the squeeze. Similarly, with Line A, an immediate trump shift would foil you.

On Line B, assume a trump shift (best) won by the king, then ruff a heart and lead a diamond. If East wins, he must return a trump to stop option (1), then you can clear trumps and eventually squeeze West. If West hops with a high diamond and leads his last heart to kill the heart threat (East pitches a club) this appears to defeat both options — but a new one emerges! Now you can endplay East: Cash the A and K-Q, then exit with a trump.

Comments for B. Win first heart, lead 7

Alex Perlin: The play is most interesting if West is 2=4=3=4. Line D may fail because defenders will switch to a trump. Presumably, declarer will win the king and play three rounds of clubs. East will ruff, put partner in with a diamond, and another club will complete the uppercut. Line A fails after a trump return at trick 3 in a similar way. The only difference is that East puts partner on lead with a heart. Line B will succeed because it poses an additional threat. Suppose defenders continue trumps as before. Declarer then wins the king, ruffs a heart and concedes a diamond. To prevent a club ruff, the defenders now have to play another trump. But the hand can be made anyway, because West is caught in a heart-club squeeze.

Tim Bolshaw: Primary plan is to ruff South’s last club in dummy (if East does not ruff in front of the queen). You want to avoid the situation where East can ruff the club, put his partner in and get another ruff. So, you start by cutting the opponents’ communications (as in Lines A, B or D). However, opponents may switch to trumps. Then you need an alternative threat. There is a potential heart-club squeeze against West. Line B is the line that capitalizes on the dual threat. …

Seamas Bradley: I’m hoping that West is 2=4=3=4. Nothing wrong with optimism!

Problem 4

IMPs	A K 4 3			West	North	East	South
N-S vul	7 5 4 3			LHO	Partner	RHO	You
	A Q J 7			Pass	1	Pass	1
	2			Pass	3	Pass	4
				Pass	Pass	Pass
Lead: 4		East plays K
	10 8 5 2
	Q 6
	K 4 2
4 South	A 9 6 5

After winning the A:

Your Next Play	Award	Votes	Percent
D. Win A, lead a heart	10	20	10
B. Lead heart	9	49	25
A. Ruff a club	8	59	30
F. Win A-K, run diamonds	3	65	33
E. Win A, run diamonds	2	4	2
C. Run diamonds	1	1	1

With normal breaks the contract is on ice — as long as you don’t get careless. Lines C and E can be quickly dismissed as too risky, if not foolish. (OK, I admit these were desperation fillers.) Line F was the vote getter, however, this would fail on the routine layout below — West would not ruff as you ran diamonds; then he would win the first heart lead and draw a third round of trumps, leaving you a trick short.

IMPs	A K 4 3		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
N-S vul	7 5 4 3		1. W	4	2	K	A
	A Q J 7		2. S	2	9	A	6
	2		3. N	3!	2	Q	A
Q J 9		7 6	4. W	Q	K	7	5
A 10 8		K J 9 2	5. N	Q	6	2	8
8 3		10 9 6 5	6. N	7	5	K	3
Q 10 8 4 3		K J 7	7. S	4
	10 8 5 2			Declarer succeeds
	Q 6
	K 4 2
4 South	A 9 6 5

The remaining three lines (A, B and D) are all strong contenders, and this was one of the closest choices. The essence of Lines B and D is to build communication for a crossruff, draw two trumps and run the diamonds. Note that it is necessary only to lead one round of hearts (one heart can be pitched on the fourth diamond), so Line D is marginally better than Line B. Leading a heart from dummy also has certain strategic and psychological advantages: It denies East two heart entries (significant if, say, West were void in diamonds) and it decreases the chance of a second heart lead; plus, there’s a remote chance of winning the Q against defenders who try to be too clever — don’t laugh; it happens.*

*This reminds me of a story attributed to the late John Crawford. Playing in a hopeless 3 NT, his club holding was 4-3-2 in dummy opposite Q-J doubleton in hand. He won the opening lead on the table and led a club to his queen — which held! Calmly, he crossed to dummy and led a second club to his jack — which also held! Amazed by all this, one of the kibitzers congratulated Crawford on his clever play. “Twas nothing,” replied the master, “If partner had the decency to hold 10-x-x, I could have brought in the whole suit.”

Line A seems poor on the surface but is quite strong if followed by two top trumps, then three rounds of diamonds ending in hand; club ruff; good diamond. This fails when East is 3=5=2=3 (admittedly remote since East failed to overcall 1 ) because he would pitch a club on the third diamond and then overruff your attempt to reach dummy. Considering that lines B and D also fail on this distribution (unless East’s spades are Q-J-x so West can’t overruff the 10), and sometimes when hearts are 5-2 the other way, one might conclude that Line A is better.

But wait! Line A also fails against any 5-1 diamond break (assuming the long trump is with the short diamonds) — a defender will ruff the second diamond and tap dummy while diamonds are blocked. With this consideration, Line A can be demoted to third place without the need of a detailed calculation.

Comments for D. Win A, A, lead heart

Radu Mihai: I have to make all four diamonds and two ruffs in one hand. Dummy mustn’t be shortened too quickly (otherwise it’s impossible to take all four diamonds). A heart must be led to prepare the entry for the second club ruff. After the heart I intend to cash the K then take the diamonds (drop the heart on the last one). After this I crossruff…

Julius Linde: Planning to win four diamonds, one club and five spades. Line A runs into difficulties when (1) no trumps are drawn, to suffer diamond ruffs, or (2) when trumps are drawn, to lose contact to the fourth diamond trick. Line C risks losing two hearts and two spades (either natural tricks or ruffs), as does Line E. Line F allows the defenders to draw a third round of trumps, thereby leaving us a trick short. …

Kieran Dyke: Just making sure that they can’t trap me in dummy to let them in to draw my trump. A seems cost-free.

Alex Perlin: …opponents will probably return a trump. I will win and run diamonds pitching a heart if the first three diamond live. Then a crossruff will begin. …

Tim Bolshaw: … Entry considerations force you to lead a heart before cashing the K. Lines B and D are almost equal, but Line D may drop a singleton J or Q in West and gain in some unlikely cases. …

Problem 5

IMPs	J 3 2			West	North	East	South
Both vul	A 5			LHO	Partner	RHO	You
	8 6 4 3					2	2
	Q 5 4 3			3	3	Pass	4
				Pass	Pass	Pass
Lead: Q		East plays 8
	K Q 9 7 6 5
	9 4 3
	Q
4 South	A K 2

Your Play	Award	Votes	Percent
F. Win second heart, lead spade to king	10	49	25
D. Win second heart, lead diamond	9	41	21
A. Win first heart, lead diamond	6	10	5
C. Win first heart, lead spade to king	4	36	18
B. Win first heart, lead heart	3	38	19
E. Win second heart, K, ruff heart	2	24	12

The consensus of the respondents is back on track, as they uncovered the winning line from a close second choice. The majority also realized the need for the holdup play in hearts.

Winning the first heart is wrong because it leaves you with an impossible task on a typical layout, as the following. If you lead a second heart, East would win and lead a third heart immediately, allowing West to ruff and force dummy’s J; then East would gain the lead in diamonds to lead a fourth heart and promote West’s 10. If you try to prevent this by leading spades or diamonds first, the defense can stop your heart ruff entirely with repeated trump leads. Clearly, you must duck the first heart.

IMPs	J 3 2		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
Both vul	A 5		1. W	Q	5!	8	3
	8 6 4 3		2. W	J	A	7	4
	Q 5 4 3		3. N	2	4	K	A
A 10 8		4	4. W	10	3	7	A
Q J		K 10 8 7 6 2	5. S	Q!
K J 10 2		A 9 7 5		Declarer succeeds
10 9 8 6		J 7
	K Q 9 7 6 5
	9 4 3
	Q
4 South	A K 2

Lines D and F are both excellent, and a case could be made to award 10 to each. In Line F, if the K loses to the ace and a club is returned, a diamond would be led next to avoid losing a club ruff when West is 3=2=6=2 (he would pitch his last club if you ruffed a heart next). It is difficult to construct a realistic layout where one line succeeds and the other fails. For example, Line F is better when spades are 2-2 and East has a stiff club, but this is unrealistic because East would have overtaken the first heart and shifted to his singleton. Nonetheless, the nod has to go to Line F if only for this reason: If West held A-10-8-4 Q-J K-x-x-x J-10-9, Line D has no chance because the diamond trick is lost outright; but Line F succeeds if West ducks the spade, or if he wins and fails to switch to a diamond (cash three clubs ending in hand, then lead your last heart). Granted, this requires a defensive slip, but it’s something.

Comments for F. Win second heart, lead spade to king

Radu Mihai: I have to ruff a heart without putting the contract in danger (because clubs may not be 3-3). There are two dangers: (1) West may somehow make two spade tricks from A-10-x, and (2) the opponents may be able to play spades three times before I can ruff the heart. … If, for example, I win the K, I ruff the heart and lead a diamond (not a spade); East wins and plays a heart, but I ruff in hand and, if necessary, overruff in dummy.

Ah, but there’s a third danger: The wicked witch of the West may win the A and return an eye of newt.

Leah Cohen: Only marginally better than Line D. With D, East may get a club ruff if he has a singleton and doubleton trump.

Jos van Kan: Better than Line E, which could set up a trump promotion if West has A-10-8. (West ruffs the third heart. If declarer now plays a diamond, East rises and continues hearts; if declarer plays a trump, West wins and reaches East with a diamond.)

Bent Vangli: Need to keep J in dummy when you later play the third heart to ruff.

Problem 6

IMPs	J 10 4			West	North	East	South
Both vul	A K 7 6 4 3			LHO	Partner	RHO	You
	2				2	Pass	2
	10 7 2			Pass	4	Pass	Pass
				Pass
Lead: 5		East plays K
	A K 8 7 6 5
	2
	J 6 3
4 South	A 8 3

Note: If you lead a third heart, East follows.

Your Play	Award	Votes	Percent
B. Win first club, A-K, lead 3 and pitch club	10	92	46
E. Win second club, A-K, lead 3 and ruff low	7	8	4
C. Win first club, A-K, lead 3 and ruff low	6	5	3
A. Win first club, A-K, lead 2	4	34	17
D. Win second club, A-K, lead 2	3	47	24
F. Win second club, A-K, lead 3 and ruff high	2	12	6

Once again, the consensus of the respondents was on the money with the farsighted strategy to pitch a loser on a loser.

Chances are good for this skinny game. Originally, it looks like five trump tricks, three side winners, and two diamond ruffs in dummy will see you home, but there are complications. A trump lead from East would not be welcome, plus there is a danger of being overruffed when returning to hand. Below is a typical layout that would cause trouble:

IMPs	J 10 4		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
Both vul	A K 7 6 4 3		1. W	5	2	K	A
	2		2. S	2	8	A	5
	10 7 2		3. N	K	10	3	9
Q 9 3		2	4. N	3	Q	8!	5
9 8		Q J 10 5	5. E	2	5!	Q	4
A Q 5 4		K 10 9 8 7		Declarer succeeds
Q 9 6 5		K J 4
	A K 8 7 6 5
	2
	J 6 3
4 South	A 8 3

Ducking the first club is inferior, as it allows East to make the annoying trump shift. So, win the first club and take a quick discard. It now looks tempting to lead a diamond (Line A) but this plan falls short. A sharp East player would win and shift to a trump, after which there is no route to success — the pending heart overruff kills you.

To improve your chances you must bring the threat of establishing the heart suit into the picture, and rather than risk an immediate overruff you should pitch your last club. If East then shifts to a trump, you can duck it to West, who must now shift to diamonds and tap the dummy (else you can establish hearts) — then you simply revert to your original plan of two diamond ruffs, being able to return to your hand safely with club ruffs.

Comments for B. Win first club, A-K, lead 3 and pitch club

Radu Mihai: This makes 10 tricks if hearts are no worse than 4-2 and trumps no worse than 3-1. The other plans generally fail when West has two hearts and Q-9-x in trumps.

Leah Cohen: If the defense assures me they’ll lead a second club, I’d select Line D. But, a trump switch by East would be a problem. …

Carl Hudecek: Again, I want to break communications and not subject myself to overruffs. …

Jane Eason: Pitching the club so they can’t cash it and then lead a third round of hearts.

Don Goodin: No computer programs were used in solving these problems. Just a single dummy. :-)

Julius Linde: The obvious line is to ruff two diamonds in dummy and lose only a spade, a club and a diamond. Unfortunately I am missing the spade nine, so there is danger of promoting her as the fourth defensive trick. Lines C and E risk losing two overruffs with the spade nine and queen; same for Line A. Line F is also in danger of losing two trumps, as I have to ruff diamonds with the J-10. Line D doesn’t work either. East plays a third round of hearts, ruffed small, West overruffs with the nine and continues with another diamond. I ruff on the table, but cannot avoid losing the queen of spades, as I have to lead a fifth round of hearts to get back to hand to draw trumps. Line B looks right. …

Charles Blair: Just feels right! …

Alex Perlin: People who wish to duck a club here should be prepared for a trump shift.

Tim Bolshaw: … At the table under time pressure, I am sure I would take Line B (loser-on-loser) and analysis seems to confirm this. … If hearts are 4-2, East may play his last heart. A low ruff allows West to overruff (hopefully from three trumps, not a singleton nine!). Now, he must force dummy with a diamond (else you just cash A-K to draw the remaining trumps and enjoy the heart winners); then you can win the A and ruff your last diamond. …

Bob Boudreau: They won’t continue hearts without setting up two winners and if East leads spades, that helps me.

Final Notes

Comments are selected only from those supporting the best solution to each problem. While this might be considered biased, I feel it’s the best way to ensure solid content and avoid potential embarrassment by publishing comments that are off base. On this basis, I included about 75 percent of the eligible comments. If you supplied comments that were not used, I thank you for the input.

Use of a comment does not necessarily mean I agree with it, but generally they are all worthy. Comments are quoted exactly except for corrections in spelling and grammar. Where I have included only part of a comment, an ellipsis (…) indicates where text was cut. Text in [brackets] was supplied by me to summarize a cut portion or fix an omission. Comments are listed in order of respondents’ rank, which is my only basis for sequencing. I am confident that my lengthy study of these problems, assisted by comments received, has determined the best solutions in theory, but oversights are possible. Feedback is always welcome.

A few respondents questioned the implications of phrases like “Win second heart,” wondering if this promises a second heart lead. No, it does not. Options covering several tricks indicate a plan for what seems a probable occurrence. Opponents are not obliged to continue the same suit, so ducking leaves you liable to any damaging shift.

Thanks to all who participated, and especially those who offered kind remarks about my web site.

Analyses 7V08 Main Challenge

Scores Top Bewitched and Bewildered

© 2000 Richard Pavlicek