Challenge 8X41 Main Analyses

The Man Who Bid Too Much

by Richard Pavlicek

After a harrowing experience in Marrakech, you arrive in London to search for your kidnapped son. You hail a cab and shout, “Scotland Yard and hurry!” Alas, the Arabic driver has other ideas. The doors lock shut, and you are whisked away.

Half an hour later you arrive at the Moroccan Embassy. “Welcome, Dr. and Mrs. McKenna,” the Ambassador flaunts, as he reaches out to take Jo’s hand. “What a pleasure to meet you! I’ve heard so much of your bridge exploits. Our Consul General is also a bridge player, so I trust you’ll have time for a few rubbers.”

You see through the Ambassador’s scheme, of course, but his armed guards are real. It looks like you’ll have to play along. This could be your last hurrah, so you decide to let it all out and bid for the sky.

The foreign intrigue mounts. The Ambassador is incensed by your overbids and decrees you must make every contract, or be held captive at the Embassy. Oh dear! You’d better choose your plays carefully from Options A-F, each of which will be rated on a 1-to-10 scale per my judgment.

Bidding is standard (except as noted) and opponents use standard leads and signals.
For a reference see Standard American Bridge. The Ambassador (West) and General (East) are good players, not experts.

In August 2005 these six problems were presented as a contest with 897 entrants from 113 locations around the world. The contest is now 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 the entire Hitchcock archive on microfilm, and lifetime free burgers at the Marrakech McDonalds (sorry, no fries with that).
Winners must be at least 18 years of age and born in the 21st Century. Employees of PavCo Internet Scams are ineligible.

Good luck in your survival! The bidding may make you ill, but remember: The future’s not ours to see… What will be, will be.

Problem 1

Rubber Bridge None Vul	A 6 4 A 10 9 8 3 2 Q 10 5 4		Ambass. `West` Dbl 3 All Pass	Jo `North` 2 Dbl	General `EAST` 1 Pass Pass	You `South` 1 2 4
Lead: 7		East plays A
4 South	Q 10 9 8 7 2 A J 10 5 3 K 4 —

You play the 10 and ruff East’s ace. What next?
A. Win A, finesse J
B. Win A, K
C. Win A, lead 3
D. Lead the 3
E. Win A, finesse J
F. Win K, A, finesse J

Problem 2

Rubber Bridge N-S Vul	Q J 10 A 7 5 4 3 K 2 K 5 4		Ambass. `West` Pass Pass All Pass	Jo North 2 3 NT	General `East` Pass Pass	You SOUTH 1 NT 3 6
Lead: J		East plays 3
6 South	A 2 Q 10 9 2 A Q 5 Q J 7 3

After making a travesty of Jacoby transfers, how do you play?
A. Win K, A (unblock 9)
B. Win K, A (play 2)
C. Win K, lead 4
D. Win Q, lead Q
E. Win Q, lead 10
F. Win Q, lead 2

Problem 3

Rubber Bridge None Vul	7 3 K 5 3 2 A K 4 A K 4 2		Ambass. `WEST` 2 Pass	Jo `North` Dbl Pass	General `East` Pass Pass	You `South` 3 NT¹
Lead: K		East wins A
3 NT South	10 6 4 2 A 6 4 Q 10 6 3 Q 6		1. four sixes must be worth something

East shifts to the J (West will play the 5). Your play?
A. Win Q, duck a heart
B. Win Q, K (both follow), duck a heart
C. Win Q, K (both follow), A
D. Win Q, K (both follow), A
E. Win Q, K (both follow), lead 4
F. Duck the J

Problem 4

Rubber Bridge N-S Vul	A K 10 3 J 6 2 10 6 2 K Q 4		Ambass. `West` Pass Pass All Pass	Jo NORTH 1 1 5	General `East` Pass Pass Pass	You South 1 4 NT 6 NT
Lead: J		East plays 5
6 NT South	J 5 Q 8 5 4 A K Q J 3 A 2

Your 1 must be an audition for Psycho. Your play?
A. Win Q, lead 2
B. Win A, run J
C. Win A, finesse 10
D. Win A, lead 5
E. Win A, run diamonds
F. Win A, K-Q

Problem 5

Rubber Bridge None Vul	J 10 9 6 5 A K 5 3 Q 10 7 4		Ambass. `West` Pass Pass Pass All Pass	Jo `North` 3 4 5	General `EAST` Pass Pass Pass Pass	You `South` 1 4 ¹ 5 ² 7
Lead: 8		East pitches 5
7 South	A K Q 4 3 Q 10 A K 5 3 K 3		1. trying to stop a club lead 2. a little reinforcement

You win four trumps ending in hand, as only clubs are pitched. What next?
A. Lead your last trump
B. Win Q, A-K
C. Win Q, Q
D. Win Q, finesse 10
E. Win Q, finesse 10
F. Win Q, A-K

Problem 6

Rubber Bridge N-S Vul	A J 9 8 10 4 A 9 8 A 10 5 2		Ambass. `West` Dbl All Pass	Jo North Pass	General `East` Pass	You SOUTH 5 Rdbl¹
Lead: K		East plays 3
5 ×× South	5 J 3 K Q J 10 7 6 5 4 Q 7		1. Jo always puts down nice dummies

When the Ambassador sees dummy, he calls for the guards.
Before they can cuff you, you grab the A, and then?
A. Lead J and pitch a heart
B. Lead 8 (East plays low) and pitch a heart
C. Ruff three spades, exit with a heart
D. Ruff two spades, run trumps
E. Lead the 4
F. Lead the 2

Click to see how you did

Challenge 8X41 Main Analyses Scores Top The Man Who Bid Too Much