Analyses 8X56 Main Challenge

Finesses of Frankenstein

Scores  by Richard Pavlicek

During the month of October 2005, these six problems were published on the Internet as a contest open to all bridge players. In each case, declarer takes a finesse early in the play. As East, you must decide whether to win or duck, and what to lead next if you win.

Problem 1

2

3

4

5

6

Final Notes

Conditions were tougher than usual because declarer (Dr. Frankenstein) is an expert, while your partner (Fritz) ranks somewhere between imbecile and moron. Alas, some players consider all their partners in that category.

After the sixth board, the monster didn’t like being dummy any more, and smashed the table with his right forearm. Fritz ran for a torch, but it was too late; the creature broke out of his chains and limped off into the night, waving his arms and moaning like a maimed wolf.

You know the rest of the story, but it’s not clear who died in the windmill fire. I’m guessing the demise of the monster and Dr. Frankenstein, so I leave you with a warning: Fritz may be coming soon to a bridge club near you!

Chris Willenken Wins!

This contest had 904 participants from 114 locations, and the average score was 38.87. Congratulations to Chris Willenken (New York) who was the first of seven to submit perfect scores. This is hardly a surprise, as being an occasional partner, I know Chris is a superb technician. Also scoring 60 were Rainer Herrmann (Germany), Barry White (Oregon), Tomislav Bosnjak (Croatia), Manuel Paulo (Portugal), Bill Powell (Australia) and Alex Perlin (Russia). Close behind and alone at 59 was John Lusky (Oregon). Eight players scored 58.

Participation this month was up slightly from the previous contest but well below the record high of 1153 in February 2005. While Fritz is partially to blame, I was disappointed to see the turnout only barely top the 902 from last October. The average score was on the low side (but well above the lowest ever 37.17), and 429 players scored 39 or better to make the listing.

In the overall standings, Rainer Herrmann (Germany) held on to the top spot and increased his average to 59.25 with a third straight 60. Wow! One more in the next three events, and he’ll be the first ever to post a perfect average, which reminds me of bowler Glen Allison’s 900 series — no doubt because of my misspent youth in a bowling alley when I should have been doing homework. A half-point back in second place is Jim Munday (California) with 58.75, followed by Charles Blair (Illinois) and Rob Stevens (California) each with 58.00, Lajos Linczmayer (Hungary) with 57.75 and Weidong Yang (China) with 57.50.

In the October Bot's Eye View, Q-plus Bridge (Germany) topped the bots with a modest score of 35, but only by tiebreaker over Bridge Baron (US). Next in line with 34 were Blue Chip Bridge (UK) and Jack (Netherlands). Why were the bot scores so dismal? I think when they found out “Fritz” was their partner, they expected the renowned chess-playing program instead of a hunchbacked moron. In the overall standings, GIB (US) held on to the lead despite its worst score ever (30), and Jack remained in second place.

Since I began these monthly events, a number of eerie coincidences have melded my fiction with reality. Frankenstein’s storm was trivial compared to the fury we endured with Hurricane Wilma. Our area caught the right eye wall, and damage was startling; almost every power pole down or tilted, huge trees strewn everywhere… like a war zone. Our house structure held, but we lost most of our roof shingles, all of our trees are gone (one I planted myself in 1976), and one of our storm awnings broke off and crashed through a window (what a mess!). Worst was the aftermath without water or electricity (FPL estimated four weeks to restore power), so we decided to take an impromptu vacation to Daytona Beach (where I am now) until things get back to normal. Even more bizarre was my choice (before the fact) to use Wilma in my November poll theme — then my “shattered glass” story comes true! Scary.

Bidding is standard (except as noted) and you use standard leads but no signals with Fritz. For a reference see Standard American Bridge
Dr. Frankenstein is an expert. Fritz knows almost nothing, but assume he has led the proper card in the suit chosen.

Each problem offered six defensive options (A-F) for East, and the merit of each is scored on a 1-to-10 scale per my judgment. Comments by participants do not affect their score directly but are often helpful to me in determining the awards.

Analyses 8X56 Main Challenge

Scores Top Finesses of Frankenstein

Problem 1

Rubber Bridge None Vul	A K 10 5 2 Q J 8 J 3 J 5 4		Fritz West Pass Pass	Monster NORTH Pass 2 1 3 NT	You East Pass Pass All Pass	Frankenstein South 1 NT 2
3 NT South		Q 7 6 4 7 3 2 K 9 5 Q 10 3

Trick 1 W 2 S

Lead 6 J

2nd 8 3

3rd 2 2

4th 10 ?

1. Burgomaster transfer

Defense	Award	Votes	Percent
C. Win Q; lead 9	10	164	18
D. Win Q; lead 5	8	61	7
F. Duck smoothly	7	451	50
B. Win Q; lead 7	4	189	21
E. Win Q; lead 3	3	29	3
A. Win Q; lead 4	1	10	1

A few people complained they had never heard of Burgomaster transfers, so my movie reference to Herr Vogel may have been misguided — but I resemble that. Even so, I’m sure the great majority understood it as a routine Jacoby transfer from the appearance of dummy.

What’s going on? Should you try to prevent Dr. Frankenstein from winning four spade tricks? First instinct is to duck, hoping he will finesse again — and even if he doesn’t, this limits him to three spade tricks. Alas, the J could be the evil doctor’s ninth trick; and worse, he will then boast of another dead contract brought back to life. Will the madness ever end?

Fritz’s heart lead, if fourth-best, marks him with A-K-9-6 or A-K-9-6-x; but this doesn’t wash (of course, neither does Fritz, but I won’t go into personal hygiene). The most Fritz can have is 6 HCP, assuming the 1 NT bid is legitimate*, so he can’t have A-K. Fritz might have led from A-9-6 or K-9-6, but then declarer has four hearts and can always reach dummy in hearts.

*It is barely possible that the deranged doctor opened 1 NT with J-x 10-x A-Q-9-x-x A-K-x-x or similar, but I would be about equally deranged to base my solution on that. (I heard that remark, now you’re out.)

Another problem with ducking is that an expert declarer will hardly finesse again. If Q-x-x-x-(x) were onside, the jack would be covered*, so declarer will suspect the holdup and win A-K next.

*On the highest level this is not clear. An expert might not cover with Q-9-8-x, expecting declarer would duck the queen to ensure four spade tricks; while not covering holds him to three tricks, assuming no second finesse. Of course, Fritz might do the same out of stupidity.

The best chance by far to beat the contract is to hope Fritz has led top-of-nothing in hearts, and that his 6 HCP are A-Q. A layout like the following fits the auction perfectly, and the heart opening lead is reasonable:

Rubber Bridge	A K 10 5 2		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
None Vul	Q J 8		1 W	6	8	2	10
	J 3		2 S	J	3	2	Q!
	J 5 4		3 E	9!	2	Q	3
9 3		Q 7 6 4	4 W	4	J	K	6
6 5 4		7 3 2	5 E	5	7	8	4
A Q 8 4		K 9 5	6 W	A
9 7 6 2		Q 10 3	Declarer fails
	J 8
	A K 10 9
	10 7 6 2
3 NT South	A K 8

In order to take four diamond tricks you must unblock by leading the 9 (Option C). After winning the Q, Fritz should lead low to your king; then a third diamond finesses declarer’s 10. Admittedly, this technique may be wasted, as Fritz should find a way to screw it up regardless; but even if he plays cards at random, there’s a chance he’ll get it right.

Second place goes to the 5 (Option D) which suffices if Fritz has A-Q-10-x (no need to unblock then).

Third place goes to ducking (Option F), as there’s a chance South has J-x A-10-x-x A-Q-x-x A-x-x; then if declarer clears spades (or finesses again), a club shift beats the contract if declarer holds up the ace until the third round. Note that winning the first spade and leading the 3 (Option E) does not afford the same chance, as declarer has nine tricks with the diamond finesse.

Options A, B and E seem to offer no benefit toward setting the contract and are ranked by the voting.

Comments for C. Win Q; lead 9

Chris Willenken: Hoping for A-Q-8-x or A-Q-10-x with partner, as those are the only 6 HCP (partner’s ostensible maximum) which beat the hand. Ducking would give declarer nine tricks.

Rainer Herrmann: Looks like a cash-out situation; declarer may have nine tricks even if I duck. So I’ll play Fritz for A-Q-8-x.

Barry White: Playing declarer for J-x A-K-10-x 10-x-x-x A-K-x, so I must unblock the 9. If the J is ducked, declarer can run for home.

Tomislav Bosnjak: Hoping partner has A-Q-10-x or A-Q-8-x.

Manuel Paulo: Consider a possible South hand, compatible with West’s lead (high from three small): J-x A-K-10-9 10-7-x-x A-K-8. I must win the Q, otherwise declarer trots out nine tricks; then the 9 is an unblocking play to take four diamonds.

John Lusky: Unblocking, and hoping for A-Q-8-x with partner.

David Caprera: Playing partner for A-Q-8-x, but only because you didn’t give me the option to play the K. By playing the K with this partner, we have a chance to beat the contract when he has A-Q-10-x. At rubber bridge, with “Abby Normal” as your partner, plays like the 9 only win in the postmortem. Hallo! Vould you like a roll in ze hay?

Subhransu Patnaik: Partner cannot have more than 6 points, so the 6 is top of nothing. Ducking will give declarer his ninth trick, so I take the Q and lead the 9, unblocking in case partner has A-Q-8-x.

Leif-Erik Stabell: Partner’s 6 HCP might be A-Q-8-x.

Jim Munday: Based on the auction and lead, South has A-K-10-9. Thus, dummy has an entry, so ducking the spade serves no purpose and would be fatal if South has A-K as well. We need five tricks now, so the only chance is for Fritz to have A-Q-8-x [or better] and, even more unlikely, for him to continue with a small diamond after winning the first one.

Joshua Donn: If declarer has J-x A-K-10-9 10-7-x-x A-K-x, this is my last chance before he runs home with nine tricks. I really don’t see any other chance of a set. Playing any other suit is a sure road to letting in some overberries (Frankenberries?).

Lajos Linczmayer: South must have A-K-10-9, so the only chance is to play Fritz for A-Q-8-x or better.

Joon Pahk: Something is fishy about the opening lead. If fourth-best, the good doctor has opened a crummy 14-point notrump. It looks like top of nothing, in which case ducking can’t help and might give declarer his ninth trick. I’ll hope partner has A-Q-8-x.

Ed Barnes: Here’s hoping partner sees me rubbing my phalanges; A-Q-10-x or A-Q-8-x will do the job.

Jordi Sabate: From the lead and bidding, my only chance is that West has A-Q-10-x or A-Q-8-x; and in the latter case I must start with the nine to unblock the suit.

John Reardon: The best chance appears to be to win the Q and four diamond tricks. I should unblock the 9 in case South has a hand like J-x A-K-10-x 10-x-x-x A-K-x.

Rob Stevens: South appears to have A-K-x-x, which means that with three or four spade tricks, he certainly has nine. Therefore, we need to cash four tricks, and the only chance is to find West with A-Q-8-x [or better].

Daniel de Lind van Wijngaarden: Fritz has at most 6 points. The lead may have been from K-9-6, but I think a better chance is to find Fritz with A-Q-8-x; but will he return a low diamond after winning the queen?

Julian Wightwick: Declarer is known to have A-K from the lead, so can have no entry problems to set up spades. On the other hand, the J could easily be the ninth trick, so I had better play Fritz for A-Q-8-x. I hope he doesn’t take the nine as attitude.

N. Scott Cardell: Partner can’t have A-K, as that leaves declarer only 14 HCP, so the 6 cannot be fourth highest. If partner led low from three to an honor, the defense has [almost] no chance. If partner led from 6-5-4, declarer has at least nine tricks when he gets in; so we must take four tricks first, and the only holdings for partner that make this possible are A-Q-10-x or A-Q-8-x…

Len Vishnevsky: How will partner’s 4-6 HCP set the contract? Give him 8-3 6-5-4 A-Q-8-2 9-8-7-6, and the 9 (the curse!) is just the ticket. …

Michael Dimich: We have to cash four more tricks, so partner needs at least A-Q-8-x.

Jeff Ziemer: Playing South for J-x A-K-10-9 10-x-x-x A-K-x.

Toby Kenney: Partner’s lead can’t be fourth highest but might be top of nothing. The 9 switch allows us to take four diamond tricks if South holds, say, J-x A-K-10-9 10-7-x-x A-K-x.

Adrian Petculescu: If the 6 is fourth-best, partner has A-K and declarer has only 14 HCP; [unlikely], so it is top of nothing. The only chance to beat 3 NT is for partner to have at least A-Q-8-x, which is consistent with the bidding, and leaves South with J-x A-K-10-9 10-x-x-x A-K-x.

Nigel Guthrie: Even if declarer has only 14 HCP, he won’t have a doubleton heart; so I’ll play for him for J-x A-K-10-x 10-x-x-x A-K-x.

Tim DeLaney: Any diamond works if West has Q-10-8-x [and the A]; but I must unblock the “curse of Scotland” in the event West has A-Q-8-x. Surely, a good player like Fritz will work this out.

Jeff Miller: South must have the A or K for his opening, so partner cannot have led fourth-best. Instead, it looks like [top of] nothing, and declarer has nine tricks via four spades, four hearts, and at least one trick with his 7 points (minimum) in the minors. There is no point in ducking the J, as dummy has an entry in hearts. It follows that we must take four fast tricks in addition to my Q, and these can only come from diamonds…

Perry Groot: The lead seems to be from 6-5-4 or 6-x. Partner cannot have A-K, and the contract will not go down if he has one of them. Hence, the contract can only go down if partner has all his points in diamonds; and the nine needs to be unblocked if partner has A-Q-8-x.

Jack Rhatigan: The 6 feels like top-of-nothing, as it cannot be fourth-best. The 9 may allow us to take four diamond tricks by unblocking suit. Ducking seems wrong, as nine tricks may be in the balcony.

Ludek Ambroz: … If I duck, and South has J-x A-K-10-x 10-x-x-x A-K-x, he has nine tricks. When I take the Q, we must immediately take four additional tricks… and this is possible only in diamonds. If West has A-Q-8-x, I must lead the nine…

Brad Theurer: Partner can’t have A-K, thus his lead should be top-of-nothing. I’ll play South for J-x A-K-10-x 10-x-x-x A-K-x, so I must lead the 9 to unblock…

Steve White: If I duck, it is far too likely that declarer has nine tricks. If the doctor has 15 points for his 1 NT, partner does not have A-K and has led top of three small. Since partner cannot have A-K, we cannot run that suit. I’ll lead the 9 to take four diamond tricks if partner has A-Q-8-x.

Ron Mak: Fritz cannot hold A-K, so he must have led from 6-5-4. Ducking the J might allow Henry to romp home with three spades, four hearts and two clubs. Fritz must hold A-Q-8-x [or better] to set 3 NT.

Craig Zastera: Fritz can’t have A-K (too many HCP). Best chance is to play him for A-Q-10-x or A-Q-8-x, and I must lead the nine to unblock if the latter.

J.J. Gass: … Assuming Fritz’s lead is top of three small, Dr. Frankenstein has four heart tricks and two spades. Given his strong notrump opening, he likely has two minor-suit tricks; so ducking this trick would give him nine.

Dean Pokorny: West has a maximum of 6 HCP. The lead and declarer’s play indicates the lead was from three spots. So, my only hope is that partner holds [at least] A-Q-8-x, in which case I have to unblock the 9…

George Klemic: … If we are beating this, it is most likely in the diamond suit. With Fritz as partner, either the 9 or 5 may be the same, but the nine caters to A-Q-8-x.

Dmitri Shabes: Partner has 6 HCP at best, hence cannot have A-K-x-x-(x) in hearts or clubs; so my only hope is in diamonds. Of course, opposite Fritz, I am tempted to select the technically inferior but clearer Option D.

Georg Edelmann: Partner cannot have led fourth-best, as this would give him A-K and leave South with only 14 HCP. … South must have A-K-10-x; so if I duck the J, he [must have] two tricks in the minors to land his contract. … Partner picked a passive heart lead, so he [may have] A-Q-8-x, and leading the 9 must be right to unblock.

Rob Wijman: Fritz may have led from 6-5-4. [If I duck], declarer may run home with three spades, four hearts and A-K. I’ll unblock the 9 in case Fritz has A-Q-8-x.

Zuzana Herrmann: Fritz [may] hold Q-10-8-x and the A…

Damo Nair: I hope West shows up with something like A-Q-8-x, as declarer looks ready to run nine tricks in the other suits.

Douglas Dunn: Partner can’t have A-K on the bidding. More likely, Dr. Frankenstein has A-K-10-x, as with A-K-10 he would win the K to keep an entry to dummy — his dummy, that is — so ducking the J may be his ninth trick. Fritz needs A-Q-8-x to beat 3 NT.

Carsten Kofoed: I hope Fritz will continue with a low diamond from A-Q-8-x.

Analyses 8X56 Main Challenge

Scores Top Finesses of Frankenstein

Problem 2

Rubber Bridge N-S Vul	A 8 6 A 9 3 2 J 9 6 2 7 2		Fritz West Pass Pass	Monster North 2 4	You EAST Pass Pass All Pass	Frankenstein South 1 NT 2
4 South		Q 9 2 K 6 5 A 5 3 J 9 6 4

Trick 1 W 2 S

Lead 5 Q

2nd 2 4

3rd J 2

4th A ?

Defense	Award	Votes	Percent
A. Win K; lead Q	10	143	16
B. Win K; lead 2	8	111	12
D. Win K; lead 3	7	153	17
F. Duck smoothly	5	209	23
E. Win K; lead 4	3	208	23
C. Win K; lead 5	2	80	9

An innocuous looking hand if there ever was one, but it may not be so ordinary in the grand scheme of the universe. Hidden in the depths of everyone’s mind are the keys to understanding creation — or at least Dr. Waldman may have said that in a lecture at the University. Normal brain? Criminal brain? Hah! A good bridge player needs both, so I’ll pass this advice along to Dr. Frankenstein. Maybe in his next experiment he can create something better than this dummy.

Meanwhile, back to the hand. Should you attack, or be passive? Assuming Fritz has led fourth-best, South is marked with A-K-3 or A-K doubleton. In the first case, it may be necessary to attack spades before declarer can establish dummy’s fourth diamond. In the second, a spade attack could be needed only if South has five hearts. In either case, there are many spade-diamond combinations for South requiring an attack, e.g., K-x-x Q-x-x, or J-x-x K-Q-x.

Another possible attack is to try for a diamond ruff (Option D). This would strike gold if Fritz has K-x*, but it’s a long shot. Essentially, it’s only necessary if South has K-J-x Q-J-x-x Q-x-x-x A-K, as without the J, you will beat the contract anyway. If South instead had K-x and A-K-x, it would be strange for West to lead a club from four cards when holding five spades — but then, this might not mean much opposite Fritz.

*Option D might also work when Fritz has Q-x, but almost never against an expert declarer. Holding K-10-x-x, declarer will suspect what is going on and play the king (if he can afford two diamond losers) based on the logic that East would seldom lead a diamond from Q-x-x.

Choosing an example layout is arbitrary, but here’s one of many that shows the importance of leading spades:

Rubber Bridge	A 8 6		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
N-S Vul	A 9 3 2		1 W	5	2	J	A
	J 9 6 2		2 S	Q	4	2	K!
	7 2		3 E	Q!	4	3	A
J 7 5 3		Q 9 2	4 N	3	5	J	10
10 4		K 6 5	5 S	7	5	A	6
Q 8 4		A 5 3	6 N	2	A!	7	4
Q 10 8 5		J 9 6 4	7 E	2	10	J	6
	K 10 4		Declarer fails
	Q J 8 7
	K 10 7
4 South	A K 3

If you don’t attack spades, declarer will succeed easily, losing just two diamonds and a heart. You must seize the opportunity but take care to lead the proper card. If you lead the 2, declarer may duck to force the jack, then you’re history. You must lead the queen (Option A). Declarer will almost surely take this with the ace, draw trumps, and lead a diamond from dummy.* Careful! You must hop with the ace to continue spades.

*Declarer can succeed at double-dummy, most easily by winning the Q with the king to freeze the suit. Such a play would have merit against a known-expert defender, but remember that you were a complete stranger to Dr. Frankenstein (he even asked, “Do you play bridge?”); hence, he would have no reason not to assume the obvious, that your lead is from Q-J.

Another nice aspect about the Q shift is that it is virtually safe. The only South hand I could construct where it might cost the contract is J-10-x-x Q-J-x-x K-Q A-K-x; but even then, declarer can prevail by running the J and eventually squeezing Fritz (as repulsive as the latter thought may be).

The diagram also shows the danger in ducking the K (Option F). Declarer may not be able to finesse again! If he continues with the J and sees the 10, he will know you have the king — well, maybe not, considering Fritz. Thus, the tempo shifts to declarer, and he will develop diamonds before you can develop spades. South might also have Q-10-8-7, where ducking is fatal.

As on Problem 1, I am obliged to award second place to an inferior lead in the correct suit. Analysis showed that leading the 2 (Option B) defeated significantly more contracts than leading a diamond (assuming proper declarer play of hopping with the K lacking the queen). Productivity wins over aesthetics, so Option D will have to settle for a close third.

Fourth place goes to ducking the K (Option F) because it offers the same opportunity to attack spades if declarer has Q-J-10-x and finesses again. Options C and E are essentially equal, committing to a passive defense, and ranked by the voting.

Comments for A. Win K; lead Q

Chris Willenken: Partner has at most 6 HCP, and from the spots it looks like he has the Q. A spade shift wins against K-J or K-10 with partner, or J-10 and the K. A diamond shift wins when partner has K-x. The spade has more winning cases. I might as well shift to the queen, as declarer may misguess when partner has the J with no 10.

Rainer Herrmann: The danger is that declarer may get a spade discard on the fourth diamond. South may have K-10-x Q-J-10-x Q-10-x A-K-x, or J-x-x Q-J-10-x K-Q-x A-K-x.

Barry White: If partner holds something like J-x-x-x 10-x K-x-x Q-x-x-x, declarer will take two hearts and start diamonds for a spade discard. The  Q may help declarer misguess with K-10-x.

Tomislav Bosnjak: In case partner has J-x-x-x.

Manuel Paulo: If South has a hand like K-x-x Q-J-10-x K-10-x A-K-3, or J-x-x Q-J-10-x K-Q-x A-K-3, I must win the K and lead a spade — any spade; but if he has K-10-x Q-J-10-x Q-10-x-x A-K, the only wrong lead is the 2.

Bill Powell: Trying to establish two spade tricks without letting you-know-who on lead.

Alex Perlin: Declarer might be able to pitch his spade loser on the 2. Is being afraid of a deuce a sign of looming paranoia? Or is it not just looming?

John Lusky: I need to play spades on many layouts where diamonds will provide one or more pitches for declarer’s spades. I lead the queen to avoid picking up the suit for declarer if he has K-10. Playing diamonds could be right if partner has K-x or Q-x, but that seems against the odds… On many other layouts, playing a diamond helps declarer (e.g., if he has Q-8-x) or loses a tempo. Ducking [would] work badly if declarer has K-x-x Q-J-8-x Q-10-x A-K-x…

David Caprera: Hoping either player has K-10-x, although I would prefer it is partner. …

Subhransu Patnaik: The setting trick will be in spades. Ducking achieves nothing and risks declarer playing the A next and going after diamonds to pitch a spade loser. Leading the Q will play well if declarer has K-10-x, forcing him to guess who has the J.

Leif-Erik Stabell: A spade switch is necessary against K-x-x Q-J-x-x Q-10-x A-K-x, and the Q [won’t cost] against K-10-x-x Q-J-x-x Q-10-x A-K.

Dale Freeman: Playing Fritz for the J and a diamond trick. If declarer has K-10-x, maybe he will misguess the J.

Joshua Donn: Ducking is wrong. If Dr. Frankenstein has K-x-x Q-J-x-x Q-10-x A-K-3 or similar, ducking lets him win the second heart and get diamonds going before I can get spades going. So I win and play a spade; the queen is better than the two, hoping Henry misguesses with K-10-x.

Thijs Veugen: For a diamond lead to work, partner has to have exactly K-x. [This gains if partner has] K-J-x-(x), K-10-x-(x) or J-10-x-(x), and maybe even J-x-x-(x) if declarer misguesses…

Lajos Linczmayer: If South has A-K-Q-3, only a diamond misguess helps us; so I suppose Fritz has Q-10-8-5. I can play Fritz for a doubleton diamond honor, but it is better to attack spades, which is necessary if Fritz has K-10-x-x or better, e.g., K-10-x-x x-x x-x-x Q-10-8-5. If South has the K, we need one spade and two diamond tricks. If South has K-10-x Q-J-10-x Q-x-x A-K-x, he surely plays low if I lead the 2…

Jordi Sabate: … Clearly, the danger for the defense is the diamond suit, so I must lead spades. … If declarer has K-10-x, maybe he will misguess the position.

John Reardon: I think the best chance is to win this trick and hope for three tricks from diamonds and spades. …I lead the Q just in case declarer misguesses the position with K-10-x-(x) and I am able to lead another spade when in with my A later.

Rob Stevens: Calculation shows that trying to set up spade tricks is better than passive play or going for a diamond ruff. Game theory enters the picture when South has K-10-x-(x); I would normally lead low from Q-J-x, but honor-nine is twice as likely. I think the queen is the better choice, although this commits me to hopping with the A on the first round, which won’t be a great success if partner has Q-10 doubleton.

Julian Wightwick: Suppose declarer has something like K-10-x Q-J-10-x K-x-x A-K-x. Left to his own devices, he will set up the long diamond for a spade discard. Declarer is likely to hold the 10, since Fritz didn’t lead the J, so I’ll try the Q in the hope that he runs it to the ace; then I’ll rise with the A to lead another spade. This gives away the spade guess if declarer has K-J-10-x and two diamond losers, but it works against more layouts…

Charles Blair: Fritz is not the only partner who, holding K-J-x-x, would switch after the J holds.

Ruud von Seida: Declarer has K-10-x Q-J-10-x Q-10-x A-K-x.

Jeff Ziemer: Playing declarer for K-x-x Q-J-x-x K-10-x A-K-x. If he has the 10 with one less club and one more diamond, I should have played passive.

Adrian Petculescu: [We can] beat 3 NT if…South has K-x-x Q-J-x-x Q-x-x A-K-x (or K-x-x-x Q-J-x-x Q-10 A-K-x). Spades must be attacked before South establishes diamonds. The  Q is best when South has K-10-x-(x)…

Nigel Guthrie: Perhaps declarer has K-10-x Q-J-x-x Q-x-x A-K-x.

Julian Pottage: I probably need to set up a spade trick before declarer can get diamonds going.

Tim DeLaney: I place South with J-x-x Q-J-10-x K-Q-10 A-K-x, or perhaps K-x-x Q-J-10-x Q-10-x A-K-x. If I duck, South may rely on trumps splitting 3-2, and go up with the ace on the second round to [establish] diamonds. I must play the Q to give South a problem if he holds K-10-x.

Perry Groot: There seems to be two options to play for: (1) Partner with K-x or Q-x, or (2) partner with K-J-x-(x), K-10-x-(x), etc. The latter seems to cater to more probable distributions, and leading the Q is more deceptive.

Mauri Saastamoinen: … If Dr. Frankenstein has something like K-x Q-J-10-x Q-10-x-x A-K-x, I’d better win and lead a low diamond; however, then partner might have chosen to lead a spade instead of a club. This plan would also backfire, when declarer has something like K-10-x-x Q-J-10-x Q-x A-K-x, and partner continues diamonds. I hope partner has something like J-x-x-x x-x Q-x-x Q-10-x-x, and I plan to take the A immediately to continue spades. Would our doctor open 1 NT with K-10-x Q-J-10-x-x Q-10 A-K-x? If so, this is the only effective defense.

Wei Victor Zhang: Trying to win two spade tricks if Fritz has K-10-x-x. If Fritz instead has J-x-x-x, leading the Q does no harm, but leading the 2 is bad.

Wei Victor? Is that the result of Kathie Wei meeting Victor Frankenstein?

Bruce Neill: Try for diamond ruff? Open the spade suit? Defend passively? I may need a diamond ruff, especially if declarer has A-K doubleton. If declarer has three clubs, I may need to set up a spade trick before declarer can throw a spade on dummy’s fourth diamond. On balance, attacking spades seems the best chance, and I’ll lead the queen in case declarer has K-10-x-(x).

Steve White: Hoping to establish two spade tricks. Partner holding K-J-x or K-10-x seems more likely than hoping for two diamonds plus a ruff. I’ll lead the queen in case partner has only J-x-x, and we might still survive if I win the first diamond and play another spade.

Ron Mak: If Fritz has the Q and at least K-10, we can set 4 . Ducking the K might allow Henry to switch to diamonds before the A is dislodged. I’ll lead the Q for fear that Fritz won’t continue spades if Henry ducks his 10.

Jyrki Lahtonen: I may need to be active, as declarer may be able to pitch a slow spade loser on the fourth diamond. … Leading the Q saves the day when declarer has K-10-x. Should Fritz hold those cards, I will strike gold.

Craig Zastera: I need to find Fritz with K-J or K-10, or with the J and K. Leading the Q gains over the 2 in two cases: (1) Fritz has K-10-x-(x), in which case Dr. Frankenstein may allow the 10 to hold if I led low (Fritz may shift fearing South has the Q), or (2) Fritz has J-x-x-(x) and the K…

Barry Rigal: Declarer appears to have 10 points in hearts and clubs, so I’d like to find partner with a diamond and spade honor. … Going for the fast kill with two diamonds and a ruff is possible; but shifting to the Q works if partner produces something in each suit, or if South has nothing in spades with K-Q-x (3=4=3=3).

Richard Stein: This seems right before diamonds get going; playing South for K-10-x (and K-10-x or Q-10-x). If I led the 2, my hopes for a spade trick would be over after low, jack, ace. Leading the Q gives South the chance to win dummy’s ace — or the king, and put in the 10 when I lead a low spade later. That damn 8 in dummy makes this whole thing very hairy.

Yes, hairy indeed. Now you can admit that your first name is really Frank.

Dean Pokorny: A spade switch is necessary when declarer holds something like J-x-x Q-J-x-x K-Q-x A-K-x. The  Q is best because declarer will almost surely misguess the layout when holding something like K-10-x Q-J-x-x Q-10-x A-K-x.

George Klemic: Best hope is [to establish] two spade tricks, while I still have the A entry.

Dmitri Shabes: Ducking is dangerous and accomplishes nothing. I will try to establish a spade trick before declarer sets up diamonds; the Q looks trickier than the 2 in case South holds K-10-x-(x).

Georg Edelmann: South has shown 10 points ( Q-J and A-K) so he has 5-7 more, probably with a spade and diamond honor. Playing diamonds would give away the contract in too many cases, [so] I switch to spades while I can. The  Q must be right in case South holds K-10-x… Our defensive tricks will probably be one spade, one heart and two diamonds. …

Rob Wijman: Fritz could have the J and both [minor-suit] queens, and we may have to set up a spade trick before declarer establishes the fourth diamond. If declarer has K-10-x, he is more likely to go wrong on the Q lead than the 2. …

David Wiltshire: Declarer can freeze the spade suit if he wins the king from K-10-x, but that isn’t clearly the best play. Ducking and/or defending passively doesn’t feel right with diamonds lying well [for declarer].

Gabriel Ip: … Leading spades looks more promising [than diamonds]. I hope to set up two spade tricks (Fritz having at least K-10-x), else one may go away on dummy’s fourth diamond; South may have J-x-x Q-J-x-x K-Q-x A-K-x-x.

Zuzana Herrmann: Declarer will believe I have the J and win his ace; then we could win one heart, one spade and two diamonds. Fritz could also have J-10 (not very likely) with the same result.

Jonathan Mestel: If South has K-J-10 Q-J-10-x Q-x A-K-x-x, I should win and return a trump; but if he has Q-x-x or K-x-x, I must attack spades. Whether to lead the Q or 2 is a bit of a bluff; there’s nothing I can do against K-10-x Q-J-x-x Q-x-x A-K-x except hope declarer misguesses spades.

Ken Warren: If declarer has K-Q-x, I need to establish two spade tricks now. If he has K-x-x and K-10-x, I have to set up our spade trick before he sets up the J. …

Douglas Dunn: We will need to make two spades if declarer has K-Q.

John Haslegrave: I hope partner has J-x-x-x or better.

Alain Lacourse: Ducking won’t help. … I’ll lead the Q to knock out dummy’s ace; then [another spade] once I get the lead with the A…

Peter Breuer: … We [need] at least one spade trick. If I duck the K, it may be too late to start spades if Dr. Frankenstein has K-Q-x. …

Paulino Correa: It’s reasonable to expect partner to have the J and Q (besides the Q). If South is 2=4=3=4, 3=4=2=4 or 2=4=4=3, the contract is [probably] cold; and with 3=4=4=2 or 4=4=3=2, it will [almost] certainly be defeated. The interesting case is 3=4=3=3, where I must be fast to lead spades before dummy’s fourth diamond is promoted to declarer’s 10th trick.

Roger Morton: Dummy’s diamonds look dangerous for a late spade discard. The Q may cause declarer to misread the position when he has K 10 x.

Analyses 8X56 Main Challenge

Scores Top Finesses of Frankenstein

Problem 3

Rubber Bridge N-S Vul	J 2 A Q J 5 2 A 7 K 7 5 3		Fritz West Pass Pass	Monster North 1 6 NT	You East Pass All Pass	Frankenstein SOUTH 1 2 NT
6 NT South		9 7 6 K 3 Q J 4 3 10 9 8 6

Trick 1 W 2 S

Lead 3 4

2nd 2 6

3rd 9 Q

4th K ?

Defense	Award	Votes	Percent
F. Duck smoothly	10	210	23
C. Win K; lead J	8	97	11
D. Win K; lead 4	6	37	4
A. Win K; lead 7	4	356	39
E. Win K; lead 10	3	148	16
B. Win K; lead 3	2	56	6

Dr. Frankenstein is marked with every missing high card but the J for his 2 NT bid (18-19), and Fritz’s lead (the only part of his game that can be trusted) shows only a four-card spade suit. Thus, declarer can be counted for 11 tricks: four spades, two hearts (assuming Fritz has a fourth-round stopper), two diamonds and three clubs.

South’s most likely shape is 4=2=4=3; and if his diamonds are K-10-x-x, you will be squeezed in the minors no matter what you do. You must hope Fritz has 10-x-x to have any chance, but even then the mad doctor can prevail. Consider a likely layout:

Rubber Bridge	J 2		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
N-S Vul	A Q J 5 2		1 W	3	2	9	K
	A 7		2 S	4	6	Q	K?
	K 7 5 3		3 E	7	4	5	J
10 8 5 3		9 7 6	4 N	3	6	A	2
10 8 7 6		K 3	5 S	A	8	2	6
10 6 5		Q J 4 3	6 S	9	10	A	3
J 2		10 9 8 6	7 N	J	3	2	7
	A K Q 4		8 N	K	8	4	J
	9 4		9 N	5	9	Q	10
	K 9 8 2		continued below…
6 NT South	A Q 4

Suppose you win and routinely return partner’s suit (Option A). Declarer will win the J, cross in clubs, cash one spade (pitching a heart), then test hearts (pitching a diamond). After discovering Fritz has a heart stopper, he will test clubs by cashing the king first and ending in hand (Fritz pitching a spade) to leave this position:

NT win all	—		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	5		10 S	Q!	5	5	4
	A 7		11 S	9*	6	A	J
	7		12 N	7	Q	K	10
—		—	*Franken-deuce coup
8		—
10 6 5		Q J 4
—		10
	Q
	—
	K 9 2
South leads	—

Finally, the Q inflicts a double squeeze. Fritz must pitch a diamond to keep a heart stopper, the 5 is thrown from dummy, and you must pitch a diamond to keep the 10. Dr. Frankenstein will then use his deranged genius to win the last trick with 2. It’s alive!

Can you stop this? Not against double-dummy play, but a diamond shift (Option C) is necessary to have a chance. This restricts declarer’s communication in the common threat suit, and declarer must make the correct assumption to succeed; specifically, he must assume Fritz has a heart stopper. After winning the A, one successful path is to unblock the J, cross in clubs, cash one spade, and test clubs ending in hand to reach this position:

NT win all	—		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	A J 5		9 S	Q	6	5!	3
	7		10 S	9	10	A	3
	7		11 N	J	?
—		—	East is squeezed
10 8 7		3
10 6		Q 4 3
—		10
	Q
	9
	K 9 2
South leads	—

On the Q, Fritz is squeezed out of a diamond; the 5 is thrown from dummy, and you can comfortably pitch a red card for the moment. Unfortunately, A-J will now squeeze you in the minors. Declarer must abandon the chance of a 3-3 heart break to succeed, but an expert is likely to guess right, deducing your shortness because you won the first heart finesse.

Option C is good, but you can do better. Best defense is to duck the first heart smoothly* (Option F). Declarer will probably next unblock the J, cross in clubs, and finesse hearts again. Curtains! Now the J seals his coffin no matter what he does. Of course, you wouldn’t look so smart if the evil doctor refuses the second heart finesse, but I see no reason to fear this if you duck in tempo. Could South have a singleton heart? Hardly; with an unbalanced hand, e.g., A-K-Q-x 4 K-x-x-x-x A-Q-x (or 4-4 minors), an expert would bid spades.

*Several people mentioned that my ordering of the options made it impossible to duck smoothly. That is, how can you contemplate five options (A-E) and still be able to duck in tempo? Well, at least you can pretend. I suppose I could have listed “Duck smoothly” first; but as usual, options are ordered by suit or card rank (highest first). I adopted this format long ago to avoid any implications from my listing order.

Third place goes to winning and returning a low diamond (Option D), which makes it easy for declarer in the diagram (the 10 is captured and you are squeezed) but works as well as an honor if Fritz has 10-9-x or 10-8-x.

Other options (A, B and E) offer no realistic hope, assuming South’s bid is normal*, and are ranked by the voting.

*Some people chose to put less credence in Dr. Frankenstein’s bids, which is understandable. Playing opposite a creature you just created from dead body parts would be a good reason to mastermind the auction. Nonetheless, it was stipulated that the bidding was Standard American.

Comments for F. Duck smoothly

Chris Willenken: Attack the squeeze entries.

Rainer Herrmann: For the defense to have a chance, I will play South for A-K-Q-x x-x K-x-x-x A-Q-x. Ducking, then returning a diamond honor to attack communication in the double threat suit, kills the double squeeze.

Barry White: With A-K-Q-x x-x K-x-x-x A-Q-x, declarer will cross to hand with a club for another heart finesse; now a diamond return will break up the entries for the squeeze.

Tomislav Bosnjak: Best chance to avoid a squeeze is to hope Dr. Frankenstein will finesse hearts again.

Manuel Paulo: There is no legitimate tactic to set the slam. I hope declarer enters his hand to finesse the J; then I will lead a diamond honor, [which defeats] a hand like A-K-Q-x 9-4 K-9-x-x A-Q-x.

Bill Powell: Then return a diamond to break up the “Type B1” double squeeze.

Alex Perlin: I have struggled with this problem for a month. May I please duck smoothly?

John Lusky: If I win the second heart and return a diamond honor, it will break up the double squeeze if South has A-K-Q-x x-x K-x-x-x A-Q-x.

Jim Munday: To have any chance, Fritz will have to hold 10-x-x-x, 10 and J, else declarer will have 12 tricks on power or a minor-suit squeeze. Winning the first heart and shifting to a diamond is not good enough; [play described]. I must duck the first heart to limit communication for the double squeeze. Declarer, not having second sight, will repeat the finesse;…then I can kill his squeeze chances by returning the J (a small diamond risks isolating the menace when declarer holds K-9-8-x).

Joshua Donn: If I win the first heart, we ultimately get squeezed… I’m hoping this will mess up Dr. Frankenstein’s entries; and in any case, it can’t hurt since he will always repeat the finesse.

Lajos Linczmayer: I hope South has A-K-Q-x x-x K-9-8-x A-Q-x. I play the Q after winning the next heart trick.

Joon Pahk: This looks risky; but if I take my king, declarer will always have the timing and entries for a nonsimultaneous double squeeze…

Ed Barnes: Because I need more time to think about what to lead next. :)

Jordi Sabate: I need partner to have 10-x-x-x, but in that case there’s a double-squeeze with diamonds as the common suit. My only chance is to break it is to duck the first heart and play a diamond when I win the second…

John Reardon: I expect South to have a hand like A-K-Q-x x-x K-10-x-x A-Q-x. If I take this trick, there are many winning lines; but if I duck smoothly, South will have entry problems for a squeeze.

Rob Stevens: I could win the heart and lead the J, hoping that declarer misguesses to cash hearts instead of clubs (a 50-50 shot); but ducking seems better. Now we always beat the slam if declarer repeats the finesse (and lacks the 10).

Daniel de Lind van Wijngaarden: Declarer is marked with A-K-Q-x x-x K-x-x-x A-Q-x, so I hope he goes to hand with a club to finesse again…

Julian Wightwick: I must hope for Fritz to stop the heart suit and hold the J. Even so, I am ripe to get squeezed in the minors. Declarer can play this as a double squeeze around diamonds, once he finds out that Fritz guards hearts. … Winning the first heart and leading a diamond is not good enough, because declarer has a late heart entry. …

N. Scott Cardell: If South has a normal minimum 18 HCP, partner has at most the J. As the opening lead marks declarer with four spades, he has at least 11 tricks. … I must hope South has something like A-K-Q-x x-x K-9-x-x A-Q-x. On any defense but a diamond return, declarer has an easy double squeeze; [ending described]. If I win the first heart and return a diamond, declarer can reach a successful ending; [described]; but he might misguess. Ducking smoothly, however, is better; surely declarer will repeat the finesse, as it guarantees the contract when the K is onside; then I return the J, and declarer has no winning options if partner has 10-x-x.

Jai Grama: I need to avoid a minor-suit squeeze.

Charles Blair: After winning the K later, I’m playing a diamond honor.

Ruud von Seida: Declarer may have A-K-Q-x x-x K-x-x-x-x A-Q. I’ll take the second finesse and play the J.

Toby Kenney: I’ll win the second heart and switch to a diamond. If declarer holds A-K-Q-x x-x K-x-x-x A-Q-x, he will no longer be able to effect a double squeeze, due to lack of entries to dummy.

Dan Goldfein: This should tangle declarer’s entries for a squeeze.

Tim DeLaney: To have a chance to beat this, South must hold A-K-Q-x x-x K-9-x-x A-Q-x. I must duck the heart in order to disrupt entries for a double squeeze. When I win the second heart, I will lead a diamond [honor].

Jeff Miller: From the bidding and trick one, it is pretty clear that South holds A-K-Q-x, A-Q and K. I must assume partner holds 10-x-x-x and the J, else there are 12 easy tricks, and that he holds 10-x-x to keep me from being squeezed in the minors. Given that, if I win the K immediately, declarer has the timing for a nonsimultaneous double squeeze; [play described]; but if I win the second heart and return a diamond [honor], he cannot pull it off.

Perry Groot: To cut communication and kill a possible squeeze; declarer will [surely] repeat the finesse. To have any chance, South must have no more than two hearts.

Joel Singer: I can see that hearts might squish me in the minors… Perhaps by ducking I can have the good doctor use up some transportation back to his hand.

Gerard Versluis: South may have A-K-Q-x x-x K-x-x-x A-Q-x. If I win the K, declarer has an easy double squeeze. If I duck, he will come to his hand for another finesse; then I can break the squeeze (if South has no 10) by [leading a diamond honor].

Bruce Neill: If declarer has A-K-Q-x x-x K-9-8-x A-Q-x, I need to break up a double squeeze. If I take the first heart, my only chance is to return a high diamond to attack communication in the central suit; otherwise, the squeeze plays itself. But even if I lead a diamond, Franky can succeed; [play described]. So I’ll be brave and win next heart finesse; then lead a high diamond.

Hjalmar Beijl: I’ll let declarer waste an entry to find out he has been had. All is fair in love, war and rubber.

It’s good to see you practice safe bridge… But all is not fair in Fritz.

Brad Theurer: I need partner to have 10-x-x-x and the J for starters; but even then, a squeeze looms… I must [hope] declarer repeats the hook, meanwhile messing up his transportation as much as possible.

Gerald Murphy: Declarer looks to hold four spades as well as diamonds. … The only logical [chance] is that he has only two hearts; then I have to stop a squeeze, and the best hope is to duck…and to hope partner has 10-x-x…

Barry Rigal: Trying to disrupt communications. Maybe declarer has A-K-Q-x x-x K-x-x-x A-Q-x, then unblocks the J and crosses with a club to repeat the heart finesse. Now, a diamond [honor] breaks up the squeeze if partner produces 10-x-x…

Dean Pokorny: If I can induce declarer to repeat the heart finesse, a diamond return will break the double squeeze when partner holds something like 10-x-x-x 10-x-x-x 10-x-x J-x.

Bob Marheine: No reason this should cost (the finesse should be repeated) and it might cause declarer to commit to a failing line of play — I hope. I’m beginning to detect a pattern here. :)

David Wiltshire: This is a poor choice if South rebid an offbeat 2 NT with 4=1=4=4, but probably correct otherwise. Declarer may return to hand to repeat the finesse and find his communication ruined…

Lawrence Cheetham: Declarer will need to break diamonds or clubs before I get in with the K, thus ensuring that I know how to proceed.

Tom Barry: A gut check to see what comes next from the board. If declarer plays the A, I’ll breast my cards better next time. :)

Albert Feasley: Declarer will lead a club or spade back to his hand to hook the heart again; then I can break up the squeeze.

Zuzana Herrmann: This should free myself from being squeezed when South likely holds A-K-Q-x 9-x K-9-8-x A-Q-x.

Jonathan Mestel: Seems best to play declarer for A-K-Q-x x-x K-x-x-x A-Q-x. If he crosses to hand and takes another finesse, I can break up the squeeze with the J. If the 6 showed an odd number, I should win and attack diamond entries to prevent declarer from [succeeding] with A-K-Q-x x K-x-x-x A-J-x-x. May I teach Fritz count signals before the next hand?

Neelotpal Sahai: At first I thought that it was best to capture and return a diamond to break the squeeze, but that is a mirage; if declarer has 18-19 as [advertised], he can always squeeze me or enact a double squeeze. So, best is to outfox him; let him use an entry to hand for another finesse. …

Douglas Dunn: When declarer finesses again, I’ll play back the J to break up the likely double squeeze (Fritz guards hearts, I guard clubs, and we both guard diamonds). If I take the K at trick two, the squeeze can’t be stopped.

Tim McKay: Worth a try; declarer is bound to finesse again.

Jean-Christophe Clement: To break a possible squeeze.

Dick Yuen: This will create an illusion for declarer, and he will count on a minimum of three heart tricks by repeating the finesse.

David Colbert: I need to break communication before I’m squeezed in the minors.

Carsten Kofoed: Now I can disrupt the [double] squeeze, and I don’t see why South should…reject another heart finesse.

Analyses 8X56 Main Challenge

Scores Top Finesses of Frankenstein

Problem 4

Rubber Bridge None Vul	A K 8 4 2 9 8 3 A Q 6 K 2		Fritz WEST Pass Pass Pass	Monster North 1 2 NT Pass	You East Pass Pass Dbl	Frankenstein South 1 NT 3 NT All Pass
3 NT× South		Q J 10 9 7 J 10 2 K 5 2 A 9

Trick 1 W 2 S

Lead 4 9

2nd 9 4

3rd 10 Q

4th K ?

If you duck Trick 2, declarer next leads the K.

Defense	Award	Votes	Percent
C. Duck; next duck K	10	314	35
F. Duck; win A; lead 9	9	59	7
D. Duck; win A; lead Q	7	75	8
B. Win K; lead 2	5	220	24
A. Win K; lead Q	4	147	16
E. Duck; win A; lead 2	3	89	10

This problem was tough to score, as there are many possible layouts, as well as subjective considerations about Dr. Frankenstein’s line of play, and whether Fritz would offer any cooperation in the defense. I decided to ask the Burgomaster for help, and he agreed to call a meeting in the Town Square; alas, the only decision we could reach was that Fritz should be banned for life — or as Baron Frankenstein suggested, shorten the ban and string him up at the gallows. I objected to the latter; I mean, why waste the string?

A heart lead? Come on! Does this mean Fritz is void in spades? No, it only confirms what you already knew, that he is void from ear to ear. It looks like Fritz has led from A-x-x-x or Q-x-x-x (A-Q-x-x is unlikely as it leaves South only 7 HCP), so declarer will have a second heart stopper. Prospects are good if Fritz has the A, as you may be able to lock declarer out of his hand.

First things first. It certainly seems right to hold up the K, as winning the king may allow declarer to run the entire suit. Odds are overwhelming that South has the J for his play; but even if not, the one-trick sacrifice is wise insurance.

Uh-oh. Dr. Frankenstein now switches into high-voltage mode, leading the K. What now? Was the diamond finesse just a decoy? How strong can his clubs be? South should have five or more clubs, else Fritz chose to lead a four-card suit instead of a five-carder (not that this logic means anything). When I created this problem — with my own hands, mind you, and without a lightning storm — I had the following layout in mind:

Rubber Bridge	A K 8 4 2		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
None Vul	9 8 3		1 W	4	9	10	K
	A Q 6		2 S	9	4	Q	2
	K 2		3 N	K	A	3	5
6 5 3		Q J 10 9 7	4 E	9	J	6	2
A 6 5 4		J 10 2	Declarer fails
10 4		K 5 2
10 8 6 5		A 9
	—
	K Q 7
	J 9 8 7 3
3 NT× South	Q J 7 4 3

The killing defense is to win the A and return the 9 (Option F). This removes South’s entry before he can establish diamonds, and limits him to two tricks in each suit; down one. If you duck the K, hoping to keep declarer out of his hand, he will succeed by leading a club to your ace, ducking the Q, then winning A-K and A to reach this ending:

NT win 2	8 4		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	8 3		9 N	8	2?	7	5
	6		10 N	3	J	Q	A
	—		11 W	6	4	9	7
—		10 9	Declarer succeeds
A 6 5		J 2
—		K
10 8		—
	—
	Q 7
	—
North leads	Q J 7

Finally, the 8 is led from dummy, and even if you duck (best), Dr. Frankenstein must win two club tricks in the end to make his doubled contract. (If you cover, or Fritz captures the eight, the mad doctor even brings an overtrick to life.)

My original feeling was that declarer would start clubs first (low to the king) with a holding as good as Q-J-10-x-x; but this isn’t so clear, as it should be obvious for any decent East player to duck the A to break communication. Even with only three diamonds (J-9-x), an expert probably would lead a diamond first, hoping to build an entry before the power of his club suit is realized. Thus, based on the logic that South’s clubs are at least Q-x-x-x-x for the K switch, ducking gains on more layouts; e.g., anytime West has the 7, declarer cannot succeed. Thus, the top award goes to Option C, and Option F gets a close second.

It is also worth noting that declarer cannot reach his hand in hearts (even with K-Q-7). If he leads a low heart from dummy, you must be careful to play the jack. If he leads the 8, both you and Fritz must duck. Good luck!

Third place goes to Option D (duck Q, win A and lead Q) as it offers reasonable counterplay, though failing in the diagram. For example, declarer can’t win both spades before clearing diamonds, else you can return a club to lock him out of the high spade in dummy (assuming South has at most one spade).

Other options (A, B and E) are decidedly weaker. Rather than determine their relative merits in a complex situation, which is further obscured by partner being a moron, I’ll just rank them by the voting. Maybe my respondents know more about dealing with partners like Fritz than I do.

Food for thought: If South held x K-Q-x J-9-x Q-J-x-x-x-x, what is the only lead to beat 3 NT? That’s right, a low heart. Fritz? You’re my hero!

Comments for C. Duck; next duck K

Chris Willenken: Ducking the diamond guards against a few hands. Once declarer leads the K, it looks like he has good clubs and K-Q-x, so I’ll try to lock him in dummy. This plan insures down one against the fearsome South hand of — K-Q-x J-10-9-x-x Q-J-10-x-x [no 7].

Rainer Herrmann: The defense most likely to succeed is to kill the entries to declarer’s hand.

Barry White: Declarer may hold x-x K-Q-x J-x-x Q-J-10-x-x, so I want to lock him in dummy. This should beat him if partner holds A-7-x-x.

Tomislav Bosnjak: I must kill all the entries to declarer’s hand and wait for spade tricks.

Manuel Paulo: If South has x-x K-Q-6 J-10-9-x Q-J-10-x or similar, I must prevent declarer from entering his hand. Later on, after being thrown in with diamonds and/or clubs, I can exit safely with a spade honor or the J.

Bill Powell: Trying to isolate the South hand.

Alex Perlin: Something is fishy; with nine clubs outstanding, nobody is touching them. It must be Frankie fooling around with x K-Q-x J-x-x-x Q-J-10-x-x. Would anyone suspect Fritz of playing a deep game?

John Lusky: Partner [may be] 1=4=4=4, since he led a four-card suit. If partner has the A, I can keep declarer out of his hand — even if he has the 7 — by playing my heart cards properly on a heart lead from dummy.

David Caprera: This is necessary to beat the hand if South has x-x K-Q-x J-10-9 Q-J-10-x-x. It is conceivable that declarer is trying a monstrous swindle with x A-K-x J-10-9-x-x J-x-x-x, but that would mean “He vould have an enormous Shwanstooker!”

Subhransu Patnaik: Keeping declarer in dummy will force him to give up at least five tricks.

Leif-Erik Stabell: This should be sufficient against x K-Q-6 J-x-x-x-x Q-J-10-x.

Jim Munday: Declarer must have the J…to play this way, and he is trying to arrange a late entry to hand. I will play him for something like x K-Q-x J-10-9-x Q-J-10-x-x. Ducking in both minors will keep him out of his hand and stuck in dummy.

Dale Freeman: Does the fact that Fritz did not lead a spade mean anything? I wish I knew who has the 7!

Joshua Donn: Why didn’t Fritz lead a spade? I can’t believe he doesn’t have any. I’m hoping this kills Dr. Frankenstein’s hand, as he may have x-x K-Q-x J-x-x-x Q-J-10-x.

Thijs Veugen: Even if South has x-x K-Q-7 J-10-9 Q-J-10-x-x, we can succeed. The only thing we have to do is prevent access to his hand.

Lajos Linczmayer: South’s shape is likely 0=3=4=6 or 0=3=5=5. He may have A-K, e.g., — A-K-x J-x-x-x-x J-10-x-x-x; but his critical holdings are hands with K-Q-x. … This wins if he has — K-Q-6 J-9-8-x-x Q-J-10-x-x, or — K-Q-x J-9-8-x Q-J-x-x-x-x. If he has — K-Q-7 J-9-8-x-x Q-J-x-x-x, Option F wins.

Joon Pahk: I suppose I’m playing declarer for something like x-x K-Q-x J-x-x Q-J-10-x-x. If we lock him in dummy, he’s going down.

Ed Barnes: Fritz has either (1) not led his longest suit, (2) led his fifth-highest card, or (3) refused to lead a spade as requested. None of the three possibilities makes sense, so I’m going to assume that, in similarly loopy fashion, partner won’t duck the second heart. Therefore, Fritz needs the Q or 7 — and I’m claiming down two.

Jordi Sabate: I hope Fritz has led from his longest suit, so I think that South has 5+ clubs. Why is he playing diamonds, then? And why the 9 on the first trick? Maybe his hand is x-x K-Q-7 J-10-9 Q-J-10-x-x. He knows I have the K and A, so he tried to induce me to win the first diamond trick. I must also duck the K, and later play the J if he leads a small heart from dummy (or the 2 if he leads the eight).

John Reardon: I don’t think South will manage nine tricks before we win five if I keep him out of his hand. It looks as though he may have a hand like x K-Q-x J-9-8-7 Q-J-10-x-x.

Rob Stevens: Could my idiot partner really have led hearts from four to the ace on this bidding? I had better hope so, and keep declarer from his diamond and club tricks.

Daniel de Lind van Wijngaarden: To lock declarer in dummy… If Fritz started with A-7-x-x, we can make five tricks.

Julian Wightwick: Declarer will surely need a long minor suit to get nine tricks. I’ll try to lock him in dummy so I can enjoy the spades. This should work well so long as partner has the A, and I remember to fly the J when the three is led from dummy. It was clever of Fritz to ignore my double and take out declarer’s heart entry.

N. Scott Cardell: Declarer needs a late hand entry, as the opening lead knocked out his heart entry; South may have something like x-x K-Q-7 J-10-9 Q-J-10-x-x. If I duck twice, declarer has no winning options. Even if South has an unlikely x-x A-K-x J-10-9 Q-J-x-x-x, winning the A won’t set the contract; if we next drive out the A, the Q-J strip-squeezes me in spades and diamonds.

Ruud von Seida: South may have x-x K-Q-x J-9-8-x-x Q-J-x. I’m glad that I have the 9 — but on the other hand, that’s why I doubled.

Jeff Ziemer: This could be wrong if the ducks give declarer a couple of tricks he shouldn’t get, but it seems right to cut him off from his hand. I sure hope South has K-Q-x and not A-K-x.

Toby Kenney: If declarer does not hold the A, this will leave him trapped in dummy, provided I remember to duck the 8 but cover the 3 later.

Adrian Petculescu: I hope South does not have the A; I’ll win the next club and return the Q.

Tim DeLaney: The bidding and play suggest South could have x-x K-Q-x J-10-9 Q-J-10-x-x; if so, only this defense shuts out the club suit. By the way, why did I think Fritz knew what a lead-directing double was?

Jeff Miller: Looks like the game here is to keep declarer dummy-locked. Partner will need the A, and he will have to [cooperate] to prevent a heart reentry to declarer’s hand. If declarer leads dummy’s 3, I will help by playing the jack (or duck the 8) in case South has Q-7 remaining.

Perry Groot: If declarer can be locked in dummy, he has only seven or eight tricks; partner must have the A.

Mauri Saastamoinen: Nice lead, partner. Now it is mucho importanto to lock declarer on the table…

Wei Victor Zhang: As long as Fritz has the A, declarer will have no entry to cash his diamonds…

Jack Rhatigan: This will unlikely be in tempo, but I will make declarer spend all his time in the dummy. … I’ll win the second club and lead the Q.

Bruce Neill: If South has x K-Q-x J-9-8-x-x Q-J-10-x, or x K-Q-x J-9-8-x Q-J-10-x-x, I need to keep him out of his hand.

Ron Mak: Where is my spade lead? Now I must stop Henry from getting to his hand. Fritz needs to have A-7-x-x to isolate dummy.

Sid Ismail: It would have been far better had Fritz led a spade. Oh well; I’ll try to block declarer in dummy. South [might] have x K-Q-x-x J-10-9 Q-J-10-x-x.

Richard Stein: It seems wacky, but it’s too late to go after spades now. Hearts are probably frozen. I’m betting South is concealing a suit like Q-J-10-x-x or Q-J-x-x-x-x. If so, this will shut them out; the mad doctor’s hand will never see the lead again.

Alon Amsel: I hope Fritz has A-7. Declarer will have no entry to his diamonds [or clubs].

Bob Marheine: Playing for South to have something like x K-Q-x J-9-8-x Q-J-10-8-x. Nice lead partner!…

Dmitri Shabes: What happened to my spade lead? Anyway, if Fritz has A-x-x-x (not too much to ask),…South is unable to reach his hand, even with K-Q-7, as long as Fritz pays attention (admittedly not a sure thing). I will later either duck the 8 or play high on the 3.

Georg Edelmann: I have no real clue but hope South has K-Q-x and Q-J-x-x-x-x, in which case ducking the diamond and club is right. Is there a better chance? …

Rob Wijman: If Fritz has led from A-7-x-x, the suit is [frozen] for the defense. Declarer should not be allowed access to winners in his hand. I’ll take the second club and lead the Q.

Lawrence Cheetham: … Once locked out of the South hand, those small spades in dummy will lose a lot of tricks. A defensive dummy reversal? :)

Irv Feinglass: Assuming partner has the A, declarer will get locked in dummy.

Jonathan Mestel: If Fritz is asleep and South has x-x K-Q-x J-10-9-x Q-J-10-x, this may be the only defense; but surely even Fritz has a spade void? Perhaps South has… x-x-x K-Q-7 J-10-9 Q-J-10-x. That’s it! I can kill the heart entry by [ducking the 8] or going up with the jack [on the 3].

Douglas Dunn: This should keep declarer in dummy. If the 3 is led, I’ll rise with the jack in case Frankenstein began with K-Q-7.

William Maxedon: The key is to look bored, then stick declarer in dummy with only spades.

Frans Buijsen: Hoping to kill entries to the South hand, which might be x-x K-Q-x J-10-9-x-x Q-J-x.

Roger Morton: It is probably essential to keep South away from any minor-suit tricks in his hand. The heart suit may well be frozen for both sides. I will exit in spades when on lead later.

Comments for F. Duck; win A; lead 9

Craig Zastera: This succeeds even when Dr. Frankenstein holds x K-Q-x J-9-8-7 Q-J-8-x-x. The Q return would allow him to strip Fritz of spades and diamonds, then endplay him with the fourth round of clubs.

Ken Warren: This keeps declarer from running diamonds and doesn’t allow him to score three club tricks with Q-J-x-x. If we’re careful, declarer will be leading spades himself.

Damo Nair: Hoping to get rid of dummy’s hearts and clubs,…then maybe some spade tricks will arrive.

John Haslegrave: This cuts entries to the long diamond(s) but [prevents] declarer from stealing a trick with the K…

Analyses 8X56 Main Challenge

Scores Top Finesses of Frankenstein

Problem 5

Rubber Bridge Both Vul	K Q 9 2 10 6 4 A J 10 9 Q J		Fritz West Pass All Pass	Monster North 3	You East Pass	Frankenstein SOUTH 1 4
4 South		6 3 J 9 8 K 5 2 K 10 7 6 5

Trick 1 W 2 N 3 N 4 S

Lead 3 K 2 7

2nd Q 3 6 4

3rd 7 5 J J

4th 2 4 7 ?

Defense	Award	Votes	Percent
B. Win K; lead 9	10	250	28
C. Win K; lead 8	9	180	20
A. Win K; lead J	7	108	12
E. Win K; lead K	5	228	25
F. Duck smoothly	4	104	12
D. Win K; lead 5	2	34	4

It is apparent you will need to win three heart tricks to defeat the contract, which means Fritz must have A-Q-x-(x). Alas, you cannot do this directly with the 10 in dummy; and if you fail to lead hearts, Dr. Frankenstein may be able to win 10 tricks: five spades, three diamonds and two clubs.

One possibility is to win the K and lead the J (Option A), hoping declarer will misguess the layout. You might make the same lead from Q-J-9, hoping to disguise your holding, so declarer may fatally duck the jack. Alas, “fatally” is not a good word to be using at this table. It was stipulated that Dr. Frankenstein is an expert, so he should take the percentage play and cover.*

*Ducking the J caters only to Q-J combinations, while covering caters to the actual situation and A-J. These odds are further enhanced by restricted choice, i.e., East has a choice of leads from Q-J. Covering is clearly the better play no matter which honor is led.

What about the diamond layout? You can’t be sure, since Fritz doesn’t give signals — except maybe that the coast is clear when stealing bodies from the morgue. If Dr. Frankenstein has the Q, or three or more diamonds, there’s nothing you can do. All you can hope for is a layout like the following:

Rubber Bridge	K Q 9 2		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
Both Vul	10 6 4		1 W	3	Q	7	2
	A J 10 9		2 N	K	3	5	4
	Q J		3 N	2	6	J	7
7 4		6 3	4 S	3	4	J	K!
A Q 3		J 9 8	5 E	K?	A	4	J
Q 8 6 4		K 5 2	6 S	7	6	10	2
9 8 4 3		K 10 7 6 5	7 N	A	5	2	8
	A J 10 8 5		8 N	9	5	5!	Q
	K 7 5 2		West is endplayed
	7 3
4 South	A 2

Declarer cannot win 10 tricks directly, so a passive defense seems the right course. Suppose you win the K and exit with the K (Option E). Not good enough. Declarer will finesse again in diamonds, take a pitch on the A, then give Fritz the last diamond as a loser-on-loser play to ensure the contract. It also doesn’t help if you return a diamond (Option D), as declarer can reach dummy with a third round of trumps (after cashing the A) to effect the same endplay.

Refusing to win the K (Option F) offers no hope (declarer will just concede three hearts), so it is evident you must win and shift to hearts; but which one? Having ruled out the jack, the choice is between the nine and eight. While technically the same, the nine (Option B) is correct to convey the message that you can’t have the king.* You want Fritz not to continue hearts after winning his queen; more specifically, he must shift to a diamond to prevent a strip squeeze.** Considering Fritz, this may be a wasted effort, but at least your conscience will be clear.

*Leading the eight is ambiguous; you might have K-9-8 (though the king is a better choice under the circumstances). Leading the nine, however, is crystal clear; you cannot have K-J-9 (you would lead the jack), so partner should always defend correctly.

**If Fritz exits with a club, declarer can run all his trumps to reach an ending of 10 A-10-9 opposite K-x-x 3. Fritz must keep three diamonds, so he must blank his A; then a diamond finesse and heart exit leaves Fritz endplayed.

A close second goes to leading the 8 (Option C) since it is just as good as the nine playing with Fritz — LOL, you have the same chance that a diamond may fall out of his hand next.

Third place goes to leading the J (Option A), as there is some chance Dr. Frankenstein may psychoanalyze you as incapable of leading the jack from A-J-x or J-x-x and suspect simple trickery from Q-J-x — but don’t hold your breath.

Options D, E and F seem to have no chance to beat the contract against an expert declarer. At rubber bridge, and particularly in this Franken-story, tiebreaking based on which defense is more likely to stop an overtrick doesn’t appeal. Therefore, I won’t split hairs (oops, bad metaphor this month) and just rank them by the voting.

An interesting defensive point, unrelated to the problem, was the decision to duck the Q at trick one. Ostensibly this only catered to a blank ace, but there is a subtle reason as well. If you covered, dummy would have an extra entry, and it would be impossible to break up the eventual strip squeeze. Try it.

Comments for B. Win K; lead 9

Chris Willenken: We need three heart tricks, and the best chance is to find declarer with A-J-10-x-x K-x-x-x x-x A-x. Even so, I need to be careful to prevent an endplay against partner; thus the 9, so he knows to shift. (He should work out the shift anyway, but it can’t hurt to play the obvious card.) With a diamond pitch looming, the only other shot is the J, hoping declarer misguesses, but an expert declarer will surely make the percentage play of covering.

Rainer Herrmann: For the defense to have a chance, I will assume declarer has A-J-x-x-x K-x-x-x x-x A-x. A diamond back exposes West to a throw-in in diamonds. Therefore, I’ll switch to the 9, and West must cooperate and switch back to diamonds to avoid a later strip squeeze in the red suits.

Barry White: I hope declarer has A-J-x-x-x K-x-x-x x-x A-x. This return will break up the endplay coming up on partner.

Tomislav Bosnjak: The 9 is better than the eight, so partner can judge [not to continue] with A-Q-x-x…

Manuel Paulo: I assume South has a hand like A-J-x-x-x K-x-x-x 7-x A-2. We need three heart tricks, and I must lead the suit to protect partner from being endplayed. The  J being obviously wrong, I choose between the spots. West should switch to a diamond to break up a red-suit strip squeeze, so I lead the 9 to guide him.

Sorry, but Fritz’s only experience with suit preference is deciding whether to dress corpses in wool or cotton.

Bill Powell: We need to get a heart trick before Fritz is endplayed with the Q.

David Caprera: Playing for South to hold A-J-x-x-x K-x-x-x x-x A-x. I play the 9 (high) to discourage partner from continuing hearts; but all this is science fiction playing with “Abby Normal.” If I continue clubs, declarer can finesse diamonds, pitch a heart on the A, and pitch another on the fourth diamond to endplay partner. Fritz has to win the heart switch and return a diamond to break up a [strip squeeze]; but since he has almost no chance of finding this, it may be right to go for the swindle of leading the J. All this confirms why I don’t play rubber bridge with partners who need brain transplants. “Oh, you men are all alike! Seven or eight quick ones, and then you’re out with the boys to boast and brag!”

Leif-Erik Stabell: Option A is our only chance if South has A-J-x-x-x K-x-x x-x-x A-x; but Frankenstein is not going to get the hearts wrong… So I have to try and steer Fritz into doing the right thing with x-x A-Q-x Q-x-x-x 9-8-4-3 (win the Q and play another diamond), and the 9 might [do it].

Jim Munday: Declarer has seven tricks in the black suits; so if he has three diamonds (or the Q), he will have 10 tricks upon regaining the lead. I can try leading the J, hoping declarer has K-x-x and ducks (playing me for Q-J); but this is anti-percentage, and declarer should get it right. I’ll play for the legitimate chance when declarer holds A-J-10-x-x K-x-x-x x-x A-x. …I must play a heart now (else partner gets endplayed on the fourth diamond) and choose the nine to discourage partner from playing another — as if Fritz will be paying attention — then a second diamond will leave declarer with no recourse.

Dale Freeman: I must lead a heart now. Declarer either has 10 tricks, or with 5=4=2=2 will endplay Fritz to score the K. The  9 says do not lead back a heart. I hope Fritz understands!

Joon Pahk: In order to have a chance, I need to find partner with A-Q-x and Q-x-x-x; and when partner wins the Q, he needs to exit with a diamond to break up the strip squeeze. I’ll try to suggest that by playing the 9.

N. Scott Cardell: The only hope for the defense is if partner has A-Q and Q, while declarer is 2-2 in the minors. The only way to get partner off the looming endplay is to win the first diamond and lead a low heart — the nine so I won’t appear to have K-9-8. …

Len Vishnevsky: Ah, the forcing jump raise; the sweet smell of the great depression. Give declarer a subminimum like A-J-x-x-x x-x x-x-x A-x-x, and he’s cold, with an overtrick if I don’t get busy. … Hold the presses! If he has A-J-x-x-x K-x-x-x x-x A-x,…I must shift to the 9, so partner will return a diamond to break up the [strip] squeeze. Then declarer won’t be able to make, even with X-ray vision.

Michael Dimich: I need to take partner off the later strip and endplay in diamonds. This lets him win the Q and exit safely in [diamonds], allowing us to win two more heart tricks.

Jeff Ziemer: Playing declarer for A-J-x-x-x K-x-x-x x-x A-x. Partner needs to win and play back a…diamond.

Toby Kenney: To beat this contract, we need…three heart tricks. If declarer has three diamonds, he can always succeed (unless partner has A-K-Q), so assume he has two. To prevent partner from being endplayed, I must lead a heart now; and partner must return a diamond to avoid being squeezed.

Julian Pottage: I hope partner wins the queen (from A-Q-x) and exits with a diamond.

Tim DeLaney: If South is 5=3=3=2, he will always make 4 , because we cannot take three fast heart tricks. We can beat him if he has A-J-10-x-x K-x-x-x x-x A-x, but I need to break up the endplay against Fritz by cashing exactly one heart; so I lead the 9 to discourage a heart return. …

Jeff Miller: I need declarer to be 5=4=2=2 with K-x-x-x (or worse) to have a chance to stop 10 tricks. To take partner off an endplay (fourth diamond is the throw-in card), we need to win one heart trick now.

Perry Groot: The black-suit distribution follows from the play, and South must be 5=4=2=2 with no more than the K to have a chance. West will win the Q and return a diamond to cut communication; then no squeeze or loser-on-loser play is possible.

Ludek Ambroz: … Key question is how to win three tricks in hearts. If South has A-J-x-x-x K-x-x-x x-x A-x, and I don’t return a heart, he finesses the 10, then plays A and nine, discarding two hearts to [endplay] West. …

Bruce Neill: If declarer has A-J-10-x-x K-x-x-x x-x A-x, I need to protect Fritz from an endplay or squeeze. A heart lead now stops Franky from taking another diamond finesse and throwing Fritz in with the fourth diamond. The hard part is to get partner to win this trick and switch to a diamond; at least the 9 tells him not to play a heart back. There’s no point in leading the J, as declarer would have to cover.

Ron Mak: Playing Henry for 5=4=2=2, and Fritz for A-Q-x and Q-x-x-x. I have to lead a heart through, so Fritz won’t get endplayed later; I hope he won’t return a heart…

Dean Pokorny: A heart return is necessary to break up the endplay when declarer holds A-J-x-x-x K-x-x-x x-x A-x. The  9 is probably better than 8, because it indicates I don’t have the K and emphasizes the need for a diamond switch.

George Klemic: Declarer could have x-x, so there is no sense ducking his only diamond loser. If he has A-J-x-x-x K-x-x-x x-x A-2, one [successful] diamond finesse will not help, but I must switch to a heart…

Jouko Paganus: A heart switch is obligatory, else declarer can [endplay] partner with the fourth diamond. The  9 can’t be from the king, so partner will know the only hope is to switch…

Gabriel Ip: I’m not sure of the heart position, but ducking is fatal if South has x-x…

Neelotpal Sahai: If declarer is 5=4=2=2 (something like A-J-x-x-x K-x-x-x x-x A-x), either the 9 or 8 return will beat him… When partner wins his Q, he should return a diamond to break up the stepping-stone squeeze on himself. …

Peter Breuer: Frankenstein will have the A, so the K is my only entry. Fritz may have A-Q, but we cannot win three heart tricks in a row. So I win and lead the 9… If Fritz also holds Q-x-x-x, he cannot be endplayed…

Comments for C. Win K; lead 8

John Lusky: Hoping partner has x-x A-Q-x Q-x-x-x x-x-x-x, and will play a diamond back. This breaks up any endplay or squeeze involving the red suits. As between the 8 and 9, I choose the eight (1) because it’s the [normally] correct lead from J-9-8; (2) partner should not play me for the K since I must hold the K (else declarer would take a heart pitch before playing diamonds), plus I would lead the K if I had it; and (3) I have already trained partner on Problem 1 to return the suit when I lead a red nine. :)

Thijs Veugen: If South has A-J-x-x-x K-x-x-x x-x A-x, I have to play a heart now; otherwise, West will be endplayed with the fourth diamond.

Ed Barnes: This Fritz is diabolical. Ducking surely gives the doctor his 10th, 11th, 12th or 13th trick, so I’ll pick an exit card a random. Eenie, meenie…

Adrian Petculescu: To beat 4 , South must have exactly A-J-x-x-x K-x-x-x x-x A-x (with the A, Q, 3+ diamonds or 3+ clubs, he has 10 tricks, since we cannot cash three fast heart tricks). I must return a heart to prevent partner from being endplayed later.

Sid Ismail: Only chance is if declarer has A-J-x-x-x K-x-x-x x-x A-x (or Q-x-x-x). … Partner will win the Q and return a diamond to prevent a red-suit squeeze against himself. Could Fritz have A-K-Q? Far-fetched, but a heart switch wins here also.

Another problem with Fritz having A-K-Q is that you still may not win a heart. He could have seven of them.

Craig Zastera: If Dr. Frankenstein holds A-J-10-x-x K-x-x-x x-x A-x, there is a danger that Fritz will be endplayed with the fourth round of diamonds (after clubs are stripped). To prevent this, I must return a heart now (not the J which allows the doctor to establish a heart). Fritz [should] win the Q and exit with a [diamond]. I can’t see any advantage in returning a funny 9, so I’ll lead the normal eight.

John Haslegrave: Declarer may plan to throw partner in with the fourth round of diamonds, so we need a heart trick now…

Jack Presser: We must get three heart tricks, so I’ll play partner for A-Q and Q. Leading a heart now avoids partner being endplayed in diamonds.

Analyses 8X56 Main Challenge

Scores Top Finesses of Frankenstein

Problem 6

Rubber Bridge None Vul	A 9 2 Q 7 6 4 3 2 A Q 9 8		Fritz West Pass Pass All Pass	Monster NORTH 1 3 5	You East Pass Pass Dbl	Frankenstein South 2 4 NT 6
6 South		7 3 K J 9 8 Q J 4 K 10 7 4

Trick 1 W 2 S

Lead 6 J

2nd 2 2

3rd J 8

4th A ?

Defense	Award	Votes	Percent
E. Win K; lead 10	10	43	5
D. Win K; lead 4	8	284	31
C. Win K; lead Q	7	219	24
B. Win K; lead 9	6	117	13
A. Win K; lead 3	5	150	17
F. Duck smoothly	4	91	10

Argh! You double 5 for the lead, and Fritz comes out with a diamond. Well, at least he got the color right this time (compare Problem 4). Relax. This is your last hand, then you can arrange to kill Fritz at your leisure.

What is Dr. Frankenstein up to? It seems strange that he would lead clubs before drawing trumps. Perhaps it’s for transportation reasons, as he is marked with at least three diamonds* and will need to ruff a diamond in dummy. He probably has just five trumps and is willing to accept the negligible risk of a ruff for strategic advantage.

*The opening lead ( 6) lead shows at most five cards (only one lower spot missing). Conditions stated you could trust Fritz to lead the proper spot card.

Fritz’s play of the 2 means nothing as far as signaling, but declarer’s play suggests a doubleton club. (If he had J-x-x, he would surely ruff a diamond and draw trumps first.) Combined with his deduced diamond length, a layout like the following is likely:

Rubber Bridge	A 9 2		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
None Vul	Q 7 6 4		1 W	6	2	J	A
	3 2		2 S	J	2	8	K!
	A Q 9 8		3 E	4?	K	5	3
6 5 4		7 3	4 S	9	10	A	Q
5 3		K J 9 8	5 N	2	3	K	4
10 8 7 6 5		Q J 4	6 S	Q	5	9	7
6 5 2		K 10 7 4	7 S	J	6	4	8
	K Q J 10 8		8 S	10	7	6	9
	A 10 2		9 S	8	3	7	?
	A K 9		East is squeezed
6 South	J 3

Superficially, it seems that passive defense is best; win the K and exit with a spade or diamond. Declarer can pitch a heart on the third club, but this still leaves a heart loser. Oops, look again. Declarer has 11 tricks (after a diamond ruff), and you will be squeezed in hearts and clubs — and you can be sure this Franken-dude will get it right.*

*The alternative for declarer is to take a second club finesse, which would be better a priori, but after your double of 5 , the squeeze seems superior.

What about ducking the J? No, declarer will not finesse again immediately, as he has 12 tricks when the king is onside. Further, he will suspect your holdup from Fritz’s failure to cover. Instead, he will ruff his diamond loser and draw trumps, after which he could hardly go wrong. One successful path is simply to repeat the club finesse when dummy has Q-x A-Q-9; you will be endplayed! Alternatively, declarer can abandon clubs and lead a heart to the queen, then later finesse the 10 (or squeeze you).

The killing defense is to win the K and return a club* (Option E). On the surface this appears to give away the contract, but a closer look shows that declarer cannot enjoy a diamond ruff and the fourth club. Dummy lacks an entry after trumps are drawn, so declarer is haunted by Fritz’s third trump. In effect, the club return breaks up the squeeze, and even Dr. Frankenstein can’t bring the contract back to life.

*Any club will do. I designated the 10 only on the general principle of requiring declarer to remember the cards played. That is, if you return a low club, he will win the nine and surely know both A-Q are good; but if you lead the 10, he may forget the nine is high. Against an expert, the chance of this mattering may be like winning the lottery, but stranger things have happened.

What about other layouts? South might have K-Q-J-10-x-x-x A-x A-x-x J, where a club return gives away the contract. True, but it’s a less likely hand, and an expert would probably draw one round of trumps before this play, and he might opt to ruff out K-x-x in East when the jack isn’t covered. Further, if hearts were A-10, it would be wise to duck the first trick to preserve the option to squeeze East; i.e., to prevent a club shift from West. Note that if South has fewer than seven spades (lacking the K), he cannot come to 12 tricks, even after a club return.

Second place goes to returning the 4 (Option D) as it secures the setting trick if Fritz has the K. Further, in the diagram it leaves declarer the losing option of a second club finesse instead of playing for the squeeze. Wasting the Q could cost, but I suppose it guards against Fritz not taking his king (could anyone be that bad?), so Option C gets a close third.

Fourth place goes to winning and returning a heart (Option B). While seemingly foolish, South might hold K-Q-J-10-x-x-x x A-K-x J-x. Some would argue this is likely from Dr. Frankenstein’s failure to bid 5 NT to ask for kings; but I doubt that argument holds playing with an ex-corpus delicti.

A trump return (Option A) is poor, as it gives up any chance of cashing the setting trick immediately, and it could pick off partner’s trump queen, however unlikely. The only saving grace is that declarer still has the losing option to take a second club finesse. Worst is to duck the J (Option F), as it seems to have no saving grace (explained earlier).

Food for thought: Imagine if Fritz had heeded your double and led a heart. Dr. Frankenstein could capture the J with the ace, ruff his diamond loser, and lead all his trumps to reach an ending of Q-7-6 A opposite 10-2 J-3. A crisscross squeeze without the count! If you keep only two hearts, the 10 lead establishes dummy; if you keep three hearts, the A drops your king, and the 10 provides an entry to the J. Perhaps the doctor should have found this line anyway, but give Fritz credit for clouding the issue. Curiously, only an original club lead defeats 6  with best play all around.

Comments for E. Win K; lead 10

Chris Willenken: It looks like the case that matters is finding declarer with K-Q-J-x-x A-10-x A-K-x J-x. If I win and shift, declarer will make on a squeeze; if I duck, he can make in various ways. So I must win and return a club, forcing declarer to choose between his diamond ruff and his extra club trick. No squeeze will operate…

Rainer Herrmann: To have a chance, I’ll play declarer for K-Q-J-x-x A-10-x A-K-x J-x. A club back kills the heart-club squeeze. Declarer cannot ruff his diamond loser and enjoy three club tricks. Why Fritz didn’t lead a heart remains a mystery.

Barry White: Removing an entry if declarer has K-Q-J-10-x A-10-x A-K-x J-x; he cannot ruff in dummy, draw trumps and cash clubs.

Tomislav Bosnjak: If partner has x-x-x x-x-x 10-x-x-x-x x-x, we are home. Declarer cannot ruff his third diamond and cash clubs, as there is no side-suit entry to dummy.

Manuel Paulo: If South has K-Q-J-x-x A-10-x A-K-x J-x, neither partner nor declarer played as well as possible. Partner could have led a club, and declarer could have eliminated diamonds and drawn trumps. After I take the K and return a club, declarer can win three clubs or ruff a diamond, but not both.

Bill Powell: Only hope seems to be that South has K-Q-J-10-x A-10-x A-K-9 J-x.

Alex Perlin: Enough is enough! I can’t stand the thought of Frankenstein losing another finesse to my 10. :)

John Lusky: This is necessary to break up the heart-club squeeze if South has K-Q-J-x-x A-10-x A-K-9 J-x. Declarer cannot both take his diamond ruff and cash the fourth club. (Declarer should have played differently if 5=2=3=3.)

David Caprera: Breaking up the squeeze when South holds K-Q-J-x-x A-10-x A-K-x J-x. “Pardon me, boy! Is this the Transylvania station?”

Subhransu Patnaik: If declarer has six spades, there is no defense. Declarer’s distribution has to be 5=3=3=2 to have a chance. After winning the K, a club has to be returned to prevent a squeeze if declarer has the 10. Although this [gives away] the club suit, declarer cannot cash the fourth club without drawing trumps, and [doing this] prevents a diamond ruff.

Leif-Erik Stabell: This is necessary against K-Q-J-x-x A-10-x A-K-x J-x. Any other defense allows declarer to ruff a diamond and squeeze me.

Jim Munday: If declarer has six spades, he will have 12 tricks: six spades, one heart, three diamonds (with a ruff) and two clubs. Declarer would not play this way with four clubs, and not likely with three either. He might be setting me up with a stiff J, but then Fritz [probably] has a stiff heart and might have led it — even by accident. This caters to the doctor holding K-Q-J-10-x A-10-x A-K-x J-x. Without a club return, I’ll get squeezed in the round suits after a diamond ruff…

Dale Freeman: Playing declarer for K-Q-J-10-x A-10-x A-K-x J-x. Is there some implication why Fritz did not lead a heart? If he has the K or A, uh-oh!

Joshua Donn: There goes Fritz, ignoring me again. If Frankenstein has K-Q-J-10-x A-x-x A-K-x J-x, this silly looking play is the only way to set him, since it kills the late club entry. It’s true, he could always have made in this case; but who am I to let him off the hook?

Thijs Veugen: Although the J is a suspicious play, South probably has K-Q-J-x-x A-10-x A-K-x J-x. I have to win and return a club to break up the squeeze. Even if South doesn’t hold the 10, I don’t see Fritz holding on to his hearts. If I duck, declarer will probably eliminate diamonds and spades, and safely repeat the club finesse.

Lajos Linczmayer: South has three diamonds and all the missing face cards. If he has six spades, he has 12 tricks; so I suppose he has K-Q-J-10-x A-10-x A-K-9 J-x.

Joon Pahk: Why do I bother with these lead-directing doubles? I don’t think there’s much hope unless declarer has J-x and 5=3=3=2 shape. If South has the 10, I have to play a club now to break up the impending squeeze.

Jordi Sabate: Declarer has the rest of high cards. If he has four diamonds, he will score the slam; same if he has six or more spades. The only chance is that he is 5=3=3=2, then I must play a club in order to avoid a squeeze in hearts and clubs. South cannot remove trumps, win his fourth club and ruff a diamond.

John Reardon: From his bidding, South may well have both A and K; and the lead is fourth-best, so I know South has at least three diamonds. South could have K-Q-J-10-x A-10-x A-K-x J-x, in which case this is the only defense.

Rob Stevens: Declarer must be 5=3=3=2 or 5=3=2=3 for us to beat this. If partner has the 10, declarer is always down. Even in a good partnership, I don’t believe I could be certain that partner has three clubs, as [signaling] is usually too helpful to declarer; but it isn’t likely that declarer would lead clubs this early with three. When South has two clubs, I have a sure set. Returning a club cuts communication for the squeeze, and makes it impossible for declarer to get both the long club and the diamond ruff. Interesting aside: How should West signal to show or deny possession of the 10 in a good partnership?

Daniel de Lind van Wijngaarden: Declarer won’t be able to make this if he has K-Q-J-x-x A-10-x A-K-x J-x.

Julian Wightwick: I should have kept my mouth shut after Fritz ignored my double on Board 4. No matter, perhaps Dr. Frankenstein has K-Q-J-x-x A-10-x A-K-x J-x. If I duck, he can afford to try a heart to the 10 before repeating the club finesse. If I win and go passive, he might take a second club finesse — or he might credit me with the 10 for not returning a club, and get me in a squeeze. Therefore, this entry-destroying play seems safest…

N. Scott Cardell: Bidding and play suggest…declarer may have K-Q-J-10-x A-10-x A-K-x J-x. The club return gives him three club tricks, but [then] he can’t get a diamond ruff, and there is no winning line. … Even if declarer has something like K-Q-10-8-x A-10 A-K-x-x J-x, he may misguess: Heart discard on third club; A-K; diamond ruff; A; diamond, and when West follows, ruff high and finesse me for the J. Or after the first diamond ruff, he may lead the fourth club, hoping I am the one who is out.

Charles Blair: I am looking forward to Fritz giving me a lesson on suit-preference signals.

Ludek Ambroz: … If South has K-Q-x-x-x A-10-x A-K-9 J-x, I must win and return a club, else declarer will reach a squeeze position… Declarer cannot ruff a diamond and win the fourth club. If South has A-10 and J-x-x, he will surely fulfill his contract.

Brad Theurer: Geez, Fritz; you couldn’t lead a heart? Oh well; again a squeeze is threatened, this time in the rounded suits. To have a chance, declarer has to have something like K-Q-J-x-x A-10-x A-K-x J-x, in which case my club return breaks up a squeeze, and partner’s third trump stops declarer from pitching both hearts away. I’m trusting that Fritz actually gave correct count with his 2.

Neelotpal Sahai: This removes the late entry to break up the squeeze. If declarer has six spades and HCP consistent with his bidding, he should [always] score the contract…

Final Notes

I hope you enjoyed the contest, as well as memories of one of greatest horror films ever made (amazing for its time). None of the sequels even come close to capturing the intensity of the original. Even to this day, I get chills when I think about the “little Maria” scene. Thanks to all who participated, and especially those who offered kind remarks about my web site.

Comments are selected from those scoring 43 or higher (top 250) in this contest or in the Overall Top 200 prior to this contest; and for each problem I only use comments supporting the winning solution (or scores of 9 on Problems 4 and 5). This may seem biased, but I feel it’s the best way to ensure solid content and avoid potential embarrassment in publishing comments that are off the mark. Of the eligible comments, I included about 75 percent. If you supplied comments that were unused, I thank you for the input.

Use of a comment does not necessarily mean I agree with it, but generally they are all worthy. Comments are quoted exactly except for corrections in spelling and grammar. Where I have included only part of a comment, an ellipsis (…) indicates where text was cut. Text [in brackets] was supplied by me to summarize a cut portion or fix an omission. Comments are listed in order of respondents’ rank, which is my only basis for sequencing. I am confident that my lengthy study of these problems, assisted by comments received, has determined the best solutions in theory, but oversights are possible. Feedback is always welcome.

Time to go, so I’ll leave you with these words from the stunt crew:

Mark Kornmann: Talk about hands from Hell! When I play in club games and get a bad result against the Fritzes of the world, I write “FBI” (fixed by idiots) on the scorecard.

Howard Rabinowitz: Being heavily medicated gives these problems a warm, fuzzy feeling.
By the way, I could use some spare body parts if they aren’t already claimed.

Jonathan Mestel: A tricky set. Perhaps I need a new brain.

Curt Reeves: Let’s take up a collection to buy Fritz a book on opening leads.

Alex Perlin: Thanks, Fritz! Enjoyed the game. This time your bidding was particularly impressive.

Micki Kaufman: Happy Halloween! Have to catch the nine o’clock broom!

Analyses 8X56 Main Challenge

Scores Top Finesses of Frankenstein

Acknowledgments to Mary Shelley (1797-1851) and the Universal film Frankenstein (1931)
© 2005 Richard Pavlicek