Quiz 8L21 Main

The Tell-Tale Heart Bids

by Richard Pavlicek

Not for the faint of heart!

Thump, thump. Oh, what to lead against these heart bids? Thump, thump… the sound grows louder as you finger one card after another. Thump, thump… the beat becomes deafening as a card finally hits the table! A great lead? Or a nightmare? Thud!

Choose your opening leads then click “Score Me” to see how you did. If you finish plus IMPs after 10 boards, you might even live to walk out of here. At the end you can view the actual deals and see how two experts led differently in each case.

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

Your lead? 2 5

2. E-W vul 4 West North East South
7 6 5 Table 4
Q J 5 Pass Pass Pass
10 5 4
7 6 4 3

Your lead? 5 3

3. E-W vul 4 West North East South
8 7 6 Table 1
5 2 Pass 3 Dbl 4
K Q 8 7 3 Pass Pass Pass
Q 7 6

Your lead? 6 K

4. N-S vul 2 West North East South
A 9 6 Table 1 1
9 8 7 2 2 2 Pass Pass
J 3 2 Pass
A 8 6

Your lead? 2 J

5. E-W vul 4 West North East South
J 5 4 Table Pass 1
K 3 Pass 1 NT Pass 2
J 6 5 3 Pass 4 Pass Pass
K 10 8 5 Pass

Your lead? 4 5

Quit
Top The Tell-Tale Heart Bids

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

Your lead? 3 A

Would you have led a spade? So would I, but only the real-life choices are offered here.

7. N-S vul 3 West North East South
J 5 4 Table Pass 2 NT
K Q 10 Pass 3 Pass 3
J 7 3 Pass Pass Pass
K J 10 8

Your lead? 4 J

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

Your lead? Q 3

9. Both vul 2 West North East South
K J 10 8 Table Pass 2
9 8 2 Pass Pass Pass
4 2
A Q J 9

Your lead? 4 Q

10. None vul 4 West North East South
A 8 7 5 Table Pass Pass 1
10 9 4 2 Pass 2 Pass 4
K 3 Pass Pass Pass
A 4 2

Your lead? A 2

Quit
Actual Results
Top The Tell-Tale Heart Bids

1. Olympiad Round-of-16 2000

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

Wubbo de Boer led the 4 (down 1) +100, +13 IMPs.
Matthias Thorvaldsson led the 6 (made 5) -650, -13 IMPs.

Note: Choices for this quiz assume standard leads, so the 2 and 5 were substituted for the 4 and 6 above.

2. Olympiad Qualifying 2000

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

Jacek Pszczola led the 6 (down 1) +50, +10 IMPs.
Philippe Coenraets led the 6 (made 4) -420, -10 IMPs.

3. Rosenblum Quarterfinal 2002

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

Apolinary Kowalski led the 7 (down 2) +100, +2 IMPs.
Giorgio Duboin led the Q (down 1) +50, -2 IMPs.

4. Vanderbilt Final 2006

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

Gunnar Hallberg led the J (down 1) +100, +5 IMPs.
Adam Zmudzinski led the 2 (made 2) -110, -5 IMPs.

Note: The standard lead from J-x-x in partner’s suit is low, but the jack also has merit so I left it as is.

5. USBC Round-of-16 2006

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

Jim Krekorian led the 4 (down 1) +50, +10 IMPs.
Mark Feldman led the 8 (made 4) -420, -10 IMPs.

Quiz 8L21 Main Top The Tell-Tale Heart Bids

6. USBC Round-of-32 2006

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

Will Ehlers led the A (made 4) -620, +2 IMPs.
Samuel Cohen led the 4 (made 6) -680, -2 IMPs.

7. World Championship Round-of-32 2006

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

Mark Lair led the J (down 1) +100, +6 IMPs.
Sjoert Brink led the 4 (made 3) -140, -6 IMPs.

8. World Championship Round-of-32 2006

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

Sjoert Brink led the Q (down 1) +100, +12 IMPs.
Mark Lair led the 6 (made 4) -620, -12 IMPs.

9. USBC Semifinal 2008

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

Lew Stansby led the 4 (made 2) -110, +4 IMPs.
Ralph Katz led the Q (made 4) -170, -4 IMPs.

10. Spingold Quarterfinal 2009

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

David Berkowitz led the 4 (down 2) +100, +11 IMPs.
Jacob Morgan led the A (made 5) -650, -11 IMPs.

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

Guess what? I’m not in a dismembering mood today, so I let you live to reach the end of this. Now beat it — before I change my mind!

Quiz 8L21 Main Top The Tell-Tale Heart Bids

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

Your lead? 2 5

2. E-W vul	4	West	`North`	East	`South`
7 6 5					4
Q J 5		Pass	Pass	Pass
10 5 4
7 6 4 3

Your lead? 5 3

3. E-W vul	4	West	`North`	East	`South`
8 7 6					1
5 2		Pass	3	Dbl	4
K Q 8 7 3		Pass	Pass	Pass
Q 7 6

Your lead? 6 K

4. N-S vul	2	`West`	North	`East`	South
A 9 6				1	1
9 8 7 2		2	2	Pass	Pass
J 3 2		Pass
A 8 6

Your lead? 2 J

5. E-W vul	4	West	`North`	East	`South`
J 5 4				Pass	1
K 3		Pass	1 NT	Pass	2
J 6 5 3		Pass	4	Pass	Pass
K 10 8 5		Pass

Your lead? 4 5

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

Your lead? 3 A

7. N-S vul	3	`West`	North	`East`	South
J 5 4				Pass	2 NT
K Q 10		Pass	3	Pass	3
J 7 3		Pass	Pass	Pass
K J 10 8

Your lead? 4 J

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

Your lead? Q 3

9. Both vul	2	West	North	East	South
K J 10 8				Pass	2
9 8 2		Pass	Pass	Pass
4 2
A Q J 9

Your lead? 4 Q

10. None vul	4	`West`	`North`	`East`	`South`
A 8 7 5			Pass	Pass	1
10 9 4 2		Pass	2	Pass	4
K 3		Pass	Pass	Pass
A 4 2

Your lead? A 2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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