Challenge 8Y17 Main Analyses

Beware the Ides of March

by Richard Pavlicek

Friends, Romans, countrymen… Lend me your ears!

I come to bury declarers, not to praise them. The evil they do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones.

The noble Brutus hath told you the bidding was ambitious; a grievous fault that shall be punished. For Brutus is an honorable man, and together we shall defend with sterner stuff. What cause holds you to believe you can succeed?

O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts, for declarers have lost all their reason. Bear with me. My heart is in the coffin with Caesar, but I must forgo due mourning to consider my opening lead. -Marcus Antonius

Julius Caesar was warned, and so are you. At least in his case, we were left with a great salad; while you might not even provide a crouton. As declarer on each of these contracts, you will do battle against Antonius (West) and Brutus (East). Simply choose your play from the options listed. Each option will be rated on a 1-to-10 scale per my judgment.

Bidding is standard (or as noted). For a reference see Standard American Bridge. Antonius and Brutus are aggressive and resourceful, using Roman leads (second highest of touching honors) and Roman signals (odd encourages).

In March 2007 these six problems were presented as a contest with 922 entrants from 117 locations. The contest is closed, but you can still quiz yourself and find your score immediately. If you’re lucky, you might even win a valuable prize.*

*Prizes include free Cesarean births at any PavCo Clinic and a lifetime license for Nero CD-burning software. Winners must be at least 18
years of age and pregnant, or show proof of paternity. Void where prohibited by law or anywhere else I might end up in jail.

Veni, vidi, vici! Put on your toga and join me at the Forum. Et tu, Pavlicus?

Problem I

Matchpoints None Vul	A K 10 8 7 3 A 7 5 4 9 4 3		Antonius `West` Pass Pass	Dummy `North` 2 3 NT	Brutus `East` Pass All Pass	You `SOUTH` 1 NT 2
Lead: Q		East plays 7
3 NT South	7 5 3 A K Q 9 K Q 3 J 8 6

West next leads the 5 to the ace, and East shifts to the 6. Your play?

A. Win A; finesse 10
B. Win A; finesse 8
C. Win A-K-Q
D. Win A; A; K-Q
E. Win A; lead J
F. Finesse the 9

Problem II

Matchpoints N-S Vul	A Q 8 6 4 3 Q 7 3 6 3 A 6		Antonius `WEST` Pass Pass Pass All Pass	Dummy North 1 3 5	Brutus `East` Pass Pass Pass	You South 2 4 NT¹ 6
Lead: J		East plays 7
6 South	2 A K J 10 9 A 2 K 9 7 4 3		1. Roman Blackwood

After winning the A, what next?

A. Win A; ruff spade
B. Win A; lead spade and pitch 2
C. Finesse the Q
D. Win A; K; ruff club with Q
E. Win A; K; ruff club with 7
F. Win A; K; lead club and pitch 6

Note: If you lead clubs, West follows to third round.

Problem III

Matchpoints N-S Vul	7 6 5 A K J 7 4 A Q 10 Q 3		Antonius `WEST` 1 NT 2 Pass	Dummy North Dbl Pass 4	Brutus `East` Pass Pass All Pass	You South Pass 3
Lead: K		East plays 4
4 South	A Q J 8 3 10 5 J 8 4 8 5 2

West continues A-J, ruffed in dummy (East plays 7-9). What now?

A. Win A; lead J
B. Win A; A-K
C. Win A; run J
D. Win A; finesse Q
E. Finesse the Q
F. Win A-K; finesse Q

Problem IV

Matchpoints E-W Vul	A K 6 4 A 6 4 A 6 4 J 6 4		Antonius West Pass All Pass	Dummy `North` 4 NT	Brutus East Pass	You `SOUTH` 1 NT 6 NT
Lead: J		East plays 2
6 NT South	7 5 3 K 5 3 K 3 A K Q 10 9

A. Win A; A-K; duck spade
B. Win A; A-K-Q; duck spade
C. Win A; A-K-Q-10; duck spade
D. Win A; all clubs; duck spade
E. Duck; win A-K; A-K-Q
F. Duck; win A; A-K-Q

Problem V

Matchpoints Both Vul	2 A J 7 2 5 3 A Q J 8 5 4		Antonius West Pass Pass All Pass	Dummy NORTH 1 2 2	Brutus East Pass Pass Pass	You South 1 2 3 NT
Lead: Q		East plays 4
3 NT South	K Q 10 9 8 8 3 A K 9 2 10 2

You duck. West continues with the 10, won by the jack (East plays 5). What next?

A. Lead spade to the king
B. Finesse the 10
C. Win K; run 10 (win ace if covered)
D. Win K; run 10 (duck if covered)
E. Lead the Q
F. Lead 4 to the 10

Problem VI

Matchpoints N-S Vul	A 7 5 4 K A K Q J 10 A Q 10		Antonius `West` 2 Pass Pass	Dummy NORTH 2 3 4 6	Brutus `East` Pass Pass Dbl All Pass	You South 2 4 5
Lead: 10		East plays Q
6 South	6 3 2 A 8 7 5 9 8 6 4 3 2

A. Win A; A-K; A (overtake); ruff heart
B. Win A; A-K; A (overtake); finesse Q
C. Win A; A-K; A (overtake); finesse 10
D. Win A; A-K; K; A; ruff club
E. Win A; A-K; A; ruff club
F. Duck the first trick

Note: West has one trump.

Click to see how you did

Challenge 8Y17 Main Analyses Scores Top Beware the Ides of March