Quiz 8L11 Main

Calling a Spade a Spade

by Richard Pavlicek

When you’re slapped, you’ll take it and like it!

Playing against Sam Spade, you find yourself on lead against 10 straight spade contracts. Choose the winning lead and you will win a priceless black bird, or at least a few falcon IMPs.

Choose your opening leads then click “Score Me” to see how you did. If you finish plus IMPs after 10 boards, you’re a falcon hero. At the end you can view the actual deals and see how two experts led differently in each case.

1. Both vul 1 × West North East South
K J 8 2 Table Pass Pass 1 Dbl
A 9 Rdbl Pass Pass 1
K 6 5 2 Dbl Pass Pass Pass
10 9 6

Your lead? A 10

2. E-W vul 2 West North East South
K 10 6 5 Table 1
K J 9 4 Pass 1 NT Pass 2
7 6 5 Pass 2 Pass Pass
K 4 Pass

Your lead? 5 K

3. N-S vul 2 West North East South
9 4 Table 1 NT
K 8 3 2 Pass 2 Pass 2
K Q 10 Pass Pass Pass
9 8 4 2

Your lead? K 2

4. N-S vul 3 West North East South
J 2 Table Pass
A 9 7 6 5 2 2 Dbl 3 3
10 6 3 Pass Pass Pass
K 3

Your lead? 6 3

5. None vul 2 West North East South
J 9 Table 1 2
K Q 4 Pass Pass Pass
K 10 8 5 4 3
10 6

Your lead? K 10

Quit
Top Calling a Spade a Spade

6. N-S vul 2 West North East South
2 Table 1 Pass 1 1
Q 4 2 2 Pass Pass
A Q 9 6 2 Pass
A 9 8 4 2

Your lead? Q 4

7. None vul 4 West North East South
8 6 5 Table Pass Pass 1
A Q 10 5 Pass 1 NT Pass 3
K 9 Pass 4 Pass Pass
9 8 7 5 Pass

Your lead? 6 K

8. Both vul 4 West North East South
5 3 Table 1 Pass 1
9 8 6 4 Pass 2 Pass 4
4 2 Pass Pass Pass
A 10 9 7 4

Your lead? 4 4

9. Both vul 4 West North East South
8 7 2 Table Pass 2 NT
A 9 7 6 3 Pass 3 Pass 3
8 7 Pass 4 Pass 4
J 9 4 Pass Pass Pass

Your lead? 8 4

10. N-S vul 2 West North East South
J 7 3 Table 1 1
Q 7 6 4 Dbl Pass 2 2
6 5 Pass Pass Pass
K J 10 7

Your lead? 3 J

Quit
Actual Results
Top Calling a Spade a Spade

1. USBC Playoff 1997

West deals Q 10 5 West North East South
Both vul 8 6 2 Pass Pass 1 Dbl
J 9 7 4 Rdbl Pass Pass 1
J 8 5 Dbl Pass Pass Pass
K J 8 2 Table 7 6
A 9 Q J 10 5 4 3
K 6 5 2 A 8
10 9 6 A Q 7
A 9 4 3
K 7
Q 10 3
1 × South K 4 3 2

Nick Nickell led the 10 (down 2) +500. Ralph Katz led the A (down 1) +200.

2. USBC Semifinal 2000

South deals 8 3 West North East South
E-W vul 5 3 1
A 10 4 2 Pass 1 NT Pass 2
Q 10 6 5 2 Pass 2 Pass Pass
K 10 6 5 Table J 9 Pass
K J 9 4 A 7 2
7 6 5 J 9 8
K 4 A J 8 7 3
A Q 7 4 2
Q 10 8 6
K Q 3
2 South 9

Howard Weinstein led the 5 (down 2) +100. Bob Hamman led the K (down 1) +50.

3. Bermuda Bowl Final 2001

South deals J 10 6 5 2 West North East South
N-S vul 9 7 4 1 NT
9 8 5 3 Pass 2 Pass 2
A Pass Pass Pass
9 4 Table A K 8 7
K 8 3 2 A J 10
K Q 10 J 6 4
9 8 4 2 10 7 3
Q 3
Q 6 5
A 7 2
2 South K Q J 6 5

Geir Helgemo led the K (down 2) +200. Alan Sontag led the 9 (made 2) -110.

Note: Choices offered by this quiz assume standard leads, so the 2 was substituted for Sontag’s 9.

4. USBC Semifinal 2002

South deals K 8 6 West North East South
N-S vul K 8 4 Pass
A 5 2 2 Dbl 3 3
A J 9 8 Pass Pass Pass
J 2 Table A Q 7 5
A 9 7 6 5 2 J 10 3
10 6 3 9 7
K 3 Q 7 6 4
10 9 4 3
Q
K Q J 8 4
3 South 10 5 2

David Berkowitz led the 3 (down 1) +100. Fred Gitelman led the 7 (made 3) -140.

5. Vanderbilt Final 2004

East deals A 8 West North East South
None vul J 9 5 3 1 2
9 Pass Pass Pass
K Q J 8 4 3
J 9 Table K 7 3
K Q 4 A 8 6 2
K 10 8 5 4 3 J 7
10 6 A 9 7 2
Q 10 6 5 4 2
10 7
A Q 6 2
2 South 5

Alfredo Versace led the K (down 2) +100. Steve Robinson led the 10 (made 2) -110.

Quiz 8L11 Main Top Calling a Spade a Spade

6. USBC Quarterfinal 2004

West deals J 6 5 West North East South
N-S vul K 10 9 7 1 Pass 1 1
10 8 2 2 Pass Pass
K J 6 3 Pass
2 Table Q 10 7 4
Q 4 A J 8 3 2
A Q 9 6 2 7
A 9 8 4 2 10 7 5
A K 9 8 3
6 5
K J 5 4 3
2 South Q

Sidney Lazard led the Q (down 3) +300. Bob Hamman led the 2 (down 1) +100.

7. Olympiad Quarterfinal 2004

North deals 10 3 West North East South
None vul K J 8 7 6 Pass Pass 1
Q 6 3 2 Pass 1 NT Pass 3
K 2 Pass 4 Pass Pass
8 6 5 Table J 4 Pass
A Q 10 5 9 4 2
K 9 A 10 7 4
9 8 7 5 Q J 10 4
A K Q 9 7 2
3
J 8 5
4 South A 6 3

Hugh McGann led the K (down 1) +50. Sjoert Brink led the 6 (made 4) -420.

8. USBC Round-of-16 2009

North deals A K 8 West North East South
Both vul 10 7 5 2 1 Pass 1
A 10 9 7 5 Pass 2 Pass 4
K Pass Pass Pass
5 3 Table J 7 6
9 8 6 4 A Q 3
4 2 Q 8 6
A 10 9 7 4 6 5 3 2
Q 10 9 4 2
K J
K J 3
4 South Q J 8

Peter Boyd led the 6 (made 4) -620. Lew Stansby led the 4 (made 6) -680.

9. Bermuda Bowl Final 2009

East deals Q J 6 4 3 West North East South
Both vul 8 Pass 2 NT
Q J 6 4 Pass 3 Pass 3
A 6 5 Pass 4 Pass 4
8 7 2 Table 9 5 Pass Pass Pass
A 9 7 6 3 10 5 4
8 7 9 5 3 2
J 9 4 K Q 3 2
A K 10
K Q J 2
A K 10
4 South 10 8 7

Jeff Meckstroth led the 4 (made 4) -620. Giorgio Duboin led the 2 (made 6) -680.

10. Bermuda Bowl Qualifying 2009

East deals 5 West North East South
N-S vul J 9 8 5 1 1
Q J 8 7 4 Dbl Pass 2 2
A 6 2 Pass Pass Pass
J 7 3 Table 10 9 8
Q 7 6 4 A K 3 2
6 5 A 9 2
K J 10 7 Q 8 4
A K Q 6 4 2
10
K 10 3
2 South 9 5 3

Carlos Pelligrini led the 10 (made 3) -140. Gabriel Chagas led the 3 (made 5) -200.

Results are from actual play, so the winning leads are not necessarily correct in theory.

If you finished with plus IMPs, I’m sorry to inform you: I just ran out of priceless black birds, so you’ll have to settle for a rubber ducky. No, wait! I’m out of them too, so take your falcon IMPs and get out of here!

Quiz 8L11 Main Top Calling a Spade a Spade

Credits to Dashiell Hammett (1894-1961) and The Maltese Falcon
Photo is Humphrey Bogart as Sam Spade in the 1941 film
© 2009 Richard Pavlicek

1. Both vul	1 ×	West	North	East	South
K J 8 2		Pass	Pass	1	Dbl
A 9		Rdbl	Pass	Pass	1
K 6 5 2		Dbl	Pass	Pass	Pass
10 9 6

Your lead? A 10

2. E-W vul	2	West	`North`	East	`South`
K 10 6 5					1
K J 9 4		Pass	1 NT	Pass	2
7 6 5		Pass	2	Pass	Pass
K 4		Pass

Your lead? 5 K

3. N-S vul	2	`West`	North	`East`	South
9 4					1 NT
K 8 3 2		Pass	2	Pass	2
K Q 10		Pass	Pass	Pass
9 8 4 2

Your lead? K 2

4. N-S vul	3	`West`	North	`East`	South
J 2					Pass
A 9 7 6 5 2		2	Dbl	3	3
10 6 3		Pass	Pass	Pass
K 3

Your lead? 6 3

5. None vul	2	`West`	`North`	`East`	`South`
J 9				1	2
K Q 4		Pass	Pass	Pass
K 10 8 5 4 3
10 6

Your lead? K 10

6. N-S vul	2	`West`	North	`East`	South
2		1	Pass	1	1
Q 4		2	2	Pass	Pass
A Q 9 6 2		Pass
A 9 8 4 2

Your lead? Q 4

7. None vul	4	`West`	`North`	`East`	`South`
8 6 5			Pass	Pass	1
A Q 10 5		Pass	1 NT	Pass	3
K 9		Pass	4	Pass	Pass
9 8 7 5		Pass

Your lead? 6 K

8. Both vul	4	West	North	East	South
5 3			1	Pass	1
9 8 6 4		Pass	2	Pass	4
4 2		Pass	Pass	Pass
A 10 9 7 4

Your lead? 4 4

9. Both vul	4	West	North	East	South
8 7 2				Pass	2 NT
A 9 7 6 3		Pass	3	Pass	3
8 7		Pass	4	Pass	4
J 9 4		Pass	Pass	Pass

Your lead? 8 4

10. N-S vul	2	`West`	North	`East`	South
J 7 3				1	1
Q 7 6 4		Dbl	Pass	2	2
6 5		Pass	Pass	Pass
K J 10 7

Your lead? 3 J

West deals	Q 10 5		West	North	East	South
Both vul	8 6 2		Pass	Pass	1	Dbl
	J 9 7 4		Rdbl	Pass	Pass	1
	J 8 5		Dbl	Pass	Pass	Pass
K J 8 2		7 6
A 9		Q J 10 5 4 3
K 6 5 2		A 8
10 9 6		A Q 7
	A 9 4 3
	K 7
	Q 10 3
1 × South	K 4 3 2

South deals	8 3		West	`North`	East	`South`
E-W vul	5 3					1
	A 10 4 2		Pass	1 NT	Pass	2
	Q 10 6 5 2		Pass	2	Pass	Pass
K 10 6 5		J 9	Pass
K J 9 4		A 7 2
7 6 5		J 9 8
K 4		A J 8 7 3
	A Q 7 4 2
	Q 10 8 6
	K Q 3
2 South	9

South deals	J 10 6 5 2		`West`	North	`East`	South
N-S vul	9 7 4					1 NT
	9 8 5 3		Pass	2	Pass	2
	A		Pass	Pass	Pass
9 4		A K 8 7
K 8 3 2		A J 10
K Q 10		J 6 4
9 8 4 2		10 7 3
	Q 3
	Q 6 5
	A 7 2
2 South	K Q J 6 5

South deals	K 8 6		`West`	North	`East`	South
N-S vul	K 8 4					Pass
	A 5 2		2	Dbl	3	3
	A J 9 8		Pass	Pass	Pass
J 2		A Q 7 5
A 9 7 6 5 2		J 10 3
10 6 3		9 7
K 3		Q 7 6 4
	10 9 4 3
	Q
	K Q J 8 4
3 South	10 5 2

East deals	A 8		`West`	`North`	`East`	`South`
None vul	J 9 5 3				1	2
	9		Pass	Pass	Pass
	K Q J 8 4 3
J 9		K 7 3
K Q 4		A 8 6 2
K 10 8 5 4 3		J 7
10 6		A 9 7 2
	Q 10 6 5 4 2
	10 7
	A Q 6 2
2 South	5

West deals	J 6 5		`West`	North	`East`	South
N-S vul	K 10 9 7		1	Pass	1	1
	10 8		2	2	Pass	Pass
	K J 6 3		Pass
2		Q 10 7 4
Q 4		A J 8 3 2
A Q 9 6 2		7
A 9 8 4 2		10 7 5
	A K 9 8 3
	6 5
	K J 5 4 3
2 South	Q

North deals	10 3		`West`	`North`	`East`	`South`
None vul	K J 8 7 6			Pass	Pass	1
	Q 6 3 2		Pass	1 NT	Pass	3
	K 2		Pass	4	Pass	Pass
8 6 5		J 4	Pass
A Q 10 5		9 4 2
K 9		A 10 7 4
9 8 7 5		Q J 10 4
	A K Q 9 7 2
	3
	J 8 5
4 South	A 6 3

North deals	A K 8		West	North	East	South
Both vul	10 7 5 2			1	Pass	1
	A 10 9 7 5		Pass	2	Pass	4
	K		Pass	Pass	Pass
5 3		J 7 6
9 8 6 4		A Q 3
4 2		Q 8 6
A 10 9 7 4		6 5 3 2
	Q 10 9 4 2
	K J
	K J 3
4 South	Q J 8

East deals	Q J 6 4 3		West	North	East	South
Both vul	8				Pass	2 NT
	Q J 6 4		Pass	3	Pass	3
	A 6 5		Pass	4	Pass	4
8 7 2		9 5	Pass	Pass	Pass
A 9 7 6 3		10 5 4
8 7		9 5 3 2
J 9 4		K Q 3 2
	A K 10
	K Q J 2
	A K 10
4 South	10 8 7