Dog Days of Summer

As the summer lingers on, a spell of listlessness occurs for most people. Call it the blues, or doldrums, or dog days — the feeling is hard to explain, but it’s there. And so it happens in bridge: We all go through occasional spells of bad luck and bad cards.

Guess what? Now it’s your turn to hold the tram tickets. On each of these problems your hand is a real dog, yet fate has made you declarer. Fortunately, partner is a card rack, so the contracts are sound.

In August 2001 these problems were presented as a contest, which had 327 entrants from 83 locations. The contest is now closed, but you can still challenge yourself and find your score immediately. As South on each problem, just choose your play from options A-F. Each option is rated on a 1-to-10 scale based on my judgment.

Bidding is standard (unless noted). Opponents use standard leads and signals.
For a reference see Standard American Bridge. Assume all players are experts.

So why are you just sitting there? Time to get out of the doghouse and on with your life. If you apply a bit of dogged determination, you may win a fabulous prize*, but one little slip and you’re dog meat.

*Prizes include biscuits and flea collars. Winners must be of family Canidae, house trained and have at least
one year of obedience school. Employees of PavCo Kennels and immediate family are ineligible.

Problem 1

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

At trick two West leads the J, you win the king and East plays the 7. What next?

A. Cash four diamonds, finesse Q
B. Cash three diamonds, finesse Q
C. Win A, 3 to queen, finesse Q
D. Lead 3 to queen, finesse Q
E.  Win A, A, 3 to queen, lead to Q
F.  Win A, lead 3 to queen, lead to Q

Problem 2

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

After winning the K, what next?

A. Win A, ruff club, lead J to queen
B. Win A, ruff club, lead J and let it ride
C. Win A, ruff club, lead 2 to queen
D. Win A, ruff club, lead 2 to nine
E.  Win A, ruff club, win A
F.  Lead the 3

Note: If you lead the J or 2, West plays the 4.

Problem 3

IMPs	Q J			West	North	East	South
None vul	10 4			LHO	Partner	RHO	You
	A K J 9 4 2			Pass	1	Pass	2 1
	A K J			Pass	2 NT2	Pass	4
				Pass	Pass	Pass
Lead: Q		East plays K
				1. weak
				2. artificial force
	A 10 9 8 7 5
	8 6 5
	7
4 South	10 9 8

At trick two East leads the 2 to North’s jack (West plays 3). What next?

A. Lead Q to the ace
B. Lead Q and let it ride
C. Lead the 10
D. Win A-K to pitch heart, run Q
E.  Win A-K to pitch heart, ruff diamond
F.  Win A-K to pitch club, ruff diamond

Note: No honor drops if you cash A-K.

Problem 4

Matchpoints	A			West	North	East	South
Both vul	K 8 7 2			LHO	Partner	RHO	You
	A K 8 6 3			1	Dbl	3 1	Pass
	A 5 2			Pass	Dbl	Pass	5
				Pass	Pass	Pass
Lead: J		East plays 9
				1. weak
	8 6 2
	4 3
	7 4 2
5 South	K Q J 4 3

After winning the A, what next?

A. Win A-K, give up a diamond
B. Win A, duck a diamond
C. Duck a diamond
D. Win K, heart to king, lead a heart
E.  Win K, heart to king, win A-K
F.  Win K, heart to king, duck a diamond

Problem 5

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

After winning the A, what next?

A. Lead the 3
B. Win A-K (pitch spade), A, ruff heart
C. Win A-K (pitch club), A, ruff heart
D. Win A, A, ruff heart, K, give up a club
E.  Win A-K, give up a club
F.  Duck a club

Problem 6

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

Your play?

A. Win A, A-K, ruff club, lead J
B. Win A, ruff club, A, ruff club
C. Duck, win A (pitch spade), A-K, lead trumps
D. Duck, win A (pitch diamond), A-K, lead trumps
E.  Duck, ruff second club, lead J
F.  Duck, ruff second club, win A-K, A-K

Note: Trumps split 2-2.

 Click to see how you did

Challenge 7V41 Main Analyses

Scores Top Dog Days of Summer

© 2001 Richard Pavlicek