Quiz 8D41 Main

Notrump Insight

by Richard Pavlicek

As declarer in notrump, do you have the insight to make the winning plays? Test yourself on these six problems! (Or at least vote for the pictured solution that would make America great again.) Assume the scoring is IMPs, and your opponents are top-notch experts — not to be confused with “BBO world-class,” which can be a notch above hopeless.

For each problem enter eight cards (e.g., S2) in the order you would play them to Tricks 1-4. Routine early plays, if any, are already entered. Unless noted otherwise: (1) Assume both opponents follow suit; second hand low, third or fourth hand to their best advantage. (2) If an opponent is on lead, assume the suit they led previously is continued for the quiz, though it might not be in actual play.

Are you ready? Then go to it like a bat out of Hell.

1. None Vul K 6 2
A J 5
A 3 2
J 10 3 2 West

Pass
All Pass NORTH
1
Pass East
1
2 South
1 NT
2 NT
Lead: 7 Table If you play low from dummy, East plays the 10
2 NT South Q 9 4
K 8 7
Q 10 6 5 4
K 4
Plays 1
2
3
4

2. N-S Vul 6 5
A Q 10
J 10 4
Q 10 6 3 2 West

Pass North

3 NT EAST
Pass
All Pass South
1 NT
Lead: 4 Table East plays the 10
3 NT South A Q 7
K J 7 6
A 5 3
K 5 4
Plays 1
2
3
4

3. E-W Vul K 2
8 4 3
9 7 6 3 2
7 4 3 West

Pass
Pass North

2
3 NT East

Pass
All Pass SOUTH
2
2 NT
Lead: Q Table
East overtakes with the K
If you duck twice, East sheds a spade on third club
3 NT South A Q 7 6
A Q 10 2
A K
A 6 2
Plays 1
2
3
4

4. Both Vul Q 10 4 2
10 9
Q 6 4 2
7 6 4 WEST
1
Pass North
Pass
Pass East
Pass
Pass South
2 NT
Lead: 7 Table
East plays the Q
If you duck twice, West exits with a spade
2 NT South A K J
K 5 4 3
A 9 5
K Q 3
Plays 1
2
3
4

5. None Vul A 4 3
Q 10 4
9 7 2
6 5 4 3 WEST
1
Pass North
Pass
3 NT East
Pass
All Pass South
2 NT
Lead: K Table
East plays the 9 and West continues with Q
If you duck twice, West shifts to the Q
3 NT South 8 7
A 6 2
A K J 10 5
A K 8
Plays 1
2
3
4

6. E-W Vul A 7 6 4
J
A K 7 5 4
A 4 3 West

Pass
Pass
Pass North

2
3
6 NT East

Pass
Pass
All Pass SOUTH
1 NT
2
3
Lead: K Table
6 NT South K Q
A K Q 10 9
10 6 3
10 8 6
Plays 1
2
3
4

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Quiz 8D41 Main Top Notrump Insight

1. None Vul	K 6 2 A J 5 A 3 2 J 10 3 2		`West` Pass All Pass	`NORTH` 1 Pass	`East` 1 2	`South` 1 NT 2 NT
Lead: 7		If you play low from dummy, East plays the 10
2 NT South	Q 9 4 K 8 7 Q 10 6 5 4 K 4	Plays	1	2	3	4

2. N-S Vul	6 5 A Q 10 J 10 4 Q 10 6 3 2		`West` Pass	North 3 NT	`EAST` Pass All Pass	South 1 NT
Lead: 4		East plays the 10
3 NT South	A Q 7 K J 7 6 A 5 3 K 5 4	Plays	1	2	3	4

3. E-W Vul	K 2 8 4 3 9 7 6 3 2 7 4 3		West Pass Pass	`North` 2 3 NT	East Pass All Pass	`SOUTH` 2 2 NT
Lead: Q		East overtakes with the K If you duck twice, East sheds a spade on third club
3 NT South	A Q 7 6 A Q 10 2 A K A 6 2	Plays	1	2	3	4

4. Both Vul	Q 10 4 2 10 9 Q 6 4 2 7 6 4		WEST 1 Pass	North Pass Pass	East Pass Pass	South 2 NT
Lead: 7		East plays the Q If you duck twice, West exits with a spade
2 NT South	A K J K 5 4 3 A 9 5 K Q 3	Plays	1	2	3	4

5. None Vul	A 4 3 Q 10 4 9 7 2 6 5 4 3		`WEST` 1 Pass	`North` Pass 3 NT	`East` Pass All Pass	`South` 2 NT
Lead: K		East plays the 9 and West continues with Q If you duck twice, West shifts to the Q
3 NT South	8 7 A 6 2 A K J 10 5 A K 8	Plays	1	2	3	4

6. E-W Vul	A 7 6 4 J A K 7 5 4 A 4 3		West Pass Pass Pass	`North` 2 3 6 NT	East Pass Pass All Pass	`SOUTH` 1 NT 2 3
Lead: K			West Pass Pass Pass	`North` 2 3 6 NT	East Pass Pass All Pass	`SOUTH` 1 NT 2 3
6 NT South	K Q A K Q 10 9 10 6 3 10 8 6	Plays	1	2	3	4