Challenge 8X33 Main Analyses

Par for the Course

by Richard Pavlicek

Besides golf, what do Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and Phil Mickelson have in common? Answer: They’d all flunk this bridge challenge! But then, you wouldn’t do so well in the U.S. Open at Pinehurst. To even things up a bit, put on your golf shoes! You will play six holes (four Par 4’s, one Par 5, one Par 3) in the identical order of Holes 1-6 at the daunting Pinehurst No. 2 course.

As declarer, try to find the best play to make each contract from Options A-F, which will be rated on a 1-to-10 scale per my judgment. Even par is great, so don’t worry about overtricks!

Bidding is standard (unless noted). Opponents use standard leads and signals.
For a reference see Standard American Bridge. Assume all players are experts.

In June 2005 these six problems were presented as a contest with 966 entrants from 115 locations around the world. The contest is closed, but you can still quiz yourself and find your score immediately. If you’re lucky, you might even win a valuable prize.*

*Prizes include three sets of uranium-shafted clubs, and six dozen plutonium-core balls. Winners must be at least 18 years of age
and have won at least one major, and I don’t mean hearts or spades. Employees of PavCo Shafts ‘R’ Us are ineligible.

Your name has just been announced, so head over to the first tee. Warning: Stay clear of the bunkers! A solid drive in the fairway should leave you just a short iron to the green. Fore!

Hole 1 par 4

IMPs	Q 9 3 2		`West`	`North`	`East`	`South`
None vul	Q		LHO	Partner	RHO	You
	A Q J 10 5 2			1	Pass	1
	A 5		2	3	4	4
			Pass	Pass	Pass
Lead: K		East plays 7
Lead: K		East plays 7

	K J 10 8
	10 4 2
	K 7
4 South	J 9 3 2

West continues with the A. Your play?

A. Ruff, win J, lead 10
B. Ruff, win J, ruff heart
C. Ruff, win J, run diamonds
D. Ruff, win K, ruff heart
E. Ruff, run diamonds
F. Pitch a club

Hole 2 par 4

IMPs	7 6 4 3		`West`	North	`East`	South
N-S vul	J 10		LHO	Partner	RHO	You
	5 4 2				1 NT	2
	A K 4 2		2	3	3	4
			Pass	Pass	Dbl	Pass
Lead: Q		East wins K	Pass	Pass
Lead: Q		East wins K

	8
	K Q 7 6 4 2
	A Q
4 × South	9 6 5 3

East continues with the A. Your play?

A. Ruff, win J, lead 10
B. Ruff, win J, finesse Q
C. Ruff, win J, A-K
D. Ruff, win A-K
E. Ruff, duck a club
F. Pitch a club

Hole 3 par 4

IMPs	Q 2	West	`North`	East	`South`
E-W vul	A 2	LHO	Partner	RHO	You
	K 8 6 4 2				1
	Q 7 6 3	Pass	2	Pass	2
		Pass	3	Pass	4
Lead: 9		Pass	Pass	Pass
Lead: 9

	K J 9 8 7 6
	K 10 3
	A 7
4 South	4 2

East plays the J if you play 2 (else the 7). Your play?

A. Win A, K, ruff heart
B. Win A, A, K, ruff diamond
C. Win K, lead J
D. Win K, lead 6
E. Win K, A, K, ruff diamond
F. Win K, lead a club

Hole 4 par 5

IMPs	10 3		West	North	East	South
Both vul	A Q J 7 5		LHO	Partner	RHO	You
	Q J 2		Pass	1	1	Pass
	A K Q		2	Dbl	Pass	4
			Pass	5	Pass	Pass
Lead: 2		East pitches 7	Pass
Lead: 2		East pitches 7

	9 5 2
	2
	A 10 5
5 South	J 10 7 6 4 3

After winning the A, what next?

A. Lead the 10
B. Lead the 3
C. Win A, run Q
D. Run the Q
E. Finesse 10, lead a spade
F. Finesse 10, finesse Q

Hole 5 par 4

IMPs	A Q 4	`West`	North	`East`	South
N-S vul	A K 3	LHO	Partner	RHO	You
	8 6 5 4		1	Pass	1
	9 3 2	2	Pass	Pass	3
		Pass	4	Pass	Pass
Lead: 6		Pass
Lead: 6

	7 5
	Q J 10 9 2
	A Q
4 South	8 6 5 4

West finds another great trump lead! Your play?

A. Win A, finesse Q, finesse Q
B. Win A, finesse Q, lead a club
C. Win A, lead a club
D. Win Q, finesse Q, finesse Q
E. Win Q, finesse Q, lead a club
F. Win Q, lead a club

Hole 6 par 3

IMPs	K 6 2		West	`North`	East	`South`
E-W vul	Q J 3 2		LHO	Partner	RHO	You
	Q 7 4				Pass	1
	A J 9		Pass	1	Pass	1 NT
			Pass	3 NT	Pass	Pass
Lead: J		East plays 8	Pass
Lead: J		East plays 8

	A 9 4
	A K 4
	8 5 3
3 NT South	Q 8 3 2

Finally, a notrump bid! Your play?

A. Win K, K, run Q
B. Win K, K, finesse J
C. Win K, run hearts
D. Win A, run Q
E. Win A, finesse J
F. Win A, finesse 9

Click to see how you did

Challenge 8X33 Main Analyses Scores Top Par for the Course