Challenge 7V89 Main Analyses

Slammin’ Sammy Goes Deep

by Richard Pavlicek

Where can you find grand slams, doubles, squeeze plays and sacrifices? In bridge, of course, and also in baseball. These two great games share a number of common terms and analogies.

This is a defensive-play challenge for all bridge players. On each of the six problems, Slammin’ Sammy has overbid to a slam (no offense, Mr. Sosa) — or if you prefer, Sammy has hit a deep fly ball. Will you catch it? Or will it clear the fence for a home run? All the balls can be caught!

You are the left fielder (West) on Problems 1-3, and the right fielder (East) on Problems 4-6. Choose your lead at trick two from the options given. Each option is rated on a 1-to-10 scale per my judgment.

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

In August 2002 these problems were presented as a contest, which had 638 entrants from 103 locations. The contest is now closed, but you can still challenge yourself and find your score immediately. If you’re a Golden Glover, you might even win a valuable prize!*

*Prizes include six outfielder’s mitts autographed by Sammy Sosa and a bronzed batting helmet. Winners must be at least 18
years of age and athletically well corked. Employees and non-employees of PavCo Sports Memorabilia are ineligible.

Batter up! Hey, batter, batter! The pitch is on the way… craaack! It’s a deep fly ball… You run back, back, back… to the warning track… to the fence… and leap with your glove in the air! Did you catch it?

Problem 1

Matchpoints	A K 4		`West`	`North`	`East`	`South`
None vul	K 10 8 6		You	Dummy	Partner	Sammy
	Q 8 7 5			1 NT	Pass	4 ¹
	K 3		Pass	4	Pass	6
Q 9 8			Pass	Pass	Pass
Q J 9 7
2			1. Gerber
Q 9 8 6 5		6 South

Trick Lead 2nd 3rd 4th
1. W Q 6 5 3

Your next lead? Q 9 7 2 9 6

Problem 2

Matchpoints	Q 2		West	North	East	South
Both vul	K Q J		You	Dummy	Partner	Sammy
	A K 5 4			1 NT	Pass	2 ¹
	Q 8 6 3		Pass	2	Pass	3
J 10			Pass	4	Pass	6
9 5 4 3			Pass	Pass	Pass
Q 8 7
A K 9 2		6 South	1. Jacoby transfer

Trick Lead 2nd 3rd 4th
1. W K 3 7 10

Your next lead? 10 3 Q 8 A 2

Problem 3

Matchpoints	Q 10 9 6		West	`North`	East	`South`
E-W vul	6		You	Dummy	Partner	Sammy
	J 10 9 7 6				Pass	1
	A 10 2		Pass	3 ¹	Pass	4 NT
4 3			Pass	5	Pass	6
10 4 3 2			Pass	Pass	Pass
A K Q 5
J 9 7		6 South	1. limit raise

Trick Lead 2nd 3rd 4th
1. W K 6 3 2

Your next lead? 3 10 4 A J 9

Problem 4

Matchpoints	K 9 6		`West`	North	`East`	South
N-S vul	J 10 9		Partner	Dummy	You	Sammy
	K J 5 4			Pass	Pass	1
	K 10 3		Pass	2 NT	Pass	6
		Q 10 8 5 4	Pass	Pass	Pass
Lead: 6		A 5 3 2
Lead: 6		3
6 South		Q 9 4

Trick Lead 2nd 3rd 4th
1. W 6 9 A K

Your next lead? 10 5 2 3 Q 4

Problem 5

Matchpoints	3		`West`	`North`	`East`	`South`
None vul	9 6 4 2		Partner	Dummy	You	Sammy
	A 10 8 3 2					1
	K 8 4		2	3	4	5
		A 9 5 2	Pass	5	Pass	5
Lead: J		10 3	Pass	6	All Pass
Lead: J		J 9 7 4
6 South		Q 9 7

Trick Lead 2nd 3rd 4th
1. W J 3 A Q

Your next lead? 2 3 4 Q 9 7

Problem 6

Matchpoints	A J 3		West	North	East	South
Both vul	K 10 2		Partner	Dummy	You	Sammy
	8 6 5 3			Pass	Pass	1
	K 5 4		Pass	3	Pass	4 NT
		8 5 4	Pass	5	Dbl	6
Lead: J		J 9 7 4	Pass	Pass	Pass
Lead: J		A K 7 2
6 South		10 3

Trick Lead 2nd 3rd 4th
1. W J 3 K Q

Your next lead? 5 4 A 2 10 3

Click to see how you did

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