Puzzle 8Q59 Main

Crooked Swiss

by Richard Pavlicek

Once a month I run a Swiss team game in our ward, which is quite a challenge. With all the subterfuge and unethical behavior, I get many director calls, for which I seldom need a rule book but only a formidable presence to inhibit fist fights. On the first round of our February game, a bellowing “DI—REC—TOR” call came from Herman’s table.

Board 25 4 West North East South
E-W vul A K Q 7 Clyde Sharko Rocco Herman
A 10 8 6 3 1 1 ! 1 NT
A J 9 2 3 Dbl! 3 NT
A 10 8 7 6 5 Table Q 2 Pass Pass Pass
9 8 2 6 5 3
5 4 2 Q J 9
4 K Q 10 8 3
K J 9 3
J 10 4
3 NT South K 7
West leads 7 6 5 2

I rushed to the table to find Herman was livid.

“You won’t believe these animals!” exclaimed Herman. “Rocco overcalls a spade on a doubleton vulnerable, and then doubles my partner’s cue-bid for the lead. Not only does Clyde make a wimpy raise to just two spades, but against three notrump he leads his singleton club, which was the only lead to set me! They have to be cheating, and I demand a score adjustment.”

“I forgot the contract,” Clyde explained, “and was trying for a ruff.”

“Of course!” confirmed Rocco. “My partner is very forgetful at times.”

“Yeah, sure,” countered Sharko, “and I say Clyde is a lying piece of…”

“Whoa!” I broke in quickly. “Let’s all calm down. Everyone knows that Rocco is a chronic psycher, so his bids and doubles don’t mean much, and Clyde may be telling the truth. Therefore, I must let the result stand.”

“Thank you,” acknowledged Rocco, “and while you’re here, the real cheater at this table is Sharko! He shuffled and dealt two boards, 22 and 25, and ends up with a very strong hand on both. Coincidence? I don’t think so. He is stacking the deck!”

Deja vu, I thought to myself, as I’ve heard this complaint before. “There is no proof of your allegation against Sharko, but you may be on to something. I’ll think about it.” When the round finished, I made an announcement over the loudspeaker, “Find your places please for Round 2! And if you play against Sharko, don’t let him make any boards!”

Time out for a puzzle! Suppose Sharko stacks the deck to deal himself three aces and a king, and the remaining 48 cards are distributed at random. For the stacked deals, test your analytic ability by answering two questions, the first to the nearest hundredth (e.g., 17.76):

1. What would be Sharko’s average (mean) number of HCP?

2. What would be Sharko’s most common (mode) number of HCP?

Before you leave, I have one more question. In a seven-board Swiss match, Sharko had all plus scores, and so did his teammates except for one board, yet they lost the match. There were no doubled or redoubled contracts.

3. What was the board number of their minus score?

Puzzle 8Q59 Main Top Crooked Swiss

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Puzzle 8Q59 Main Top Crooked Swiss

Board 25	4		West	`North`	East	`South`
E-W vul	A K Q 7		Clyde	Sharko	Rocco	Herman
	A 10 8 6 3			1	1 !	1 NT
	A J 9		2	3	Dbl!	3 NT
A 10 8 7 6 5		Q 2	Pass	Pass	Pass
9 8 2		6 5 3
5 4 2		Q J 9
4		K Q 10 8 3
	K J 9 3
	J 10 4
3 NT South	K 7
West leads	7 6 5 2