Quiz 8D65 Main

Chamber of Horrors

by Richard Pavlicek

Welcome, ladies and gentlemen! You are about to witness the most lifelike figures ever created in wax. Please note that food and drink, cameras, or recording devices of any kind are prohibited, and conversation must be held to a whisper. This way, please.

As my first exhibit I present Joan of Arc, who was mercilessly burned at the stake for heresy at the age of 19. After her horrific death, her charred remains were burned over and over into powdery ashes to remove any trace of her existence from souvenir seekers.

Lady! Move away from that figure! Waxworks are extremely delicate and must never be touched. The facial features may appear real, but that is the artistry of my hands, aided by my assistant Igor. I assure you they’re entirely wax, except for clothing and hair strands.

At the right you will see my creation of Marie Antoinette, that is, before her head was severed by guillotine at the age of 37 — which I consider a triumph, reaching almost double the age of Joan. Perhaps she could have added a few more years if she had changed her catchphrase to: Let them eat wax.

Warning! My next six exhibits are dangerously close to a towering guillotine, which is not made of wax. Its razor-sharp, tempered-steel blade could sever six heads as easily as one, so keep this in mind as you test your declarer play on these problems at IMP scoring. Opponents use standard leads and signals.

For each problem enter eight cards (e.g., CK) 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.

This way, please. Walk to the left for your safety, and try not to make any horrific plays.

1. None Vul A J 7 5 2
A K Q 3
Q 3 2
2 West

Pass
Pass NORTH
1
2
3 NT East
Pass
Pass
All Pass South
1 NT
2 NT
Lead: 6 Table
East plays the J
If you duck, East returns the 9 and West plays the 5
3 NT South 8 6
7 4 2
A K 6 5
K Q 4 3
Plays 1
2
3
4

2. N-S Vul 7 5 4
7 6 5 4 3
J 8 3
A J West

Pass
All Pass North

3 East

Pass SOUTH
2 NT
4
Lead: 9 Table
East plays the 6
East pitches the 10 on the first trump lead
4 South A Q 3 2
A K Q
A K
6 5 4 3
Plays 1
2
3
4

3. E-W Vul Q J 10
A 7 4 2
4 2
K Q 5 3 West

Pass
All Pass NORTH
1
2 East
Pass
Pass South
1
4
Lead: Q Table East plays the 7
4 South K 9 8 7 6
K 10 3
A 8 5
10 4
Plays 1
2
3
4

4. Both Vul K J 10 9 8
A K 7 5 2
8
Q 4 West

Pass
Pass NORTH
1
2
Pass East
Pass
Pass
Dbl South
2
6
All Pass
Lead: 5 Table
East ruffs the first trick (as advertised by his double)
East returns the Q and West plays the 10
6 × South A 4
4
A K Q J 10 9
A 8 6 3
Plays 1
2
3
4

5. None Vul K 5
7 6 4 3
7 6 2
A 6 4 2 West

Pass
Pass North

3
5 EAST
3
Pass
Pass South
Dbl
4
6
Lead: Q Table
East plays the 2
East pitches the Q on the first trump lead
6 South A Q J 9 7 3
A K
A K 3
K 5
Plays 1
2
3
4

6. N-S Vul 7 6 5
9 3
A K J 7 3
A 10 6 West

Pass
All Pass NORTH
1
5 East
2
Pass South
4 NT
7 NT
Lead: K Table East (void in spades) pitches the 2
7 NT South A J 10 2
A K J 10 4
Q
K Q 2
Plays 1
2
3
4

To check that all your plays are valid, click

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Quiz 8D65 Main Top Chamber of Horrors

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

2. N-S Vul	7 5 4 7 6 5 4 3 J 8 3 A J		`West` Pass All Pass	North 3	`East` Pass	SOUTH 2 NT 4
Lead: 9		East plays the 6 East pitches the 10 on the first trump lead
4 South	A Q 3 2 A K Q A K 6 5 4 3	Plays	1	2	3	4

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

4. Both Vul	K J 10 9 8 A K 7 5 2 8 Q 4		West Pass Pass	NORTH 1 2 Pass	East Pass Pass Dbl	South 2 6 All Pass
Lead: 5		East ruffs the first trick (as advertised by his double) East returns the Q and West plays the 10
6 × South	A 4 4 A K Q J 10 9 A 8 6 3	Plays	1	2	3	4

5. None Vul	K 5 7 6 4 3 7 6 2 A 6 4 2		`West` Pass Pass	`North` 3 5	`EAST` 3 Pass Pass	`South` Dbl 4 6
Lead: Q		East plays the 2 East pitches the Q on the first trump lead
6 South	A Q J 9 7 3 A K A K 3 K 5	Plays	1	2	3	4

6. N-S Vul	7 6 5 9 3 A K J 7 3 A 10 6		`West` Pass All Pass	NORTH 1 5	`East` 2 Pass	South 4 NT 7 NT
Lead: K		East (void in spades) pitches the 2
7 NT South	A J 10 2 A K J 10 4 Q K Q 2	Plays	1	2	3	4