Analyses 8X72  Main Challenge

The First Bridge Biathlon

Scores  by Richard Pavlicek

During the month of February 2006, these six problems were published on the Internet as a contest open to all bridge players. As West or East, you were asked to choose your defense from the options listed.

Problem 1

2

3

4

5

6

Final Notes

Ready on the left! Ready on the right! Ready on the firing line! At least that’s how my sergeant used to call it in basic training, but we were packin’ M14s, which are heavy caliber. Members of the new ACBBL are more casual, skiing freely round to round with bolt-action .22s. Best of all, they can be as rude as they want. There’s no more “Zero Tolerance” crap, except to adjust rifle sights. What Director would dare to intervene? All the new breed worry about are shooting for tops and avoiding the dreaded users of double-barreled Stayman.

So what have we learned from this new frontier of bridge biathlon? Maybe nothing, but I can picture Bob Costas doing a fireside chat with Jeff Meckstroth, after the U.S. takes gold in the event. “Jeff, how do you account for your amazing success as a bridge biathlete?”

“Well, there’s no better partner than Eric, and no better teammates than Bob and Paul,” Meckstroth replies, “but our biggest edge is a finely tuned bidding system — and of course, my sons Matt and Rob riding shotgun.”

Julian Wightwick Wins!

Participation was down slightly from the last contest, predictably, as most people prefer declarer play, but still the third highest (February 2005 has the lead with 1153). The average score was middling (all-time average stands at 39.45 for 33 contests with 23,617 entries from 5010 persons), and 520 persons scored 40 or better to make the listing. Most notable was the lowest-ever top score (previously was 58 in five contests). This was mainly due to Problem 5, a real nutcracker, as many fine solvers chose the same defense that I thought was best — alas, we were all shot down by a telescopic sight.

In the overall standings, Rainer Herrmann (Germany) held the lead (surprise, surprise) with his 60.00 average, although he showed signs of being human with only 50 this month. Hmm; you’d think a German would nail a biathlon with his eyes closed. Jim Munday (California) remained only a half-point back with 59.50, followed by Lajos Linczmayer (Hungary) with 58.75 and Rob Stevens (US) with 58.50. Tim DeLaney (Indiana), Bruce Neill (Australia) and Weidong Yang (China) are next with 58.00.

In the February Bot’s Eye View, Micro Bridge (Japan) grabbed the gold with a respectable 48; GIB (US) won the silver with 47; and Q-plus Bridge (Germany) took the bronze with 45. In the overall standings, GIB easily retained its lead with a 47.75 average, followed by Jack (Netherlands) with 45.50 and Micro Bridge with 43.00.

Most correspondence I receive is favorable, but every now and then I manage to strike a sore spot. This time I received an e-mail from a lady in Colorado who was offended by my biathlon-in-schools* proposal, even though she understood it was not serious. Apparently she had deep emotions re the Columbine tragedy and felt I was off base. Sorry, no disrespect was intended.

*I came up with the silly idea watching an old All in the Family rerun, in which Archie Bunker proposes a way to stop airline hijackings: “Arm all your passengers! Pass out the rods as they board, and collect them as they leave. Case closed.” Hilarious back then; less funny today.

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

Each problem offered six defensive options (A-F) for West or 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.

Problem 1

IMPs	6		West	North	East	South
None vul	10 9		You	Dummy	Partner	Declarer
	A K J 8 7 3 2			1	Pass	1
	K Q 8		Pass	2	Pass	2 NT
K Q 3			Pass	3 NT	Pass	Pass
K 5 4 2			Pass
5
J 10 7 6 4		3 NT South

Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
1. W	K	6	10	4

Your Next Lead	Award	Votes	Percent
3	10	101	10
2	8	153	15
Q	7	471	45
J	4	167	16
6	3	148	14
5	1	13	1

Some respondents questioned the choice of opening lead, “Why not the fourth-best club?” Hah! Jack-high suits are for sissies. Macho biathletes shoot from the hip; when you’re out of bullets, you lead a king. Seriously, I have no strong feelings either way, but the known long suit in dummy boosts the attraction of the K. Lucky perhaps, but it worked here.

What does partner have in spades? Surely, he must have the ace*, but he can’t have six spades. No expert would pass 1 nonvulnerable with A-10-9-x-x-x. Therefore, he must have five, which gives South a stopper with J-x-x-x.

*Some would argue that partner should play the 10 from, say, 10-9-8-x-x to pinpoint the missing jack; but I don’t buy it. Standard practice is to play low, else you will never know whether to continue with K-Q-x (or A-K-x, A-K-J-x). With K-Q-J holdings, you usually continue anyway, then partner should play the 10 on the second round to clarify the situation.

Can partner have another ace? Unlikely, as two bullets would justify a 1 overcall. This is biathlon, not a Tuesday night social. Therefore, partner needs a diamond stopper (Q-x-x) to have a chance, and he may have the Q or J as well. Consider this layout, which fits the bidding and play so far:

IMPs	6		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
None vul	10 9		1. W	K	6	10	4
	A K J 8 7 3 2		2. W	Q?	2	2	5
	K Q 8		3. W	3	3	A	7
K Q 3		A 10 9 8 2	4. E	8	J	4	7
K 5 4 2		J 7 6	5. S	9	5	K	6
5		Q 10 6	6. N	10!	6	3	K
J 10 7 6 4		5 3		Declarer succeeds
	J 7 5 4
	A Q 8 3
	9 4
3 NT South	A 9 2

Defense looks pretty simple. Just continue with the Q and give South his stopper, then partner must get in with the Q to cash the long spade. Oops; must he? Declarer should pitch diamonds from dummy to retain an extra chance; then he can safely run the 10 to produce nine tricks: one spade, three hearts, two diamonds and three clubs. There’s no way to stop it.

The best defense is to continue with the 3. This may look bizarre, but an expert East should cater to the actual layout whenever he has a diamond stopper (and 9-8) by inserting the 8 to force the jack. What else could you have? You would hardly lead the king from K-Q-x-x without even a nine-spot.

But wait! What if declarer also reads the spade layout and holds up his jack. Good for him, but partner has another clever stroke available. He should deduce exactly what’s going on (you wouldn’t lead low from K-Q-J-x) and shift to the J. Take that! Suppose declarer finesses the queen, and you win the K. Don’t cash the Q! Just exit with a heart (or a diamond or a club honor), and declarer is obliged to win the 10 if he wants three heart tricks.* Now he can squirm all he wants, but he can’t come to a ninth trick. The difference is that he never gets a spade trick.

*Exception: If South had A-Q-8-7 (or A-Q-8-6), he can succeed by overtaking the second heart in hand (his spots are all good) to lead a third spade. This cuts the defenders’ communication, then East can be squeezed in spades and diamonds. Oh well; you can’t win ‘em all.

What if partner has A-10-9-7-x*, i.e., South has J-8-x-x? Partner will then realize the futility in inserting the 9 (he can’t overtake your queen), but the alternate defense works just as well. Win the A and shift to the J.

*Partner cannot afford to play the seven from A-10-9-7-x, else you’d have to continue with the queen, since he could have A-J-7-x-x or J-10-7-x-x.

The silver medal goes to leading the 2. While this fails miserably in the diagram, it defeats the contract without heroics when partner has Q-x-x (along with a diamond stopper). Even if declarer develops hearts, he cannot come to nine tricks without a spade trick, which this defense denies. It also retains communication in spades, so partner can’t be squeezed or endplayed.

The bronze goes to the popular choice, leading the Q. Besides a diamond stopper, this requires partner to have Q-x-x with good enough spots to cover the 10 to prevent declarer from establishing hearts without blockage; i.e., such that declarer cannot afford to win and lead the J.

Shifting to a club offers no chance to beat the contract (unless partner has two diamond stoppers). If you magically catch partner with the A, he couldn’t have Q-x-x (no overcall), so all you can cash are four tricks — declarer will not cover the 9 return. Between the J and 6, there’s little to choose, so they’re ranked by the voting.

Worst of all must be a diamond shift, not that it’s really any worse than a club in theory, but because partner will wonder which side you’re playing for. A biathlete’s worst nightmare is being taken out by friendly fire.

Comments for the 3

Julian Wightwick: I hope partner…will work out to try the 8 from A-10-9-8-x.

Jonathan Mestel: Establishing a heart trick [when partner leads the J] keeps diamonds out of the picture opposite A-10-9-8-x J-x-x Q-x-x. …

Wuping Lu: Partner [will play the 8] with A-10-9-8-x x-x-x Q-x-x x-x.

Thijs Veugen: If South has J-8-x-x A-Q-x-x x-x A-x-x, I have to get a heart shift next.

Patrice Piganeau: Only defense if South has J-x-x-x A-Q-x-x x-x A-x-x.

Brad Theurer: A typical South hand could be J-x-x-x A-Q-8-x x-x A-x-x. Due to my bad heart spots, if I continue with the Q and another, declarer can take nine tricks without the diamond suit,…so I must lead low. Partner (with A-10-9-8-x, hopefully) will stick in the eight. Now we’ll be poised to take four spades and either a diamond or heart trick. …

Rob Stevens: Partner appears to have the A but isn’t likely to have six, since he didn’t make a weak jump overcall; and he will need the Q guarded twice. Leading three more rounds of spades isn’t good enough; declarer will know the location of the long spade and revert to hearts, where his useful spot cards will get him three tricks to go with two diamonds, three clubs and a spade. If I lead the 3 to partner’s eight, we have an answer for everything. …

John Reardon: Partner would certainly have bid 2 with A-10-9-x-x-x J-x Q-x x-x-x, so he doesn’t have a spade suit that long. Perhaps South has J-x-x-x A-Q-8-x x-x A-x-x, which leaves partner with A-10-9-8-x J-x-x Q-x-x x-x; then he [should] let South win the J whilst keeping our communication open.

Daniel de Lind van Wijngaarden: The 10 denies the jack, so South will usually have J-x-x-x… To beat the contract, I have to assume partner has Q-x-x; then with A-10-9-8-x, he should play the eight. If partner started with 10-9-8-x-x [and erred by playing the 10], he will know to switch to hearts if he has A-J-8 [after winning his Q].

Jordi Sabate: It seems that South has J-x-x-x. If I continue with the Q and 3, partner can beat the contract if he wins the Q; but declarer will play on hearts (one spade, three hearts, two diamonds and three clubs). I prefer to lead the 3 and hope partner, with A-10-9-x-x J-8-x Q-x-x x-x, will win the A and brilliantly lead the J.

Curt Reeves: [If] South has something like J-x-x-x A-Q-x-x x-x A-x-x, this defense [gives] us a chance.

Jean-Christophe Clement: Hoping partner has A-10-9-8-x and the [guarded] Q.

Ding-Hwa Hsieh: Why ask me if partner doesn’t have A-10-x-x-x J-8-x Q-x-x x-x?

Travis Crump: Hopefully, partner can find a heart shift, as I’m more likely to be playing spades this way with my actual holding than K-Q-J-x-x. …

Julian Pottage: This might not be easy to read, but I may need to put partner in to lead the J.

Bruce Neill: No good setting up spades. Even if partner has a diamond entry, declarer can make nine tricks without the long diamonds, with as little as J-x-x-x A-J-6-3 x-x A-x-x. I have to hope partner…is expert enough to realize what’s happening when I block spades, and find the heart switch.

Joshua Donn: My partners sometimes play OK, so maybe he’ll return the [ J] like he’s supposed to from A-10-x-x-x J-x-x Q-x-x x-x. If he plays another spade, I’ll simply play him for the A. So I’m playing South for J-9-x-x A-Q-x-x x-x A-x-x, with a backup plan of J-9-x-x Q-J-x-x Q-x A-x-x.

Charles Blair: Grumble, grumble. If partner has A-10-9-x-x J-8-x Q-x-x x-x, he will be the hero for returning the J…

Barry White: If declarer holds J-x-x-x A-Q-x-x Q-x x-x-x, partner should have no trouble switching to a heart to set up our fifth trick before nine tricks are there for declarer.

Jouko Paganus: Smells like A-10-9-8-x and Q-x-x, and an expert partner plays the 8 to declarer’s jack.

Perry Groot: South may have J-x-x-x A-Q-7-x x-x A-x-x, and partner will play the 8. If South wins, we can wait for a heart or diamond, then win our spades. If South ducks, partner can switch to a heart honor to kill communication in the heart suit. Only the A entry can be used to cut our communication, but then I can lock declarer in dummy so partner cannot be squeezed.

Jim Munday: Partner’s failure to overcall and South’s 2 NT suggest spades are not running. Our best chance looks to be the [ J] switch from partner at trick three, succeeding when South holds J-x-x-x A-Q-x-x 10-x A-x-x…

Chuck Lamprey: With A-10-9-8-x, partner will play the eight to force the jack (I hope), maintaining our communication. … My partners are in the auction with a six-bagger.

John Lusky: If partner has A-10-9-x-x, the only other card he can have (consistent with the bidding) to give the defense a chance is the Q. Give partner A-10-9-8-x x-x-x Q-9-x-x 9, and we can beat it by force if he sticks in the 9 at trick two; and if he has A-10-9-8-x x-x-x Q-x-x x-x, declarer will have to play with mirrors to make it on this defense.

Mauri Saastamoinen: Prospects are poor; however, if my dear partner has the A and Q-x-x, there is a chance to take [five tricks], e.g., if South has J-x-x-x A-Q-J-x 10 A-9-x-x.

John Sheehan: If South has J-x-x-x A-Q-J-x Q-10-9 x-x, [partner must win and return a heart].

Allan Graves: If I assume declarer has J-x-x-x, then he has the round aces; and I need partner with the Q… However, if I establish partner’s spades from the top, declarer will switch tacks and play on hearts,…coming to nine tricks. Therefore, partner [should] insert the 8 at trick two.

Albert Feasley: The only red-suit winner the defense can set up is my K, and this has to be done before South’s J-x-x-x gets set up for a ninth trick…

Joon Pahk: I’m playing partner for A-10-9-8-x; and if he works out to put in the eight, we’ll be in business.

Peter Gill: Will partner shoot a heart back, or give me a heart attack?

Problem 2

IMPs	A Q J 7 6		West	North	East	South
E-W vul	K 10		Partner	Dummy	You	Declarer
	10 6 2					1
	10 6 3		Pass	1	Pass	2
		9 8 5 4	Pass	3	Pass	4
Lead: 5		A 6	Pass	Pass	Pass
		A J 8 3
4 South		K 7 5

Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
1. W	5	2	A	Q

Your Next Lead	Award	Votes	Percent
4	10	261	25
K	9	96	9
5	8	324	31
3	4	271	26
A	2	73	7
6	1	28	3

You made it over to the East seat just in time! A heavy snowfall has hidden parts of the ski trail, so please proceed carefully when you leave for the next stop. Targets here are crosswind, so adjust your sights for about 3 MOA left windage.

What do you make of the diamond layout? Partner appears to have led from K-9-7-5-4, giving South a stiff queen. It is possible, of course, that South falsecarded with Q-4; but this would also mean that partner chose a dubious lead.*

*I’m not sure how other experts feel, but I’m far more inclined to lead from a king in a long suit (5+ cards) than a four-carder. Between, say, K-9-x-x and Q-9-x-x, I would usually lead a club.

South surely has the A and K to justify his opening and continuation to game; his hearts are probably Q-J sixth, and he might have seven. To beat the contract, you will probably need two club tricks, so the obvious move is to shift to clubs before your A is dislodged. Consider a likely layout:

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

Alas, any club shift blows a trick. Declarer will simply duck the 5 to the queen, then the rest of the suit is his. It is possible, of course, that partner has Q-J-x-(x), but that’s asking a lot when South is already bidding on skimpy values. Also, partner likely would have led the Q if holding a sequence, rather than risk a diamond lead from the king.

The best defense is to try to kill dummy. The unseen spades are probably 2-2, as partner would have led a singleton if had one; and South is unlikely to have two singletons (assuming a stiff Q). A spade shift, followed by another after winning the second* heart, will render the spade suit useless. Partner will guide you along the way by high-lowing in spades to confirm the doubleton and in trumps to show three.** Left to tackle clubs himself, declarer must lose two clubs.***

*If you win the first heart, declarer can continue spades to let partner ruff; then trumps can be drawn ending in dummy.

**If partner has only two hearts, your plan is history; but you can’t cater to everything. Certainly, South is more likely to have six hearts than seven.

***If the 10 is led (when dummy has a further entry), East must cover.

Shifting to a club is the only hope if South has seven hearts, and the K gets the silver. If declarer has K-x Q-J-x-x-x-x-x Q A-J-x and sees West signal high in clubs, he would surely play for a 3-3 spades, rather than succumb to the apparent ruff. The only disadvantage in the king (versus the five) is to blur the club count when declarer has falsecarded with Q-4, but I consider this far-fetched after West’s choice of leads. I was generous, perhaps, to award 9 to the K, but I’m enamored by the chance to beat the unbeatable. If it works, however, you’d better ski off quickly before South sees your hand.

Leading the 3 has little merit. Even if it exposes that South has falsecarded with K-x Q-J-x-x-x-x Q-4 A-J-x, partner is not going to shift to clubs. He will assume you have A-3 (South having Q-J-x-x) and try to give you a ruff. Ouch.

Worst of all must be to lead a trump, as it not only gives declarer a free run in the previous examples but resolves any trump guess as well (partner could have J-x-x). I suppose the A must be better than the 6 — at least you’re firing a bullet!

Comments for the 4

Julian Wightwick: Hoping declarer is 2-6 in the majors. I will win the second heart and lead a second spade. It seems declarer has a singleton diamond, so this defense is necessary if he has K-x Q-J-9-x-x-x Q A-J-8-x. … If instead he has K-x Q-J-9-x-x-x-x Q A-x-x, I must switch to a club; but I expect partner would already have led the Q on that.

Jonathan Mestel: Partner would probably have led a club with Q-J-x; so I’ll play declarer for K-x Q-J-9-x-x-x Q A-J-8-x or similar, and excommunicate him.

Thijs Veugen: When South has K-x Q-J-x-x-x-x Q A-J-x-x, I have to cut dummy from spades before trumps are out.

Carsten Kofoed: West didn’t lead a club honor or a spade singleton, so I’ll try to cut communication to the spade suit.

Patrice Piganeau: To disrupt declarer’s communication if he has K-x Q-J-x-x-x-x Q A-J-x-x (or Q-4 A-J-x).

Lajos Linczmayer: If partner had Q-J, he would have led it; but he must have the Q. If declarer has, e.g., K Q-J-x-x-x-x Q-4 A-J-10-x, I should lead the 3; but more likely, he has two spades, e.g., K-x Q-J-x-x-x-x Q A-J-x-x.

Brad Theurer: I have to hope partner has at least Q-9-x with three trumps. I plan to duck one heart, win the second, and play another spade, hoping declarer has K-x Q-J-9-x-x-x Q A-J-x-x or similar.

Rob Stevens: South doesn’t have much, so the Q is almost certainly a true card; so we will need two club tricks… We might be able to get those by cutting declarer off from the spade suit; partner’s three trumps and doubleton spade will effectively kill the suit.

John Reardon: Playing for South to hold something like K-x Q-J-9-x-x-x Q A-J-x-x.

Daniel de Lind van Wijngaarden: By ducking the first round of trumps and playing another spade after the A, I beat the contract in the likely event South has six hearts and K-x (especially with K-x Q-J-9-8-x-x Q A-J-x-x). It is unlikely partner has Q-J or a singleton spade, as he probably wouldn’t have led a diamond then.

Jordi Sabate: South has the A. If he has seven trumps, the only hope for defense is [to lead] clubs; but that’s unlikely… If he has six trumps,… I [probably] need to lead spades twice (now and later when I win the [second] trump) to kill dummy.

Manuel Paulo: To kill the spade suit, while partner has a trump. I hope South has a hand like K-x Q-J-x-x-x-x Q A-J-8-x.

Tim DeLaney: The key idea is to prevent declarer from pulling trumps and running spades. Partner’s third trump is an obstacle declarer cannot overcome. I will duck the first heart, take the second, and lead another spade. The crucial hand for South: K-x Q-J-x-x-x-x Q A-J-8-x. I am not worried that South may have three spades, as partner then might have led his stiff spade.

Bill Jacobs: Assuming partner would choose a club lead if he had Q-J.

Travis Crump: I need to kill dummy’s spades while partner still has trump to stop the run of the suit; hopefully, we will then come to two clubs in time. I am a little worried that declarer has dropped the Q from Q-4.

Julian Pottage: Then I can play a second spade when in with the [blank] A to kill the spade suit.

Bruce Neill: I will then duck the first heart, win the second, and play another spade. South may have K-x Q-J-x-x-x-x Q A-J-x-x.

Joshua Donn: Guarding against the fearful K-x Q-J-x-x-x-x Q A-J-x-x with South; of course, I’ll duck the first trump.

Ruud von Seida: With spades [likely] 2-2, I’ll take the second heart and play another spade. Then we take all of our minor-suit tricks, assuming partner has three hearts.

Barry White: I plan to lead spades again when in with the [blank] trump ace, and hope this will lock declarer in dummy while partner still has a trump… This requires South to have two spades and six trumps — not a bad chance.

Beverly Terry: Playing South for K-x… I will take the second trump lead and return the 9. …

Subhransu Patnaik: Playing spades before trumps are drawn [will prevent] dummy’s suit from being used later. Also, there is a [slim] possibility of a spade ruff in case South has three spades.

Simon Cheung: Playing declarer for 2-6 in the majors,…then I can cut off dummy by playing a second spade after winning my A on the second round.

Jim Munday: Hoping to kill the spade suit, giving declarer something like K-x Q-J-9-8-x-x Q A-J-x-x.

Rainer Herrmann: Attacking the communication.

Chuck Lamprey: Partner wouldn’t lead a diamond with Q-J-x-(x), so I’ll try to find declarer with K-x and attack his entries.

John Lusky: Playing declarer for K-x Q-J-9-x-x-x Q A-J-x-x (or Q-4 A-Q-x). I will duck the first heart.

Mauri Saastamoinen: Kill the table — or die. Declarer could easily have something like K-x Q-J-x-x-x-x Q A-J-8-x.

Nigel Marlow: Partner can have very little outside of the presumed K, so it seems right to attack declarer’s communication now.

Marek Malowidzki: To kill the spade suit. Later, I will duck the first heart.

Junyi Zhu: Breaking communication; K-x Q-J-x-x-x-x Q A-J-x-x is more likely than x Q-J-x-x-x-x Q-4 A-Q-x-x.

Steve White: Trying to limit declarer to two spade tricks.

Allan Graves: Partner must give count here, playing the K only with one or two of course.

Douglas Dunn: I will play spades again when in with the [blank] A.

Imre Csiszar: This, and another spade after winning the second trump, cuts off dummy and likely defeats 4 if South has six trumps. If he has seven, more power to him.

Leonard Helfgott: Preventing the run of the spade suit when declarer has six hearts and two spades. If it were right for [declarer] to play spades early, he could [do so anyway] since he must hold minor controls.

Murat Azizoglu: Trying to eliminate spade entries to dummy, so declarer will have trouble using his established tricks. …

Tim Dickinson: If declarer bags three spade targets, he should get home. Thus, I’ll play him for a doubleton, ski towards them, and knock them over…

Dale Freeman: I will try to render the spade suit useless, by leading and continuing spades when in with the [blank] ace of trumps.

Lawrence Cheetham: Trying to shut down dummy; I will lead spades twice.

Jim Wiitala: Playing partner for three hearts and two spades. I will win the [second heart] and continue spades to kill the suit.

Albert Feasley: South should have K-x,…since he has a stiff diamond, and did not pass 3 … Also, he would have bid 2 (instead of 2 ) with five clubs and one spade…

Bas Oosthoek: Should I play South for K-x-x Q-J-x-x-x-x Q A-J-x, and return a club? Or K-x Q-J-x-x-x-x Q A-J-8-x, and return a spade then duck the first heart? I trust partner, who didn’t lead a spade.

Roger Morton: It’s unlikely that South has three spades, so I’ll try to cut him off from [dummy]. I will lead a second spade after ducking the first trump. I hope partner has a third trump!

Wei Victor Zhang: Before declarer can draw trumps, I’ll break the bridge in spades.

Michael Byrne: Declarer rates to be…2=6=1=4, and by leading spades twice I can cut him off from dummy. … The 10 in dummy makes a club switch less appealing.

Dean Pokorny: Attacking spades early (plus ducking the K) prevents declarer from enjoying the long spade suit when he has K-x Q-J-x-x-x-x Q A-J-8-x. If he instead has K-x-x Q-J-x-x-x-x Q A-J-x, a club return is necessary; but I shouldn’t be afraid of this because partner would have led his singleton spade…

Gerald Cohen: I hope spades are 2-2, and we can hold declarer to two spade tricks. In a perfect world, it’s declarer with K-x.

Neelotpal Sahai: Cutting communication. … I will win the second trump and play another spade, then declarer is restricted to only two spade tricks (partner’s likely third trump will take care of dummy’s spade-suit threat). …

Richard Stein: If South isn’t smoke-screening with a doubleton diamond, I don’t see three defensive tricks, let alone four. If South is 2=6=2=3, I can cut off spades by leading them again when in with the [blank] A; I just need partner to produce the J.

Alon Amsel: … Returning a club might give us two tricks if partner holds Q-J,…but it seems more likely that South holds A-J. I have to make sure there are no entries left in dummy when trumps are gone.

Sandy Barnes: The time to kill the spade suit is while partner has trumps.

Problem 3

IMPs	6		West	North	East	South
None vul	8 3		You	Dummy	Partner	Declarer
	K J 10 8 5			1	Pass	2
	A K 8 5 2		Pass	3	Pass	4 NT
10 5			Pass	5	Pass	6
K Q J 4			Pass	Pass	Pass
Q 9 2
Q 10 9 3		6 South

Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
1. W	K	3	7	5

Your Next Lead	Award	Votes	Percent
2	10	72	7
10	8	421	40
5	7	68	6
J	5	307	29
Q	4	93	9
3	2	92	9

Does partner have the A? Hardly. No expert would launch into Blackwood without control of the unbid suit. While a singleton 5 is possible, it would mean partner passed 1 nonvulnerable with A-10-9-7-6-2 — unbelievable in this day and age. Partner’s signal is not attitude but count*, probably 10-7-6-2 or 9-7-6-2 (possibly 10-9-7), which means declarer has held up the ace, no doubt hoping to ruff a heart in dummy.

*Against suit slams, count is shown on a king lead. This is explained in the Standard American Bridge summary, which contains the default bidding and carding agreements for these contests.

Based on the initial assumption, a spade shift seems indicated to deny declarer an easy heart ruff. Which spade is probably immaterial (South’s trumps should be solid), but the 10 is better just in case South overbid with A-K-Q-9-x-x. Hold your fire! You almost shot off partner’s foot. There is another important clue to consider.

Can partner have an ace? Yes! In fact, he should have an ace if South’s bidding makes sense. If South could account for all four aces, he would continue with 5 NT, as he couldn’t rule out a grand opposite a non-limited opener. Therefore, partner has the A; and it must be cashable (South wouldn’t use Blackwood with a void). Here’s a likely layout, showing declarer’s fiendish plot:

IMPs	6		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
None vul	8 3		1. W	K	3	7	5
	K J 10 8 5		2. W	10?	6	3	A
	A K 8 5 2		3. S	K	5	2	J
10 5		J 3	4. S	Q	4	5	4
K Q J 4		10 7 6 2	5. S	9	3	5	6
Q 9 2		A 6 4 3	6. S	8	2	8	3
Q 10 9 3		7 6 4	7. S	7	9	10	4
	A K Q 9 8 7 4 2		8. S	4	Q	J	2
	A 9 5			continued below…
	7
6 South	J

After the K lead, declarer has no chance if he wins the ace. He could discard his diamond on the top clubs, of course, but that still leaves two heart losers; and if he gives up a heart, a trump shift stands out a mile. His only chance was to duck and hope you continue hearts.

A trump shift seems OK, since declarer has only 11 tricks, but watch what happens. Declarer wins all but one trump to reach this ending:

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

On the last trump, you must pitch a heart, else the 8 is good. Declarer should have no problem reading the ending (having already seen your Q and J go by), so he’ll pitch the 8 from dummy. Then the top clubs squeeze East in the red suits.

The winning defense of course is get that 2 on table. Down one!

Silver and bronze medals go to a trump shift ( 10 is superior as stated), since the defense can survive if South has a low club singleton. East can protect clubs and diamonds behind dummy, while West protects hearts, foiling any squeeze.

Other leads ( J, Q, 3) are quite inferior, as declarer scampers home with any club singleton (heart ruff) if he has eight spades. I couldn’t come up with any layout that showed a difference between the J and Q (ranked by the voting); but the 3 is worst, gifting the contract to A-K-Q-J-x-x-x A-9-x x J-x (or x-x J).

This problem was adapted from an actual deal in the 1992 Spingold (Toronto), in which Bill Root smartly solved a similar predicament — and he wasn’t even armed! See Root for the Home Team, Problem 2.

Comments for the 2

Julian Wightwick: If declarer has a stiff heart, partner would have played the 10 (or A); hence, it seems that declarer holds A-K-Q-J-x-x-x-x A-x-x x x.

Jonathan Mestel: What’s this Blackwood for? I think declarer has A-K-Q-J-x-x-x-x A-10-x x J, and we must cash out now or get squeezed.

Carsten Kofoed: The bidding and first trick strongly suggest that South has eight spades and three hearts — and that he is missing an ace, which must be the A. If South’s only club is the jack, we must cash the A at once, else be [squeezed].

Lajos Linczmayer: If South had three aces, he would have tried for a grand slam. Partner’s 7 shows count, so South probably has A-10-5 or A-9-5 (with 10-9-5 he would not bid Blackwood). I guess South’s hand is A-K-Q-J-x-x-x-x A-9-5 x J.

Brad Theurer: Playing South for A-K-Q-J-x-x-x-x A-10-5 x J, where ducking the first trick was his best chance; so a diamond cash is necessary. If I lead a trump, I will get squeezed in the rounded suits.

Rob Stevens: If South has A-K-Q-9-x-x A-x-x-x A-x x (or similar), the 10 works even if declarer guesses the trump layout; but that’s a strange hand to use Blackwood then subside. … The dangerous case is when South is missing an ace and has compensating spade length. If he is 8=3=1=1 with the J, a [double] squeeze will roll home; so I’d better let partner take his A.

John Reardon: Why did declarer use Blackwood? He may have A-K-Q-J-x-x-x-x A-x-x x J, in which case his only chance was to duck the lead and hope we fail to cash out.

Daniel de Lind van Wijngaarden: The only way to beat 6 if declarer has A-K-Q-x-x-x-x-x A-x-x x J, as he can make it on a double squeeze after a trump switch. The fact that South used 4 NT and didn’t try for seven makes it likely he doesn’t have [three] aces, or a void.

Jordi Sabate: The 7 shows an even number [and would not be played from A-10-9-7-x-x], so a singleton in South is impossible; South ducked with A-x-x, and is trying to ruff a heart in dummy. If he also has the A and (only) six solid trumps, he’ll succeed even if I lead a trump (finesse or squeeze me). South also has no voids (why 4 NT?), so a hand like A-K-Q-x-x-x-x-x A-10-x x J is possible; and if I don’t lead a diamond, he’s home.

Ronald Michaels: Even if partner has the 10, I’m not enjoying the thought of defending against an onslaught of trumps. If declarer has A-K-Q-x-x-x-x A-x-x and…the A, he has 12 tricks and would not have ducked the heart; besides, why didn’t he try for seven? No, declarer has a problem somewhere, and it looks like he’s off the A rather than the K. He bid Blackwood, so he’s not void in diamonds. … If declarer has eight spades and…the J, and I switch to the 10, he’ll [succeed] by a squeeze.

Jacco Hop: Normally, South will have no side four-card suit, so maybe he has A-K-Q-x-x-x-x-x A-x-x x J, and I need to switch to a diamond. If South has the A, I see no way he can go down.

Jim Munday: A trump shift looks appealing; but with dummy’s minor-suit holdings, stopping a heart ruff won’t help much. The  10 will work when declarer has A-K-Q-9-x-x A-x-x A-x-x x, but declarer would need to play double-dummy to succeed [with another suit lead]. More likely, with declarer failing to bid 5 NT over 5 , partner has an ace — surely the A. If I fail to lead a diamond, declarer will get home when he holds A-K-Q-J-x-x-x-x A-10-x x J, by squeezing me in the rounded suits or ruffing a heart.

Allan Graves: Declarer must have ducked the A to have a chance. Best to take partner’s A now (paying off to Blackwood with a diamond void) rather than risk defending a complicated squeeze position that would arise after a trump shift.

Leonard Helfgott: South bid like he has heart control,…no void, and is missing an ace. The only hand that makes sense is A-K-Q-J-x-x-x-x A-x-x x x, and he’s looking for a heart ruff and diamond pitch (achievable on a heart or club lead).

Michael Byrne: … I can’t see a layout where 6 can go off if South has the A (and the solid spades he surely advertised). Conversely, 6 can’t possibly make if partner has the A — unless South has A-K-Q-x-x-x-x-x A-x-x x J. Well, it’s a long shot but my only hope. Why did South not bid 5 NT over 5 ? He must surely be off an ace. …

Peter Gill: South did not bid 5 NT opposite an unlimited hand in case his partner had a source of tricks for the grand, so he is off an ace. Partner would have played the A if he had it (from K-x I would have led low), so partner has the A or a trump trick. South may have A-K-Q-J-x-x-x-x A-10-x x J.

Ed Barnes: South might have psyched a heart control (or fished for one), [but that’s too unlikely].

And summing it all up is our Vice President:

Dick Cheney: Finally, an easy one. Twirl and shoot, twirl and shoot! Get those duck blinds out of my face! Oh, I almost forgot, the 2 switch stands out like a quail’s behind. Twirl and shoot, twirl and shoot! Oops, my bad. Whew! Just a flesh wound.

Problem 4

IMPs	K 9 7 5 2		West	North	East	South
E-W vul	6 4		Partner	Dummy	You	Declarer
	Q 7 5					1 NT
	A J 3		Pass	2 1	Dbl	Pass
		Q J 6	Pass	3 NT	Pass	Pass
Lead: J		A K Q 10	Pass
		9 8 6
3 NT South		10 9 8	1. Jacoby transfer

Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
1. W	J	4	?

Your Defense	Award	Votes	Percent
B. Overtake, lead 6	10	128	12
F. Play the 10	8	165	16
A. Overtake, lead Q	6	133	13
D. Overtake, lead 9	5	159	15
E. Overtake, lead 10	4	51	5
C. Overtake, run hearts	3	417	40

Whew! You got away with one. Two hearts redoubled would not have been pretty (an easy overtrick), but the firepower you’re carrying may have been a factor. Smart declarers heed PavCo’s First Law of Longevity: Never make a redoubled contract against a guy carrying a gun.

From partner’s J lead, declarer must have five hearts; and his failure to correct to 4 marks him with a doubleton spade. Hence, South should be 2=5=3=3 if his 1 NT bid is normal. To meet the 15-17 range, he must have the A, A-K and K; and either the J or Q, possibly both. This gives him eight top tricks, counting the club finesse if necessary.

Where will declarer get his ninth trick? From hearts, by simply pounding away at the suit; so running hearts (Option C) is in vain, doing the work for him. To defeat the contract, you must set up a spade trick before declarer can establish his long heart. Consider a likely layout:

IMPs	K 9 7 5 2		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
E-W vul	6 4		1. W	J	4	Q!	2
	Q 7 5		2. E	Q?	A	4	2
	A J 3		3. S	9	7	6	10
10 4 3		Q J 6		Declarer succeeds
J 7		A K Q 10
J 10 4 2		9 8 6
7 5 4 2		10 9 8
	A 8
	9 8 5 3 2
	A K 3
3 NT South	K Q 6

Suppose you follow Option A above. Nice try, but you can’t establish a spade trick and keep the lead. If you next lead the J, declarer can win and clear spades (partner is out of hearts); or if you lead the 6, he will let partner win the 10. Leading either minor only postpones the issue, as declarer will simply lead a third heart.

To defeat the contract you must start spades by leading the six (Option B). If declarer lets partner win the 10, partner will revert to hearts for the cash-out. If declarer wins the A (or captures the 10 with the king) and leads a heart, the Q leaves no answer; down one.

In theory, it would be just as good to duck the J lead, which clearly suggests a shift*, and have partner shift to the 10 (a low spade is no good). Even so, Option F asks a lot from partner, so it’s lucky to get the silver (8 may be generous). An expert might work it out, but don’t hold your breath.

*If you wanted a heart continuation and could afford to signal with the 10, you would surely overtake.

What if declarer has A-10? Then he can always succeed, but Option B should still work. From declarer’s point of view, finessing the 10 only works if you have both spade honors; while winning the ace lets him succeed if you have Q-x-x or J-x-x (by leading a heart next). Also note that Option F has no chance in this scenario.

The bronze goes to the Q shift (Option A) because declarer could misguess. For instance, if you win the second heart, cash a third heart and lead a spade to partner’s 10, declarer might play you for a doubleton; i.e., win the king, cross to hand and continue to establish hearts.

A diamond or club shift (Option D or E) offers similar opportunity to put declarer to a guess. If you win the second heart and shift to the Q, you’re effectively on par with the previous paragraph. Options D and E are equivalent, so they’re ranked by the voting.

Sorry, but the popular Option C is the worst. Running hearts only plays the hand for declarer. But wait! If you slip the 9 in with your hearts and claim, “I’ll take these,” it just might work. Seriously, the urge to cash immediate tricks is sometimes hard to resist. A helpful tip: Don’t be in a hurry to book declarer.

Finally, grasping at straws, there’s a case where the winning Option B fails and all others succeed: South might have upgraded a good 14 HCP despite a topless suit: A-10 9-8-x-x-x A-J-10 K-Q-x. Geez. Did he forget that I’m holding a gun?

Comments for B. Overtake, lead 6

Julian Wightwick: Playing declarer for five hearts and no 10. I can’t afford to lead a big spade, because then declarer could duck partner’s 10 on the next round of the suit. Similarly, I can’t afford to cash a second heart before leading the first spade.

Jonathan Mestel: Playing declarer for A-x 9-8-x-x-x A-K-x K-Q-x, and preserving my spade entry. …

Wuping Lu: Hoping partner has 10-x-x J-x x-x-x-x x-x-x-x.

Thijs Veugen: When South has A-x x-x-x-x-x A-K-J K-x-x (or A-x-x K-x), I have to establish a spade trick before the fifth heart becomes his ninth trick.

Carsten Kofoed: Now declarer can’t maneuver to give away a spade trick without letting me cash my hearts. South has A-x x-x-x-x-x A-K-x K-Q-x.

Patrice Piganeau: South appears to have A-x x-x-x-x-x A-K-x K-Q-x. It is necessary for me to establish a spade trick before cashing hearts. If I lead the Q, declarer would persist in hearts; then whichever spade I lead next, he can establish the spade suit [while keeping me off lead].

Lajos Linczmayer: It looks declarer has A-x x-x-x-x-x A-K-x K-Q-x. If partner has the 10, this will defeat the contract.

Brad Theurer: Declarer needs to have 2=5=3=3 shape…for the defense to have a chance. My spade shift must be a low one, so that partner’s 10 can’t be ducked [when he has no more hearts]. Leading the Q fails, as declarer wins the ace and returns a heart; then he can maneuver to lose a spade trick to my heartless partner.

Rob Stevens: … South has the A, A-K and K-Q, and already has nine tricks unless he is 2=5=3=3. Leading the Q is no good; declarer would [win the ace and] play a second round of hearts, then win or duck the second spade depending on who was next on lead. A low spade shift avoids this blockage.

John Reardon: I am hoping South has A-x x-x-x-x-x A-K-x K-Q-x, in which case the Q shift is not good enough.

Daniel de Lind van Wijngaarden: Pointwise, partner can have at most a queen; so I have to play South for 2=5=3=3 distribution, as a four-card minor [nets] nine tricks. South is likely to have two spades (with three he’d bid 4 without a heart stopper). Even with A-10, declarer’s best chance is to go up with the ace and play another heart, hoping to lose the Q [or J] to West later.

Jordi Sabate: South has the A, A-K and K; so he has eight tricks. He doesn’t have three spades (otherwise he would have bid 4 ), so I need him to be 2=5=3=3… I have to attack spades to get a trick in the suit before he can win his fifth heart; and it must be the 6, else declarer will duck partner’s 10 on the second round when partner has no more hearts.

Manuel Paulo: If I duck the J, partner can set the contract by leading the 10 at the second trick; but this defense is not obvious from his point of view. I hope declarer has a hand like A-x x-x-x-x-x A-K-J K-Q-x.

Tim DeLaney: I am lucky South didn’t redouble; he cannot be prevented from taking nine tricks in a heart contract. The only relevant shape for South is 2=5=3=3 (likely, since partner’s lead indicates J-x), and given time he can develop a heart trick. So I attack spades to set up our fifth trick; and I must lead low, so that if partner wins the 10, he will have a heart to lead. …

Curt Reeves: It looks like nine winners for declarer if I cash out. I need to get a spade trick from partner’s hypothetical 10-x-x before declarer establishes his fifth heart.

Jean-Christophe Clement: The only hope is that South has A-x x-x-x-x-x A-K-x K-Q-x. I must establish a spade trick…

Bill Jacobs: Can’t I be a genius just once? Declarer has A-x x-x-x-x-x A-K-x K-Q-x. If I play the Q, partner can be forced to win our spade trick, with hearts excommunicated. If I play a minor, declarer plays a heart; then once again forces partner to win our spade trick when he has no hearts.

Travis Crump: Declarer has A-x x-x-x-x-x A-K-x K-Q-x. I need to use partner’s 10 before declarer can afford to duck it when partner is out of hearts.

Julian Pottage: Declarer’s hand must be something like A-x x-x-x-x-x A-K-x K-Q-x. He cannot duck a spade while partner has a second heart to lead; and after winning the first spade, he can’t set up spades without losing four hearts as well — neat problem.

Ronald Michaels: It looks like declarer has five hearts,…so I must not continue hearts and set up his ninth trick. Spades is my hope for a fifth trick, and I must attack now. A small spade is best,…because declarer’s best play…is to lead a heart next. Then if I had led a spade honor [and] continued with a low spade, declarer could allow partner’s 10 to win when he has no more hearts.

Bruce Neill: If declarer has A-x x-x-x-x-x A-K-x K-Q-x, I need to lead a low spade now, while we have communication, if declarer sets up spades by ducking to partner’s 10.

Joshua Donn: If I’m the one-millionth customer to mention A-x x-x-x-x-x A-K-x K-Q-x, do I win a prize?

Charles Blair: If South has A-10, he [should] play the ace first for avoidance reasons, i.e., if I have Q-x-x or J-x-x. …

Ruud von Seida: … Partner should have at most the Q. Declarer [may] have A-x 9-x-x-x-x A-K-J K-x-x (or A-x-x K-x), and I must be careful not to give him his ninth trick in hearts. … Ducking partner’s J has some chances, but I’d better take control and [shift] to a small spade myself.

Barry White: It appears that to beat 3 NT, partner needs the 10, so I’ll play declarer for A-x 9-x-x-x-x A-K-x K-Q-x.

Perry Groot: South has A-x x-x-x-x-x A-K-x K-x-x, so I need partner to have the 10 [or declarer to win the ace].

Subhransu Patnaik: Partner cannot have a king, and declarer should be [2=5=3=3], so a spade trick needs to be established. … If I lead the Q, declarer can win the A and play a heart; then he can duck a spade to West.

Rainer Herrmann: For the defense to have any chance, declarer must be 3-3 in the minors (2=5=3=3)… Leading the Q is not good enough, as declarer could duck a spade to West when out of hearts.

Chuck Lamprey: Assuming the lead is normal, declarer has A-x x-x-x-x-x A-K-x K-Q-x. I need for partner to have the 10 [or declarer to play the ace].

John Lusky: Playing declarer for A-x x-x-x-x-x A-K-x K-Q-x. This way, declarer cannot arrange to lose a spade trick to partner’s 10 when…partner’s hearts are exhausted.

Marek Malowidzki: I think declarer has something like A-x x-x-x-x-x A-K-J K-x-x, and he will get his ninth trick in hearts — unless he does not have the 10 or misguesses spades right now.

Junyi Zhu: I don’t see any hope other than declarer having 2=5=3=3. I can’t lead the Q, else I won’t have an entry…after the second heart is played.

Allan Graves: Partner [may] need the 10 to defeat 3 NT, as declarer can establish his fifth heart. If I switch to the Q, however, declarer can lead a second heart, then use an avoidance play against [me] when I try to establish a spade for our fifth trick.

Douglas Dunn: … Playing the Q isn’t good enough, as West can be put on lead later with the 10 with no heart to return.

Imre Csiszar: … Declarer will play hearts [for his ninth trick] but can be defeated if partner holds the 10 and I lead the 6 immediately…

Leonard Helfgott: Only way to cater to A-x 9-x-x-x-x A-K-x K-Q-x (or A-K-J K-x-x); otherwise declarer can play hearts repeatedly for a ninth trick. If declarer has A-10, leading the queen doesn’t help; but he might win [the 6 with the ace].

Mark LaForge: Partner can have the Q or the J, and I must hope declarer is 2=5=3=3…so he does not have nine tricks; and that partner has the 10 [or declarer wins the ace].

Charles Leong: Unless declarer is [3-3 or less in the minors], I cannot prevent him from having nine tricks ( A-K and seven minor-suit tricks), as partner can have at most the Q, and the club suit is friendly to declarer. …

Amiram Millet: Partner might have 10-x-x J-x J-10-x-x x-x-x-x.

Tim Dickinson: Very nice. It’s instinctive to cash a second heart, or wait before risking a spade; but that’s fatal if declarer [ducks a spade] to partner’s 10 when he’s out of hearts. So there’s no time to line up South in the crosshairs; I have to shoot immediately with the 6. Bullets will probably fly when South goes one down, and North remarks that 2 redoubled would have made.

Dale Freeman: Would partner lead the J with J-x-x? I hope not! … Therefore, declarer is probably 2=5=3=3 with eight tricks. I have to get a spade trick, since declarer will attack hearts for a ninth trick; and I need partner to have the 10 [or declarer to win the ace].

Joon Pahk: … I need to start with a low spade, lest declarer play another heart then [force] partner to win our spade trick.

Bas Oosthoek: Declarer should play the ace from A-10 x-x-x-x-x A-K-x K-Q-x, so that he can keep me off lead in case spades are 3-3 with divided honors (after leading a second heart).

Roger Morton: … If South is 2=5=3=3,…it’s important to set up a spade before his fifth heart is established. … It’s important that I lead a small spade, else partner might be [allowed] to win the second spade with no hearts to play to me.

Thibault Wolf: Declarer is something like A-x x-x-x-x-x A-K-x K-Q-x, so [we must] win a spade trick before he can win [his long heart]. …

Ron Landgraff: Our fifth trick can be a spade (South has A-x). Partner needs to be 4-4 in the minors…

Paulino Correa: The only chance to set the contract is to find a fifth trick in spades, where declarer is marked with only two cards (hopefully without the 10). Leading the Q is no good, as declarer will win his ace, return a heart, then let partner win the 10…

Problem 5

IMPs	A 4 3		West	North	East	South
N-S vul	J 10 9 2		You	Dummy	Partner	Declarer
	J 8 4 2					1
	A 9		Dbl	Rdbl	1	5
K Q 10 8			Pass	Pass	Pass
Q 8 5 3
A K Q 9
2		5 South

Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
1. W	K	2	3	6

Your Next Lead	Award	Votes	Percent
A	10	277	26
K	9	494	47
Q	8	119	11
2	7	101	10
8	2	26	2
3	1	36	3

Wow. It was tempting to crack 5 — or at least take a crack shot — but South is likely bidding to make at the vulnerability. Freak distributions can be cruel, so you decide to go quietly. Not exactly a biathlon moment, but it’s only your first event; you’ll learn.

On your K lead, partner’s signal is attitude*, which reveals that he doesn’t have a doubleton (he’d play the 3 from three or four cards). Thus, you can’t be sure if a second diamond will cash. Any thoughts of partner having a singleton diamond are folly, as that would give him longer spades than hearts — not to mention that virtually any defense will defeat 5 .

*Don’t confuse this with Problem 3, where count was shown because it was a slam contract. Merits of showing count versus attitude in this situation are debatable but also immaterial in my analysis. Default agreements must apply to have a uniform basis for scoring.

This problem is from an old OKbridge deal, except that I swapped the black suits to make the 11th trick crucial in clubs (rather than a mere overtrick in 4 ). This was the layout:

IMPs	A 4 3		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
N-S vul	J 10 9 2		1. W	K	2	3	6
	J 8 4 2		2. W	A	4	5	3
	A 9		3. S	A	3	2	4
K Q 10 8		9 7 6	4. S	5	2	A	4
Q 8 5 3		K 7 6 4	5. N	J	6	2	Q
A K Q 9		10 7 5 3	6. W	K	A	6	5
2		8 4	7. N	10	K	10	5
	J 5 2			Declarer succeeds
	A
	6
5 South	K Q J 10 7 6 5 3

Against me (I was South) West tried to cash a second diamond, after which I unblocked the A and was able to establish a heart trick with a loser-on-loser play and ruffing finesse. West chided himself for not switching to the K, but I noticed I could duck that and still make 11 tricks on a spade-diamond squeeze. Only a trump shift by West is effective, killing an entry to dummy and not rectifying the count. This was the winning defense I expected on this problem.

Alas, when I got bored watching an Olympic curling match — Brooms on ice? Give me a break! — I realized that the layout could just as easily be the following:

IMPs	A 4 3		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
N-S vul	J 10 9 2		1. W	K	2	3	6
	J 8 4 2		2. W	2	A	4	3
	A 9		3. N	9	8	K	3
K Q 10 8		9 7 6 2	4. S	Q	5	2	2
Q 8 5 3		K 7 6 4	5. S	J	8	9	4
A K Q 9		10 5 3	6. S	10	8	3	6
2		8 4	7. S	7	9	10	5
	J 5		8. S	6	10	4	10
	A		9. S	A	Q	J	6
	7 6			continued below…
5 South	K Q J 10 7 6 5 3

East would still bid 1 to suggest the best lead, and South would have no obvious reason to bid differently. So how would the clever trump shift fare? Curtains! Declarer simply runs trumps and the A (in any order) and you are squeezed without the count, or more specifically, caught in a delayed-duck squeeze. The four-card ending will be:

win 3	A 4		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	—		10. S	5!	?
	J 8			West is squeezed
	—
K Q		9 7
—		K 7
A Q		—
—		—
	J 5
	—
	7
South leads	5

You had to pitch all your hearts earlier to hold the fort, now the last club is fatal. If you pitch the Q, dummy lets go a spade, and the J can be established. If you pitch the Q, dummy lets go a diamond, and the J wins a trick. To defeat the contract, you had to shift to a top spade, or cash the A then lead a spade (obvious to prevent a simple squeeze).

I calculate either South hand to be equally likely*, but another factor makes a trump shift inferior: In the second example, a trump shift is immediately fatal regardless of South’s club holding; while in the first example, the A costs nothing if East has any club honor to prevent the nine from being an entry (i.e., South needs 100 honors to succeed). Therefore, despite having to shoot myself in the foot, the A deserves the gold.

*Specifically, J-x-x x produces 50 combinations (5c2 x 5c1), as does J-x x-x (5c1 x 5c2). The fact that you have seen a diamond from South doesn’t change this.

Shifting to the K deserves a close second. This gains (versus the A) when South has x-x-x A x K-Q-J-10-x-x-x-x, but loses to J-x-x A x K-Q-x-x-x-x-x-x. Arguably the Q deserves the same, but my policy is to break all ties, so it must settle for third.

Argh! My original idea didn’t even make the medal platform, but I’m taking 7 anyway.

Curiously, an original trump lead seems to cover all the bases, defeating 5 whenever possible. Maybe a seasoned biathlete would have found it, figuring he could always load up the rifle if it didn’t work. So much for the old cliche, “Never lead a singleton trump.”

Some people got lucky on this problem — nothing wrong with that, just like at the table — because they wrongly assumed partner’s signal was count; hence, they figured the A had to cash, then a spade switch kills any chance for a squeeze.

Switching to a heart is surely the worst effort, as it never gains (versus the A) in the first layout and always loses in the second. The  8 must be better than the three, lest partner suspect an ace underlead and waste his king.

Comments for the A

Julian Wightwick: If this holds, I switch to the K. Declarer must have the singleton A. At first sight, it looks right to switch to the K immediately; but if declarer has J-x-x A 5 K-Q-J-x-x-x-x-x, he ducks and squeezes me. He cannot rectify the count unless I do it for him.

Travis Crump: I need to stop a spade-diamond squeeze. If the A holds, I will shift to a top spade to break communication; if it [is ruffed], then the count isn’t rectified. If I shift to a top spade now and South has J-x-x A x K-Q-J-x-x-x-x-x, I’ve given away the contract.

Edward Schulte: South may have J-x A x-x K-Q-J-10-x-x-x-x. …

Leonard Helfgott: Leading a top spade rectifies the count for a squeeze when declarer holds J-x-x A x K-Q-J-x-x-x-x-x. …This way, the squeeze doesn’t operate [with two losers].

Comments for the K

Ronald Kuip: Really a tough one. How could declarer make the contract…if I continued diamonds? He might have J-x K 5 K-Q-J-10-x-x-x-x-x. End position will be A-x J-10 J opposite J-x K x-x, and the next club will squeeze me with K-Q Q-x Q. …

Ron Landgraff: Partner’s 3 is attitude, not count. Beware squeezes.

Dean Pokorny: If South has J-x A x-x K-Q-J-x-x-x-x-x, a spade honor (immediately or after another high diamond) dooms the contract. But if South has J-x K x K-Q-J-x-x-x-x-x-x, it is necessary not to play a second diamond,…because I can be caught in a [three-suit] squeeze.

Gerald Cohen: I have to reduce dummy’s entries in case declarer has x-x-x A x K-Q-J-10-x-x-x-x and will take lots of heart hooks. The  Q might work badly if partner has A and ducks a lead from dummy.

Comment for the Q

Barry White: Declarer rates to hold x-x-x A x K-Q-J-10-x-x-x-x. A diamond continuation gives him time to set up a heart play. I hope partner has the J…

Comments for the 2

Jonathan Mestel: Has partner got x-x-x-x K-x-x-x x-x-x x-x (when I must lead another high card) or x-x-x K-x-x-x x-x-x-x x-x? With the J in dummy, can’t partner break ranks and give count? I’ll assume he must give attitude in both cases. I’ll guess to attack dummy’s entries while hearts are blocked and not to rectify the count — more elegant than cashing tricks.

Thijs Veugen: South seems to have a stiff A. If he has J-x-x A x K-Q-J-10-x-x-x-x, I have to attack dummy’s entries before he plays it. …

Carsten Kofoed: This takes away an entry prematurely and doesn’t give South the squeeze tempo, when he has J-x-x A x K-Q-J-10-x-x-x-x.

Patrice Piganeau: Only defense if South has J-x-x A x K-Q-J-10-x-x-x-x. On a spade return, South would duck and squeeze me between spades and diamonds. On a diamond return, he would have time to establish a heart winner.

Brad Theurer: If declarer has J-x-x A x K-Q-J-10-x-x-x-x, a black-suit lead is needed to attack dummy’s entries so he can’t use the hearts. But the K or Q will be ducked, then a trump switch is too late, since I have set up a squeeze against myself in the pointed suits.

Jordi Sabate: South has the A singleton and probably eight clubs. If the 9 is an entry and I lead the A (or a heart), he will ruff [and establish a heart trick] to win the contract. If I lead K, he will duck that and he’s home (with J-x-x) by squeezing me in spades and diamonds. This defense removes an entry to dummy without rectifying the count.

Manuel Paulo: To destroy an entry to dummy while the A blocks the establishment of the suit. I hope declarer has a hand like J-x-x A 6 K-Q-J-10-x-x-x-x.

Julian Pottage: Attacks the entry for a possible ruffing heart finesse without setting up a squeeze if South has J-x-x A 6 K-Q-J-10-x-x-x-x.

Bruce Neill: Depends on declarer’s shape. If he has J-x A x-x K-Q-J-x-x-x-x-x, I need to attack the A to stop a squeeze. But if he has J-x-x A x K-Q-J-10-x-x-x-x, only a club will take away the entries to set up a heart trick. The 5 rebid seems more likely to be 8-3-1-1 than 8-2-2-1.

Jim Munday: Declarer will need eight clubs to succeed, and the leap to 5 suggests he is more likely to hold J-x-x A x K-Q-J-10-x-x-x-x than J-x A x-x K-Q-J-10-x-x-x-x. Then only the 2 fits the bill. I need to remove a dummy entry to prevent declarer from establishing his 11th trick in hearts; and if I lead the K, declarer will duck and squeeze me…

Steve White: I must remove an entry to prevent establishment of a heart; and a spade switch would rectify the count if declarer has J-x-x.

Imre Csiszar: If South is 3=1=1=8, the A loses if East cannot beat dummy’s 9; the K loses if South has J-x-x; while the 2 wins. If South is 2=1=2=8, the A and K both win; while the 2 loses if South has J-x. …

Joon Pahk: A dastardly problem! Give declarer eight clubs and the stiff A for his bidding. If he has J-x-x A x K-Q-J-10-x-x-x-x, only a club works… If he has J-x A x-x K-Q-J-10-x-x-x-x, a club lead lets him catch me in a delayed-duck squeeze… Partner’s 1 bid and the 3 signal are both inconclusive; but if a club lead is wrong, it could still work, e.g., if declarer has 10-x and decides to go after diamonds, playing me for A-K-9 tight. Wouldn’t it be nice to have led the Q instead, so partner would know to give me count?

Neelotpal Sahai: Restricted choice: If South has J-x A x-x K-Q-J-10-x-x-x-x, then the A followed by the K will break the squeeze… But this doesn’t give a unique answer; in fact there are three answers ( K, Q and A), so it can’t be Pavlicek’s top award. … If South has J-x-x A x K-Q-J-10-x-x-x-x, which is equally likely, the 2 return is paramount…

Paramount? No, the Bridge Biathlon documentary will be produced by 20th Century Fox.

Problem 6

IMPs	Q 4		West	North	East	South
Both vul	K 4		Partner	Dummy	You	Declarer
	A Q J 9 8 2			1	Pass	1
	9 8 5		Pass	2	Pass	6 NT
		J 7 2	Pass	Pass	Pass
Lead: 6		10 9 8 5 3
		K 7
6 NT South		10 7 4

Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
1. W	6	Q	?

Your Defense	Award	Votes	Percent
D. Win K, lead 7	10	67	6
E. Win K, lead 4	7	498	47
C. Win K, lead 10	6	238	23
F. Duck smoothly	5	139	13
A. Win K, lead J	3	48	5
B. Win K, lead 2	2	63	6

A strange situation! South shoots out a slam with little investigation, and partner opens fire in dummy’s suit. Are we in the Flight C Biathlon Consolation? No, there must be logical reasons, as all players are presumed to be experts.

First, I would conclude that South must have three aces*; else it would be routine to use Blackwood in case opener were aceless. South has simply ruled out a biddable grand opposite a minimum opening, and placed the contract in notrump, no doubt to protect his tenaces in hearts and clubs.

*A number of respondents based their defense on trying to “find partner’s ace,” but I’ve ignored this possibility in my analysis. The three-ace inference seems too strong to be sidetracked.

Could South have a singleton diamond? Hardly. While partner might have led the 6 from 10-6-5-4, there is no justification for South to bid this way with a singleton. With 4=4=1=4, he would bid up-the-line with 1 ; and with 5=4=1=3 or 5=3=1=4, he would go slower to investigate alternate slams. South must have a balanced hand, probably 4=3=3=3 or 4=3=2=4 but possibly 5=3=2=3.

So what’s partner up to? I would assume he led a diamond to avoid leading from an honor in another suit. Passive slam defense is often necessary with bits and pieces in three suits, so a layout like the following is predictable. South upgraded his excellent 18 HCP with 10-x in opener’s long suit.

IMPs	Q 4		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
Both vul	K 4		1. W	6	Q	K	3
	A Q J 9 8 2		2. E	4?	A	2	5
	9 8 5		3. S	2	6	K	3
K 8 5 3		J 7 2	4. N	4	5	A	7
J 7 6		10 9 8 5 3	5. S	Q	J	8	8
6 5 4		K 7	6. S	A!	3	4	2
Q 6 2		10 7 4	7. S	10	4	J	7
	A 10 9 6		8. N	A	9	6	5
	A Q 2		9. N	9	10	3	5
	10 3		10. N	8	7	9	8
6 NT South	A K J 3			continued below…

After winning the K, the obvious shift is to a club (Option E) hoping declarer will opt for a club finesse. Alas, declarer is also aware of partner’s unusual lead, so he will assume any club finesse is off. He will win the A, cash three hearts, the A (Vienna coup) and run diamonds to reach this ending with dummy on lead:

NT win 3	Q		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	—		11. N	2	J	10	?
	2			West is squeezed
	9
K		J
—		—
—		—
Q 6		10 7
	10
	—
	—
North leads	K J

The last diamond squeezes West out of a club, and declarer should guess to drop the Q based on the opening lead. If you instead shift to a spade (Options A or B) or a heart (Option C), declarer can easily squeeze partner the same way.

The best defense is to return a diamond (Option D), which cuts communication to dummy. Now declarer is unable to cash his third heart before running diamonds, and there is no squeeze.

What about ducking the first diamond? This works fine if declarer finesses again, but the risk is high. Declarer may conclude that nobody would lead a diamond from K-x-x (only case where a second finesse helps) and play the ace next. Party time! (Although he may first have to dance to a few gunshots.) Further, the revealed diamond spots, if true, earmark the actual layout.

Could a club or heart return ever be necessary? Yes, but the deals I found required double-dummy play to succeed otherwise. For example, only a club or heart return beats 6 NT on the next layout, but the path to success after a diamond return is mind boggling:

IMPs	Q 4		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
Both vul	K 4		1. W	6	Q	K	3
	A Q J 9 8 2		2. E	7	10	4	J
	9 8 5		3. N	A	3	3	5
10 8 6 3		J 7 2	4. N	9	5	6	2
Q 6 2		10 9 8 5 3	5. N	8	4	5	3
6 5 4		K 7	6. N	2	2	Q	6
K J 2		10 7 4	7. N	Q	7	9	8
	A K 9 5		8. N	4	J	A	10
	A J 7			continued below…
	10 3
6 NT South	A Q 6 3

Declarer runs diamonds, pitching a spade and three clubs, then two spades ending in hand reach this bizarre ending:

NT win 5	—		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	K 4		9. S	K	J	5	8
	—			Declarer can succeed
	9 8 5
—		—
Q 6 2		10 9 8
—		—
K J		10 7
	K
	A J 7
	—
South leads	A

The K inflicts the old squash squeeze! If West pitches a heart, his queen drops, so he must unguard clubs. Now East must let go a heart to guard clubs. Next comes the heart jack to spear the queen and squash East’s remaining spots to promote the 7. That’s the good news. The bad news is that you will become the target at the next rifle stop. [Moment of silence] May you rest in peace.

Deciding the silver and bronze on this problem was tough. Ducking the Q (Option F) could work just as well as the gold winner, but it could also hand over a no-play contract; e.g., A-K-9-x A-J-6 10-4-3 A-Q-J. How often will declarer drop your king? Only The Shadow knows, and he’s out skiing another course. Further, I could find no difference between a heart or club return (Options C and E). Thus, I’ll let the voting decide second through fourth places.

A spade shift is clearly worst, as I couldn’t find any layout where it gains versus another return, barring partner having the A (which I’ve ruled to be out of bounds). Between the J and 2, the jack is better, avoiding an immediate loss when South has A-K-9-8.

Comments for D. Win K, lead 7

Jonathan Mestel: Ducking is too dangerous; a lead from K-x-x is very unlikely. Continuing diamonds will upset the Vienna-coup timing if South has A-10-x-x A-Q-J x-x A-K-J-x.

Wuping Lu: Playing partner for K-x-x-x J-x-x x-x-x Q-x-x.

Thijs Veugen: South has something like A-x-x-x A-Q-x 10-3 A-K-J-x, so I have to play a diamond before he can cash his hearts, preventing a squeeze against partner.

Carsten Kofoed: Destroying the possibility of cashing three hearts (and a Vienna coup) before running diamonds.

Patrice Piganeau: To prevent a spade-club squeeze against partner if South has A-x-x-x A-Q-x x-x A-K-J-x.

Lajos Linczmayer: Declarer must have the missing aces and a balanced hand. If he had a singleton diamond, say, A-10-x-x-x A-Q-x x A-K-Q-x, or A-K-x-x-x A-Q-x x A-Q-x-x, he would have bid differently… The dangerous diamond lead suggests that partner doesn’t have a safe lead. I think South suspects I have the K, and I must admit I couldn’t duck smoothly. If South has A-10-9-x-x A-Q-x 10-3 A-K-J…or A-10-9-x A-Q-x 10-3, I must return a diamond; otherwise declarer surely will squeeze partner after a Vienna coup.

Manuel Paulo: With any other lead, partner will be squeezed in the black suits if South has a hand like A-x-x-x A-Q-x 10-3 A-K-J-x (or A-x-x-x-x A-K-J).

Tim DeLaney: No Blackwood, so South rates to hold all the missing aces. The idea here is to force South to run diamonds before he can play his heart winners. A relevant hand for South is A-10-x-x A-Q-x 10-x A-K-J-x.

Travis Crump: If declarer has A-x-x-x A-Q-x x-x A-K-J-x, this kills the squeeze, since declarer can’t cash his side winners and then get to dummy. Ducking smoothly will probably work too, but I’ve thought about it too long to do it honestly; and declarer might be suspicious about the lead.

Charles Blair: I grudgingly concede that partner, holding K-x-x-x J-x-x x-x-x Q-x-x, had some excuse for leading dummy’s suit.

Simon Cheung: From the opening lead, it seems likely that partner holds some black-suit strength, hopefully the K and Q. … This may ruin declarer’s communication, e.g., if he is 5=3=2=3, he can’t cash three hearts before running diamonds.

John Lusky: Breaks up the black-suit squeeze if declarer has A-x-x-x A-Q-x 10-x A-K-J-x (or A-x-x-x-x A-K-J). …

Jim Wiitala: A ruff seems to be our only chance.

Yep, then I suggest a trip to your eye doctor.

Thibault Wolf: Declarer certainly has a balanced hand,…e.g., A-x-x-x A-Q-J x-x A-K-J-x; then he can win on a squeeze…if I don’t return a diamond.

Dean Pokorny: This breaks up the spade-club squeeze against partner when declarer has A-10-x-x A-Q-x x-x A-K-J-x.

Comments for E. Win K, lead 4

Rob Stevens: If I smoothly duck the diamond, I wonder if declarer will notice that it took over a week. …

Bill Jacobs: Option F would be a lie, unfortunately; “smoothly” is not in my vocabulary on this hand. This destroys a combined chance if declarer has A-K-x-x-x A-Q 10-3 A-Q-J-x, which is consistent with partner’s passive lead.

Ding-Hwa Hsieh: If partner has the A and I don’t return a club, he’ll send me a copy of “Bridge for Dummies.”

Ruud von Seida: Strange lead. If partner hasn’t got 10-6-5-4, I must find a new partner — maybe even if he has. … Option C is no option; any South who hasn’t got the A on this bidding says a lot about the competition I’m playing in; it’s certainly Olympic. It’s not winning that counts, but competing — like Eddie the Eagle, who’d be ski jumping at the biathlon arena.

Albert Feasley: Partner will have discard problems with 10-x-x-x Q-x-x x-x K-x-x-x if I lead anything else… Ducking the Q seems the next best move, but I would have had to missort ( K in with my hearts) to do it smoothly.

Comments for F. Duck smoothly

Perry Groot: South may have something like A-x-x-x-x A-J-x x-x A-K-Q, then a losing finesse and a heart return will kill the Vienna coup.

Jim Munday: … Partner’s lead suggests he did not want to give up a trick; something like K-x-x Q-x-x x-x-x J-x-x-x, [giving South A-10-9-x-x A-J-x 10-3 A-K-Q]. Declarer then has 11 tops and a potential major-suit squeeze against partner; and given the diamond lead, he is likely to take that line. If I win the first trick and shift to a heart, declarer will win the K, cash four black winners and run diamonds, and the squeeze will operate. Ducking the opening lead gives declarer a losing option; he will surely repeat the finesse (without mirrors), then a heart return breaks up the squeeze.

Final Notes

I hope you enjoyed the contest, as well as the Winter Olympics in Turin — excuse me, Torino, as socialites seem to prefer. Must I then write “The Shroud of Torino?” Thanks to all who participated, and especially those who offered kind remarks about my web site.

Comments are selected from those scoring 45 or higher (top 217) in this contest or in the Overall Top 200 (plus ties) prior to this contest. For each problem I only use comments supporting the winning solution — except on Problems 5 and 6, which were close, I included other insights. 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 not used, 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, aided by comments received, has determined the best solutions in theory, but oversights are possible. Feedback is always welcome.

Breaking news: At a press conference in the Oval Office, President Bush agreed to implement my in-school plan to develop biathletes at a young age. Hurray! To oversee safety, he appointed Dick Cheney. Oops!

The slopes are silent now, as our bridge biathletes gather ‘round the fireplace:

Jonathan Mestel: As ever in your quizzes, I’m on a slippery slope.

Richard Aronson: I hope I earned enough IMPs to make up for the time penalties I’ll receive.

Ruud von Seida: We have to combine bridge with something to reenter the Olympics. Bridge and figure skating? Seems to me that Bob Hamman on skates should get everybody’s attention.

Jim Munday: These defensive problems certainly tested my mettle. Hopefully, I did better than the U.S. Ski Team.

Albert Feasley: I took my best shot on your problems, but even my worst shot has to be better than our Vice President’s.

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© 2006 Richard Pavlicek