Quiz 8L51   Main


Triskaidekaphobia


  by Richard Pavlicek

Formidable foe or kissing cousin,
All beware the baker’s dozen!

As West you are the opening leader on these 13 deals from major events in 2013. Decide which of your 13 cards you would lead, then enter its suit and rank. For example, if you would lead the C 3, type C3.

In case you’re not worried about the number 13 already, remember that bridge is a timed event. You have 13 minutes to choose 13 opening leads. After that I will have to pull the plug on your computer! I’ll start you out with an easy one (only 2 IMPs at stake on Problem 1), and your clock won’t start until you enter your first answer.

After you have chosen all your leads, go back and compare your choices with the two experts who faced the exact same situation in real life and led differently. Click “Score Me” at any time to see your running score. Your goal is to be plus IMPs at the end. Good luck!

Problem 1

IMPsNone VulWest

Pass
Pass		North

3 NT		EAST
Pass
Pass		South
2 NT
Pass

S A Q 10 8
H K J 8 6
D 8 7 3
C 7 3		Table

Your lead against 3 NT        


In real life…

2013 Bermuda Bowl Qualifying, USA2 vs Brazil

3 NT South S 5 3 2
H 7 5
D A J 2
C Q 9 8 6 2
S A Q 10 8
H K J 8 6
D 8 7 3
C 7 3		Table S K 9 7 6
H 10 4 3
D 10 9 6 4
C 10 4
West leadsS J 4
H A Q 9 2
D K Q 5
C A K J 5

Marty Fleisher led the D 8. Made 3, -400.
Joao-Paulo Campos led the H 6. Made 5, -460.

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Problem 2

IMPsBoth VulWest

1 S
Pass		NORTH
1 D
2 D
Pass		East
Pass
Pass
Pass		South
1 H
3 NT

S A 10 9 6 4
H Q J 8 5
D J 3
C A 5		Table

Your lead against 3 NT        


In real life…

2013 Bermuda Bowl Qualifying, Indonesia vs England

3 NT South S 8 3
H 2
D A K Q 10 9 8
C Q J 8 3
S A 10 9 6 4
H Q J 8 5
D J 3
C A 5		Table S 7 5 2
H A 10 7 4
D 7 5 4
C 7 6 4
West leadsS K Q J
H K 9 6 3
D 6 2
C K 10 9 2

Taufik Asbi led the H Q. Down 1, +100.
David Bakhshi led the C A. Made 4, -630.

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Problem 3

IMPsBoth VulWest

Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass		North

1 H
3 D
4 S		EAST
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass		South
Pass
1 S
3 NT
Pass

S 7 5
H 6 4 2
D Q 8
C A 8 5 4 3 2		Table

Your lead against 4 S        


In real life…

2013 Bermuda Bowl Qualifying, Brazil vs England

4 S South S A K 8
H A J 10 7 5
D A K 10 5 4
C —
S 7 5
H 6 4 2
D Q 8
C A 8 5 4 3 2		Table S Q 9 3 2
H K Q 3
D J 6 2
C J 10 9
West leadsS J 10 6 4
H 9 8
D 9 7 3
C K Q 7 6

Paulo Brum led the S 5. Down 3, +300.
David Gold led the C 3. Made 4, -620.

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Problem 4

IMPsE-W VulWest

Pass
Pass		North

1 NT
Pass		EAST
Pass
Pass
Pass		South
1 S
2 H

S K 10 9 8
H J 8
D A K 9 6
C Q 9 8		Table

Your lead against 2 H        


In real life…

2013 Bermuda Bowl Qualifying, Italy vs South Africa

2 H South S —
H 10 5 3
D Q J 8 4 3 2
C A 10 7 3
S K 10 9 8
H J 8
D A K 9 6
C Q 9 8		Table S Q J 5 2
H A 9 4 2
D 5
C J 6 5 4
West leadsS A 7 6 4 3
H K Q 7 6
D 10 7
C K 2

Lorenzo Lauria led the H J. Down 2, +100.
Neville Eber led the D A. Made 2, -110.

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Problem 5

IMPsBoth VulWest

1 S
3 S
Pass		North

Dbl
Dbl
Pass		East

2 S
Pass
Pass		SOUTH
1 C
Pass
4 H

S A Q 7 5 4 2
H 8 3
D K J 10
C 5 4		Table

Your lead against 4 H        


In real life…

2013 Spingold Final, Bridge24 vs Grue

4 H South S 6
H A 10 6 5
D A 9 7 6 2
C Q J 9
S A Q 7 5 4 2
H 8 3
D K J 10
C 5 4		Table S J 10 8
H Q 4 2
D 4 3
C A 10 8 7 2
West leadsS K 9 3
H K J 9 7
D Q 8 5
C K 6 3

Michal Nowosadzki led the S A. Down 1, +100.
Joe Grue led the D J. Made 4, -620.

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Problem 6

IMPsN-S VulWest

Pass
Pass
Pass		NORTH
Pass
3 C1
3 S
Pass		East
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass		South
1 NT
3 D
3 NT

1. singleton club

S J 9 7
H J 7 6 3 2
D 10
C Q J 7 4		Table

Your lead against 3 NT        


In real life…

2013 Spingold Quarterfinal, Bridge24 vs Nickell

3 NT South S Q 6 4
H 10 9 8 5
D A 9 8 6 4
C K
S J 9 7
H J 7 6 3 2
D 10
C Q J 7 4		Table S 10 8 3 2
H Q
D Q J 7 2
C A 6 5 2
West leadsS A K 5
H A K 4
D K 5 3
C 10 9 8 3

Rafal Jagniewski led the C 4. Down 1, +100.
Jeff Meckstroth led the C J. Made 4, -630.

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Problem 7

IMPsBoth VulWest

Pass
Pass
Pass		North

1 NT
2 S		EAST
Pass
Pass
Pass		South
1 S
2 D
Pass

S K 9 8 3
H A
D 10 8 7 4
C 10 9 5 3		Table

Your lead against 2 S        


In real life…

2013 USBC Quarterfinal, Fleisher vs Milner

2 S South S 4 2
H K 9 5 4 2
D 9
C A Q 8 6 2
S K 9 8 3
H A
D 10 8 7 4
C 10 9 5 3		Table S J 7
H Q J 10 8 7
D Q J 6 5
C K 7
West leadsS A Q 10 6 5
H 6 3
D A K 3 2
C J 4

Michael Rosenberg led the H A. Down 1, +100.
John Schermer led the C 10. Made 2, -110.

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Problem 8

IMPsE-W VulWest

Pass
Pass
Pass		North

2 C
3 NT		EAST
Pass
Pass
Pass		South
1 NT
2 D
Pass

S J 8 7
H A 10 7 2
D 9 8 6 2
C 5 4		Table

Your lead against 3 NT        


In real life…

2013 USBC Quarterfinal, Milner vs Fleisher

3 NT South S A 10
H J 8 4 3
D 10 7
C A J 8 7 3
S J 8 7
H A 10 7 2
D 9 8 6 2
C 5 4		Table S K Q 9 3
H 9 6
D A J 4 3
C 10 9 6
West leadsS 6 5 4 2
H K Q 5
D K Q 5
C K Q 2

Neil Chambers led the S J. Down 1, +50.
Chris Willenken led the H 2. Made 3, -400.

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Problem 9

IMPsNone VulWEST
Pass
Pass		North
Pass
Pass		East
1 D
Pass		South
2 H1

1. both majors

S Q 8 7 6
H K 10 5
D Q J
C J 7 4 2		Table

Your lead against 2 H        


In real life…

2013 USBC Quarterfinal, Kranyak vs Diamond

2 H South S 10
H 6 4
D A 9 8 7 6 5
C A 10 9 3
S Q 8 7 6
H K 10 5
D Q J
C J 7 4 2		Table S K J 2
H A J 8
D K 4 3 2
C 8 6 5
West leadsS A 9 5 4 3
H Q 9 7 3 2
D 10
C K Q

Kevin Dwyer led the H 5. Down 1, +50.
Brian Platnick led the D Q. Made 3, -140.

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Problem 10

IMPsBoth VulWest

Pass
Pass		NORTH
1 D
1 S
Pass		East
Pass
Pass
Pass		South
1 H
1 NT

S 9 8 6 3
H A Q 6 3
D Q 10 2
C 6 4		Table

Your lead against 1 NT        


In real life…

2013 USBC Quarterfinal, Nickell vs Mahaffey

1 NT South S K Q 4 2
H K 9 7
D J 6 3
C K 8 2
S 9 8 6 3
H A Q 6 3
D Q 10 2
C 6 4		Table S A J 5
H 10 2
D A 9 7 5 4
C Q 10 9
West leadsS 10 7
H J 8 5 4
D K 8
C A J 7 5 3

Bobby Levin led the S 6. Down 1, +100.
Jim Mahaffey led the C 6. Made 3, -150.

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Problem 11

IMPsN-S VulWest

Pass
Pass		North

2 H
Pass		East

Pass
Pass		SOUTH
1 NT
2 S

S 6 4
H K 9 8 7 4
D 7 6 5
C 10 8 4		Table

Your lead against 2 S        


In real life…

2013 USBC Quarterfinal, Nickell vs Mahaffey

2 S South S K 7 5 3 2
H 10 3 2
D J 8
C J 7 3
S 6 4
H K 9 8 7 4
D 7 6 5
C 10 8 4		Table S Q J 10 8
H A 6 5
D A 9 3
C K Q 6
West leadsS A 9
H Q J
D K Q 10 4 2
C A 9 5 2

Bobby Levin led the C 4. Down 1, +100.
Sam Lev led the D 6. Made 2, -110.

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Problem 12

IMPsBoth VulWest

Pass
Pass
Pass		North

2 C
3 NT		East

Pass
Pass		SOUTH
1 NT
2 D
Pass

S J 5 2
H 5 4
D K 10 3 2
C K 9 5 4		Table

Your lead against 3 NT        


In real life…

2013 USBC Quarterfinal, Nickell vs Gordon

3 NT South S K 10 9 4
H K 10
D 9 7
C Q J 10 6 3
S J 5 2
H 5 4
D K 10 3 2
C K 9 5 4		Table S A 8 3
H J 9 8 6 3 2
D Q J 4
C 7
West leadsS Q 7 6
H A Q 7
D A 8 6 5
C A 8 2

Nick Nickell led the D 2. Down 1, +100.
Michael Seamon led the H 5. Made 5, -660.

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Problem 13

IMPsNone VulWest

3 D
Pass		North

4 S		EAST
Pass
Pass		South
2 S
Pass

S A
H 10 9 7
D A Q 10 5 4 3 2
C K J		Table

Your lead against 4 S        


In real life…

2013 USBC Round of 16, Diamond vs Milner

4 S South S K 7 2
H A K 8 3 2
D J 8 6
C 9 3
S A
H 10 9 7
D A Q 10 5 4 3 2
C K J		Table S J 9 5
H Q J 6 5 4
D K
C 8 7 6 4
West leadsS Q 10 8 6 4 3
H —
D 9 7
C A Q 10 5 2

Geoff Hampson led the D A. Down 1, +50.
Chris Compton led the H 10. Made 4, -420.

Alert! If you haven’t already, go back and compare each of your lead choices with those of two experts in real life.

Results and IMP scores are determined from actual play, so the winning lead is not necessarily correct in theory nor proves anything. This is the way it happened! Scoring gives full credit (plus IMPs) to any lead that would have worked as well as the winning lead.

Was 13 a good number for you? If you finished on the plus side, you can scratch triskaidekaphobia off your list! If not, gin rummy may be the game for you, with only 10 cards!

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© 2013 Richard Triskaideka-Pavlicek