Analyses 8Y40 Main Challenge

Concerto in A Minor

Scores  by Richard Pavlicek

These six problems were published on the Internet in May 2007 as a contest open to all bridge players. On each problem you are declarer in a minor-suit contract and had to choose your line of play from the choices offered.

Problem 1

2

3

4

5

6

Final Notes

As the sun sets on the pristine fjords of Bergen, Norway, I am reminded that Edvard Grieg was an ordinary man — except for the way he spelled Edward — with an extraordinary talent, or vice versa. If he were alive today he’d be a Hell of a player, comparable to countrymen Geir Helgemo and Tor Helness.

Conventions like Stayman and Flannery would be banned for depriving A minor from its natural resonance. Two clubs would be a weak two-bid, and all notrump bids would show minors, hence an ‘unusual’ notrump would show a balanced hand. All could have been different… yet the echoes of Grieg remain still.

Music has been a part of my life since grade school, when I played clarinet, continuing through high school concert and marching bands. Alas, Pete Fountain I was not, so I gave it up to learn piano, and soon switched to organ. About 25 years ago, my wife insisted we buy an expensive Yamaha organ, well beyond our means, but her only concern was my happiness, and she made a remarkable deal. I play it to this day, and it still sounds great.

Ding-Hwa Hsieh Wins!

This contest had 761 entrants from 110 locations, and the average score was 42.14. Congratulations to Ding-Hwa Hsieh (Missouri), who was the first of 12 to submit perfect scores. Ding-Hwa is a longtime contender and past winner in my old series (April 2004). Besides her bridge expertise, she is a professor of religion at Truman State University and a notable writer in her field. Others scoring 60 were Bruce Neill (Australia), David Kenward (England), Patrick Chye (California), N. Scott Cardell (Washington), Herb Lavine (New York), Franco Masoero (Italy), Charles Blair (Illinois), Jordi Sabate (Spain), Jonathan Mestel (England), Neelotpal Sahai (India) and Martin Byrne (Massachusetts). Thirteen players were only a point behind with 59.

Well, what can I say. Declarer play and IMPs are almost everyone’s favorites, yet participation falls again. Either bridge is dying out fast, or this dinosaur is ready for the tar pits. In my previous series, the steadily increasing attendance was encouraging, and the reason for its longevity. Now, the opposite trend is depressing if not embarrassing. Oh well; I’ll press on. Maybe things will change.

The average score (42.14) was the second highest of the series (January was 42.61), and 337 persons topped that (43+) to make the listing (all 42s lost out by the small fraction). Two problems were aced by the consensus (about the norm) and the consensus scored 45, almost 3 points above average. Only one problem (#4) warranted a 9-award, but it wasn’t a photo.

Overall standings count the best four scores in the five events of this series. (Hereafter, it will always be best four of the most recent six.) Tim DeLaney (Indiana) still leads the pack with a sparkling 59.50 average. Moving into second place is Bruce Neill with 59.00. Close behind with 58.75 are Leif-Erik Stabell (Zimbabwe), Lajos Linczmayer (Hungary) and John Lusky (Oregon). Next with 58.50 are this month’s winner Ding-Hwa Hsieh and Darek Kardas (Poland), followed by Jerry Fink (Ohio) and David Kenward, each with 58.25.

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

Each problem offered six plausible lines of play (A-F). The merit of each is scored on a 1-to-10 scale based on my judgment, which is also aided by some of the comments received.

Analyses 8Y40 Main Challenge

Scores Top Concerto in A Minor

Problem 1

IMPs N-S Vul	10 8 4 3 J 10 5 K 9 5 4 5 2		West 1 All Pass	NORTH Pass Pass	East 1 2	South Pass 3
Lead: 2		East wins A
3 South	5 A 7 2 A 6 3 A Q 10 9 7 6

East returns the 6, you ruff, and West plays the 7.

Next Play	Award	Votes	Percent
E. Win A; lead Q	10	168	22
F. Lead the 10	8	98	13
D. Duck a diamond	6	133	17
C. Win K; finesse Q	4	199	26
A. Lead the 2	3	89	12
B. Win A; K; finesse Q	2	74	10

In Grieg’s time, you could overcall 2 with the South hand, as showing a minor was top priority. Nowadays you have to pass and hope to bid later, because Michaels cue-bids get center stage. When the auction gets back to you at 2 , you decide to risk 3  with your nice suit. No doubt Grieg is laughing in the clouds, as he bid and made two clubs on this deal 118 years ago; but I digress.

First instincts are to cross to dummy for a club finesse (Line B or C), or maybe postpone it with Line A or D. East surely rates to have the K, and probably the jack as well; although limited entries permit only one finesse. Alas, even if you manage to win five club tricks, you are still a trick short; and the removal of dummy’s only entry wiped out any chance to succeed.

The only realistic hope to make 3 is to play trumps for one loser leading from hand, and retain the K to reach dummy’s long diamond, or to benefit from a squeeze. Consider a typical layout:

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

After ruffing the second spade, cash the A (might catch a stiff honor) and lead the queen (Line E). Bingo! Surely, West is more likely to have J-x than K-x, or maybe good fortune just favors the bold. One hurdle is overcome, but you’re still not home. Assume East wins and leads another spade, which you ruff to leave this position:

win 6	10		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	J 10 5		6 S	3!	2	4	J
	K 9 5 4		7 E	Q	9	K	10
	—		8 S	A	8	5	7
K		Q	continued below…
Q 8 6		K 9 4 3
Q 10 8 2		J 7
—		8
	—
	A 7 2
	A 6 3
South leads	10 9

The enemy distribution is now evident. West would respond 1 (up-the-line) with 4=4=3=2 shape; hence he is 4=3=4=2, so diamonds are not splitting. There are several ways to succeed at this point. Best is to duck a diamond immediately (before drawing the last trump); assume a spade return, ruffed. Next cash the A to discover if East held Q-J, Q-10 or J-10 doubleton (revealing a marked finesse against West) to reach this ending:

win 4	—		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	J 10 5		9 S	10	6	9!	8
	K 9		10 S	2!	Q	5	3
	—		11 W	10	K	4	6
—		—	12 N	J	9	7
Q 8 6		K 9 4 3	Declarer succeeds
Q 10		—
—		8
	—
	A 7 2
	6
South leads	10

Drawing the last trump squeezes West out of a heart, so pitch the 9 from dummy and lead a low heart. West can either take his queen and allow East to be finessed, or duck and have it drop under the ace. Note that you can bank on split heart honors, because East would have opened 1 NT with K-Q-x-x, and he wouldn’t have his 1  bid without a heart honor.

If East disappointingly turns up with K-J-x, you will recover the lost trick through the same squeeze to finish down one. Hence, it would not have helped to finesse clubs anyway.

In my example, it should be noted that East could defeat 3 by leading the J at Trick 2, but that’s surely double-dummy; If South held 5 Q-x-x A-10-x A-Q-J-10-x-x, it would give away the contract.

Second place goes to leading the 10 from hand (Line F), which essentially is to play East for J-x-x and both heart honors; but even then, West could defeat you by winning the K and shifting to hearts (barring 9-8-x if you play double-dummy). Suppose East wins the J and returns a trump — clearly a Trojan horse to divert your plan — so hop to drop the king. Next finesse the 9 (or duck if West plays an honor); win the trump return, and cash another trump to reach:

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

Now cash two diamonds ending in dummy, which squeezes East. A heart pitch allows direct establishment, so assume he lets go a spade. Finally, ruff the 10 to remove his exit, and lead a low heart for the endplay.

Ducking a diamond (Line D) gets third place. This not only requires East to have both heart honors, but the K as well, else a diamond return and subsequent ruff will set you two tricks. The heavy HCP requirement for East makes this a long shot.

The popular Line C offers virtually no chance. I could describe this as ‘hopeless’… but a recent seance in Bergen, Norway, revealed that Grieg also chose Line C, so let’s call it e-grieg-ious — which in his case was not as bad being in only two clubs. Lines A and B fall in the same category, so the last three places are ranked by the voting.

Comments for E. Win A; lead Q

Bruce Neill: Working toward a red-suit squeeze if East has something like A-Q-x-x K-x-x-x J-x K-x-x. East could break this up with the J switch at trick two, but that’s not obvious.

David Kenward: West is most likely to be 4=3=4=2, so I’ll play to crush the J and squeeze him in the reds when he holds something like K-J-x-x Q-x-x J-x-x-x J-x.

N. Scott Cardell: … If I use my sole dummy entry to finesse in trumps, there is very little chance… Fortunately, I know the opposing distribution to within a card at most. [Squeeze ending explained].

Charles Blair: When the music stops, East will be thrown in with one heart honor to lead from the other.

Jordi Sabate: I need to lose only one club without using the K, so I hope East is 4=4=2=3 with K-x-x. I also need the heart honors to be split. Later when I play trumps, West will not have safe discards.

Jonathan Mestel: East must be 4=4=2=3. I aim to squeeze a heart out of West.

Neelotpal Sahai: My aim is to restrict club losers to one and create an extra red-suit trick. If I use the K entry to finesse clubs, chances of a squeeze and a ninth trick vanish; so I hope to pin the J. … Later I will duck a diamond, then lead a heart toward dummy, after which a diamond-heart squeeze on West will materialize — a lot of effort for a partscore. A diamond opening lead or shift at trick two would ruin squeeze entries and beat the contract. I expect East to have A-Q-J-6 Q-9-4-3 J-8 K-8-3.

Tim DeLaney: I need to play clubs for one loser, but using the K as an entry for a club finesse dooms me to five losers; so I look for West to have J-x. Later I hope to endplay East.

Lajos Linczmayer: East is 4-4 in the majors, so his shape can be 4=4=2=3 or 4=4=1=4. I must place the J with West to have a chance, and I’ll play East for A-Q-7-6 K-x-x-x J-x K-x-x (maybe unlikely, as he did not switch to diamonds). West will be squeezed in the reds.

Barry Rigal: It seems like my best chance is to hold club losers to one, while preserving dummy’s entry to generate something in the red suits. Real men always pin jacks, rather than play for doubleton kings.

Rainer Herrmann: I need my only dummy entry for a red-suit trick later.

Jerry Fink: … This [should develop] a squeeze, producing plus 110 if East has K-x-x, or minus 100 if he has K-J-x…

Dawei Chen: To succeed, the K must be retained for several chances, such as East holding two diamond honors, squeezing West in the red suits, or endplaying East in hearts… Line E has the merit to deny an entry to West, and survives on any defense…when cards are located properly. Line F will pick up the club suit if West has K-x, but the defense may still prevail if West can shift to hearts to break up an endplay (East having A-Q-x-x K-Q-9-x J-x J-x-x). …

Snorri Karlsson: Diamonds are not 3-3, since West would respond 1 with 4-4 in majors. East seems to be 4=4=2=3… The K entry must be kept, so clubs must be led from hand.

Dale Freeman: ‘A minor’ probability.

Julian Pottage: If the lead is honest, diamonds are not going to break, as West would respond 1 with 4-4 in the majors. I attack trumps from hand to preserve endgame chances.

Mauri Saastamoinen: Prospects are poor; however, if East has something like A-Q-x-x K-x-x-x 10-x K-x-x, West is on target. My plan is to duck a diamond and play some trumps to reach J-10-5 K-9 opposite A-7-2 6 9, as West must keep Q-x-x Q-J. Now I lead a small heart to the jack and king, and West will eventually be squeezed…

Adrian Barna: West is surely 4=3=4=2; and he needs J-x to give the contract a chance, since the K is needed in the end for a squeeze or [heart] finesse. After drawing trumps, I will duck a diamond, then lead a small heart toward dummy. If West has one heart honor, he will be squeezed, or East will be finessed. If I duck a diamond before clearing trumps (Line D), East will return a diamond, and then a heart to kill the squeeze or get a diamond ruff.

Perry Groot: East has 4=4=2=3, given the bidding. [Best] chance is a squeeze with split heart honors, and J-x opposite K-x-x.

John Lusky: On the bidding, East is 4=4=2=3. I need to find West with J-x. Then I can duck a diamond, win the second diamond with the ace, and lead a low heart from hand, squeezing West in the red suits if he ducks his heart honor to save East from a later heart finesse.

Leif-Erik Stabell: I need to find East with North’s hand in concerto four (4=4=2=3) or similar (4=4=1=4). West will eventually be forced to open the heart suit.

Steve White: If I can play clubs for one loser without using the K, there is an excellent chance to squeeze West in the reds — unless he rises on a heart toward dummy, then I’ll finesse East for the other heart honor. I hope West has J-x.

Travis Crump: Hopefully, West has J-x, and a heart-diamond squeeze develops later. Assuming I pick up clubs, I’ll duck a diamond then lead low toward J-10-5 to isolate the heart menace in West.

Jim Munday: Spades appear to be 4-4, in which case East must be 4=4=1=4 or 4=4=2=3 on the auction. The club finesse doesn’t help; better to play for the J singleton or doubleton. I can set up a third diamond trick ( J-10, Q-J, Q-10 doubleton) or squeeze West in the red suits if the heart honors are split.

Dmitri Shabes: Spades are 4-4, so West does not have four hearts, and East is probably 4=4=2=3 (or 4=4=1=4). So my best chance is to hope for split heart honors and aim for red-suit squeeze, for which I need to keep the K (thus no trump finesse). If I am lucky to catch a short J, I will be able to draw trumps, duck a diamond, then play a heart which West must duck, and finally squeeze West. If East wins the K and switches to a singleton diamond, it will be an honor (West would lead from Q-J-10-x-x instead of a risky spade), so I will win in hand and later handle diamonds correctly thanks to the 9.

Joon Pahk: I’ll try to pick up trumps for one loser (J-x or stiff honor West) so I can preserve my dummy entry for an eventual red-suit squeeze against West.

Thijs Veugen: When West has something like K-J-x-x Q-x-x J-10-x-x J-x, I can win by endplaying him in the red suits.

Toby Kenney: West’s lead suggests East has A-Q-x-x, which means West won’t have four hearts. East is probably 4=4=2=3, so he doesn’t have 15-17 HCP, and the heart honors are probably split. I’ll aim to squeeze West in the red suits.

Carsten Kofoed: The bidding and first trick make me play West for K-J-9-2 Q-8-3 J-10-6-2 J-3. When I play my fifth club, [West] must keep his red cards; then I can correct the squeeze tempo with a diamond duck, then a heart to the 10.

Claude Valiquette: The bidding and play to the first two tricks tell me: Spades are 4-4 (East having A-Q); West does not have four hearts; and East is probably 4=4=2=3 with the K. … Using my only dummy entry to finesse clubs would not avoid a club loser. A better line is to hope to pin J-x in West, duck a diamond, and play all but one trump before leading toward J-10-5. East must win, and his return will lead to a red-suit squeeze whenever the heart honors are split.

John Auld: West did not respond 1 , so East should be 4=4=2=3. Best chance is to squeeze West if he holds a high heart. This suggests East has the K, so I’ll play West for J-x.

Manuel Paulo: Consider this possible East hand: A-Q-9-6 K-x-x-x Q-x K-x-x. Catching the J, I have only one club loser. Afterwards, I intend to draw the last trump, duck a diamond, and lead a low heart from hand. Either West goes up with his honor to let me finesse East, or he plays low and will be squeezed in the red suits.

David Grainger: Spades are 4-4, so East must have four hearts, making his most likely shape 4=4=2=3. In order to set up an endplay later, I will try to pin J-x in West.

Leonard Helfgott: I will not waste my sole entry to hope East has K-J-x. Better is to hope for K-x-x-(x) and a [favorable ending].

Cecil Livingston: I can’t [avoid a club loser] by finessing, so I’ll play West for J-x or a stiff honor.

Tim Capes: I’ll play West for something like K-J-x-x Q-x-x J-10-x-x J-x. I’m slightly disappointed that “Win A; lead 10” isn’t an option; but this is superior, as it’s hard to give East a full opener without the K, and still have split heart honors.

Hazel Rollasson: Splatting West’s J-x, I hope.

Yes, forget about suit splits and just go for style points. Look West in the eye and smack down the Q. Splat!

Junyi Zhu: East is likely to be 4=4=2=3. I hope to pin the J, and later squeeze West in the red suits, if he has something like K-J-x-x Q-x-x J-10-x-x J-x.

Steve Moese: … I cannot afford to use the K entry to finesse clubs (I’ll lose two clubs anyway to K-J-x-x), and I don’t want to start hearts myself. I hope for J-x in West.

Ed Barnes: East is 4-4 in the majors,…so my first job is to squash any club honor West might have. Then I can look for friendly diamonds (Q-J, Q-10 or J-10 East), …or force West to pitch a diamond or heart (from Q-x-x) and play accordingly. …

Stefan Tarpan: West is 4=3=4=2, and East is 4=4=2=3. The K must be kept in dummy. …

Linda Lubeck: I hope to catch or smother West’s J, and later have a squeeze.

Gabor Lippner: I have four losers outside trumps, and possibly one or two trump losers. Opponents cannot attack hearts, and I may be able to [establish] a diamond, so I need to preserve the K as a late dummy entry. I have to play trumps for one loser without a finesse. …

Sebastien Louveaux: East is marked with 4=4=2=3 distribution, and I assume K-Q are split. Early use of the K gives up any squeeze chance; hence, I hope for J-x with West. This sets up a red-suit squeeze against West,…as he cannot discard down to honor-doubleton in hearts [nor pitch a diamond].

Richard Stein: My one entry to dummy can’t be burned just yet. I need to lose only one trump trick, and there is a good chance West has J-x.

Gerald Murphy: After [hopefully] dropping West’s J-x, I will ruff the spade return, draw the last trump, and duck a diamond. …

Analyses 8Y40 Main Challenge

Scores Top Concerto in A Minor

Problem 2

IMPs Both Vul	A J 10 5 2 7 5 3 10 6 5 3 2		West 2 Pass	North Pass 3	EAST 1 Pass All Pass	South 2 2
Lead: Q		East plays 7
3 South	Q 8 7 2 9 3 A K Q J 4 A 4

Note: East will play K on second round.

Play	Award	Votes	Percent
F. Duck; win A; finesse J	10	228	30
B. Win A; finesse J	8	148	19
A. Win A; A; lead J	7	158	21
E. Duck; win A; A; lead J	5	157	21
C. Win A; lead 9	3	45	6
D. Win A; lead 4	2	25	3

What’s that fishy smell? A truckload of Norwegian salmon? No, it’s West leading from a holding that can’t be rock-solid, after his partner bid hearts. First thoughts suggest a singleton, but East would surely compete to 3  with 5-5 shape; and even Q-J doubleton is remote, as East would usually compete with 5-4. Most likely, West eschewed a heart lead because he held A-x-x or K-x-x, a common tactic to retain flexibility, as well as to avoid the occasional loss of a trick.

With eight obvious tricks, the best chance for nine is to ruff a spade in dummy. Lack of competition suggests friendly breaks, so the risk of an overruff is minimal. To facilitate transportation, it may seem better to forgo the spade finesse with Line A, but danger lurks in them thar fjords. Consider a likely layout:

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

Suppose you win the A, A and give up a spade. East will cash the K, then put West in with a heart to lead the J, allowing East to pitch his remaining spade. Then a spade ruff will be overruffed, and you cannot benefit from the good 10. Down one.

Aha! To counter this, you need to keep the A in dummy. Then if West leads the J, you will have an entry to the established 10. So let’s try Line B:

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

Now the defense changes tack, as East returns a trump. If you cross to the A, return in trumps and ruff a spade, you cannot reach your hand to draw the last trump, so East will get a spade ruff. If instead you lead a club at Trick 4, East will lead a second trump; then after winning the A, you must lead a club to return to hand, allowing East to pitch his last spade. Frustrating! Back to square one.

Trying to break the enemy communication with a heart lead (Line C) is also fruitless, as a trump is returned. Now you must lead ace and another spade, else the defense can stop your spade ruff. East then can cash the K and put West in with a heart to lead the J; or he can lead another trump, and you will be dummy-locked after ruffing a spade.

The definitive feature of Grieg’s piano concerto is its beginning, and so it is with this contract. Tempo is just as important in card play as it is in music. You must begin by ducking the first trick, after which you can cope with any defense. If West continues clubs, take the spade finesse (Line F) to keep the A entry (in case they establish the 10). If East leads a trump, simply cross to the A, return in trumps, ruff your spade loser, and return to hand with a club ruff.

Second place goes to winning the A and taking an immediate spade finesse (Line B). This works in the less likely event that East has four spades, as the defense is helpless to hinder your spade ruff. You will even score up an overtrick if the spade finesse works, but that’s about as remote as Jan Mayen Island in the Norwegian Sea.

A close third goes to winning the A and playing spades from the top (Line A). Essentially the same as Line B but relinquishes the slight chance of an overtrick.

Winning the second club and playing spades from the top (Line E) may seem no worse than if the first club were won, but it involves an additional risk. If West has three spades, he can shift to hearts* at Trick 2, forcing you to ruff the third round; then upon winning the K, East can lead a fourth heart, allowing West to pitch a spade, foiling your spade ruff.

*Even though Line E presumes a club continuation, ducking leaves you liable for any variation.

Winning the first club and leading a heart (Line C) or a club (Line D) fails similarly to Line E, and the defense is less challenging. Your fate is sealed by a trump return if West has four spades; or heart leads if West has three spades. In the latter case, the defense can safely lead hearts, unlike Line E. Between Lines C and D, I couldn’t find any real difference, so they’re ranked by the voting.

Comments for F. Duck; win A; finesse J

Bruce Neill: Danger is a spade overruff if East has some ordinary hand like K-x-x K-Q-x-x-x x-x-x K-x, so I need to hold back both black aces to prevent it.

I wonder what percent of players would open that hand… but it must have gone up after Al Roth’s passing.

David Kenward: Planning to ruff a spade for my ninth trick. Other lines allow East to throw a spade on a third round of clubs with 3=5=3=2 shape then overruff dummy. If I keep the A, this defense only sets up dummy.

N. Scott Cardell: West is marked with Q-J, and he may have the A, which explains his failure to lead a heart. … If East has a typical hand like K-10-x K-Q-J-x-x 10-9-x K-7, a direct approach will fail;…East will discard a spade on the J. [Other variations explained].

Charles Blair: East’s struggle to discard a spade on a club at the right moment really does seem to have a “point and counterpoint” feel to it.

Jordi Sabate: If West has three spades, Lines A and B succeed; the rest fail, because the defense can play three rounds of hearts before East wins the K, then a fourth heart allows West to ruff or discard a spade. If West has four spades (and two trumps), only Line F is a winner. The first case is less probable, because West might not support hearts, vulnerable, with a poor 3=3=3=4.

Jonathan Mestel: Another “Diamonds in the Ruff” hand? I must protect against East discarding a spade on the third club.

Neelotpal Sahai: From the bidding, spades rate to be 4-3, and other breaks should be benign. … Ducking the first club is important to maintain communication to hand to draw trumps. Finessing the J is important, even if it loses, [to keep an entry to dummy] and to ruff a spade [when I choose].

Tim DeLaney: This keeps my entries intact to ruff a spade without the danger of an overruff.

Lajos Linczmayer: West did not lead a heart, so he has the A or K. A critical hand for East is K-x-x K-Q-J-x-x 8-x-x K-7. I need to ruff a spade, and must keep control in both black suits to avoid being overruffed.

Barry Rigal: It took me awhile to work this out, but I’m guarding against 3=5=3=2 shape East. If I take the first club, I run into an [overruff] by playing A-J; or if I finesse the J, East returns a trump and my communication is shot. Dang it! So I must duck, and then finesse the J. If East wins and cashes the K and two hearts ending in West, the 10 prevents West from leading the J for East to pitch a spade… How did West miss the obvious 9 lead from Q-J-9-8?

Rainer Herrmann: Keeping communication for myself, and cutting it for opponents.

Jerry Fink: If West is 4=3=2=4, this guarantees the contract. If he is 3=3=3=4, I can be set with a heart shift and three more rounds (allowing West to overruff or pitch a spade to prevent a spade ruff in dummy); but otherwise I will succeed. On balance, it seems likely that West (who feared to lead a heart to begin with) will continue clubs. Line B fails if East wins the K and returns a diamond (a serious risk), since I am short a quick entry to hand later.

Dawei Chen: It is necessary to keep the A entry to dummy; otherwise, West can play the J, allowing East to discard a spade.

Snorri Karlsson: This works against 4-3 spades either way, if West continues clubs. The spade finesse, though certainly failing, keeps the A entry to prevent a later spade discard by East (with K-x-x K-Q-J-x-x 9-x-x K-x) on the J. However, if the defense switches to three rounds of hearts, I will fail if West has x-x-x A-x-x 9-x-x Q-J-9-8, as East can play a fourth heart when in with the K.

Dale Freeman: I need black entries to both hands.

Julian Pottage: I want to ruff the third round of spades in dummy without giving East the chance to discard a spade on the J.

Mauri Saastamoinen: In this concerto, East could well have something like K-x-x A-Q-J-x-x x-x-x K-7, so I have to play carefully. I need to duck the first trick to maintain entries to hand; and I need to keep the A in dummy, in case East decides to discard a spade on the J. …

Adrian Barna: Preserving an option. If East has K-x-x and K-x, and plays a heart to West to discard his third spade on the J, I have an entry to the established 10.

Perry Groot: East must have at least three spades to be able to ruff a spade without being overruffed; however, he might be able to throw his third spade on a high club, or ruff the fourth round of spades. Line F prevents this.

Leif-Erik Stabell: East’s most likely distribution is 3=5=3=2; and this way, he cannot prevent a spade ruff in dummy.

Dean Pokorny: Danger is to allow East (with, say, K-x-x A-Q-x-x-x 10-x-x K-7) to ditch a spade on West’s J, preventing my spade ruff. [Ducking the first trick] and finessing the J makes opponents helpless, because I retain the A entry to winning clubs if they defend that way.

Joon Pahk: It’s strange to take a finesse I know will lose, but I need to keep the A entry in dummy, in case East is 3=5=3=2, else he could discard a spade on the J and overruff dummy.

Thijs Veugen: The danger is that East will discard his third spade on the J lead by West. If so, I need to keep the A to reach the 10.

Carsten Kofoed: Risk is that East, with K-x-x K-Q-J-x-x 10-9-x K-7, will discard a spade on a third club; so I keep the A as an entry to potential club tricks. [Ducking the first club] creates a fast connection to my hand to draw the last trump.

John Auld: Keeps my communication good. Opponents now can’t spoil my spade ruff with club plays for a spade discard, or get a fourth-round spade ruff.

David Caprera: If East has K-x-x A-Q-x-x-x 10-x-x K-x, I need to maintain communication and timing to ruff a spade.

Manuel Paulo: Consider this possible East hand: K-x-x A-Q-J-x-x 10-x-x K-7. If I win the A and finesse the J, East leads a trump, and either stops the ruff or gets to ruff the Q; so I must duck the opening lead. Then I must take the spade finesse to ruff my low spade safely.

Douglas Dunn: Ducking the club avoids the problem of getting back to hand after ruffing a spade.

Franco Chiarugi: East is marked with five hearts and two clubs. This maintains my entry in dummy (even if the finesse loses)…and does not allow West to safely lead the J for East to discard a spade…

Analyses 8Y40 Main Challenge

Scores Top Concerto in A Minor

Problem 3

IMPs None Vul	7 6 4 3 2 A K 5 2 A 3 K J		WEST 1 Pass	North Dbl Pass	East 1 Pass	South 5
Lead: 2		East plays 5
5 South	— 6 3 7 6 4 2 A Q 10 9 8 7 3

Note: If you lead a spade, East plays the 8.

Play	Award	Votes	Percent
A. Lead spade and pitch diamond	10	149	20
B. Ruff spade; win A; ruff spade	8	113	15
C. Ruff spade; duck a diamond	7	173	23
D. Ruff spade; win J; ruff spade	6	174	23
E. Win A; lead 3	3	81	11
F. Lead the 3	2	71	9

The killing lead! Against any other lead you could quickly claim after ruffing a diamond in dummy; but now you have serious problems. Trying for a diamond ruff directly (Line E) has about as much chance as a Grieg sighting in the Norwegian Wood. On the surface it looks like your only hope is to establish dummy’s fifth spade, which requires a lucky 4-4 split. Consider a more likely layout:

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

West’s trump lead was well-judged with both red suits bottled up and East showing spades. The chance of picking off East’s Q-x-x was remote compared to the chance of stopping a diamond ruff in dummy, and so it proved. The question now is: What can you do about it? With West having length in both red suits, squeeze possibilities come to mind; but not the usual kind, as East can guard the third round of hearts if necessary. Instead you must impose the threat of establish the fourth heart, with the threat of establishing a diamond.

Suppose you ruff a spade, cross to the J, ruff a spade (Line D) then cross to the K and ruff another spade to reach:

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

On the A, West safely pitches a diamond, since you cannot establish your long diamond with only one trump left. If you lead your last trump, he can pitch another diamond (your hand is dead) or the heart queen*, and you must lose three tricks.

*Not a low heart, as you could then establish the long heart with an avoidance play.

To succeed, you must rectify the count. This must be done at Trick 2 to retain a heart and diamond entry to dummy, while the defense is obliged to lead a second trump to stop a diamond ruff. Suppose you pitch a diamond on the first spade (Line A), and East wins to lead a second trump, won in dummy. Next ruff a spade, cross to the K, and ruff another spade to reach:

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

On the A, West can safely pitch a diamond, as you let go a spade* from dummy. On the next trump, West has no answer. If he pitches a heart, you will establish the fourth heart with a ruff. If he pitches a diamond, you can establish a diamond while you still have a trump left.

*This is the moment of truth. If you thought spades were 4-4, you would keep both spades in dummy to establish the long one.

What if East shifts to a diamond after winning the 8? No problem; simply duck to force a trump return, else you can score a diamond ruff after all. Routine play reaches this ending:

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

The A effects a traditional ruffout squeeze: If West lets go a heart, one ruff establishes dummy’s fourth heart. If instead he pitches a diamond, you can celebrate in style by winning both red tops, then a heart ruff to win a beer.

Second place is a close call between winning the A (Line B) and ducking a diamond (Line C) after ruffing a spade. Either requires 4-4 spades (plausible if West is 4=4=3=2 or 4=4=4=1) or the slim chance the defense cannot lead a second trump. Even an overtrick is possible if West has K-Q-x or K-Q-J-x, as you can maneuver a diamond ruff with an avoidance play* (or without if K-Q-J or K-Q-J-10) while you establish spades. Between them, the edge goes to Line B, because ducking a diamond could result in an extra undertrick when diamonds are 6-1 ( A gets ruffed). Thus, Line C must settle for a close third.

*West can be forced to win the defenders’ diamond trick by leading toward dummy; i.e., you can win or duck accordingly (likewise if he has K-Q-J-10-x). For this reason, some respondents were unhappy with my brief wording of Lines B and C, or they wanted both. Sorry, but the avoidance play seemed too unlikely to deserve any elaboration. Even if such a holding existed, I wonder how many players would lead a trump.

Ruffing a spade and crossing to the J (Line D) gets a close fourth. This also relies on 4-4 spades but gives up any chance for a diamond ruff. Indeed, leading trumps yourself is like an insurance policy to guard against good fortune.

Bringing up the rear are Lines E and F, which surrender the chance to capitalize on 4-4 spades (lack of entries). The only legitimate hope is to find West with K-Q-J-10-(9) and a stiff club — about as likely as Grieg playing in A major. The edge goes to Line E, as it prevents a second undertrick if diamonds are 6-1.

Comments for A. Lead spade and pitch diamond

Bruce Neill: It’s easy if spades are 4-4. If I judge they aren’t, I can’t rectify count for a normal squeeze. If I give up a trick now, I may be able to squeeze West without the count if he has four hearts and five diamonds. If I give up a trick by ducking a diamond, the diamond blockage will spoil the squeeze.

David Kenward: This sets up a ruffout squeeze on West when he is 3=4=5=1, and it still allows me to set up a long spade if they break 4-4 (although I will have to decide between these chances at some point).

N. Scott Cardell: Only realistic hopes are a 4-4 spade split or a squeeze. If East has five spades and four hearts, there is no hope, as all guards lie over my threats; so if East has five spades, I need West to have four hearts. If West is 3=4=4=2, no squeeze works because I lack a key hand entry (if only I could switch the K and 6); but if West is 3=4=5=1, he can be squeezed; …however, West could be 4-4-3-2, where I have to set up the long spade. … Therefore, if West has one trump, I play for [the squeeze]; if trumps are 2-2,…I try to establish a spade. [Play variations described].

Herb Lavine: Depending on the defense, this leads to a trump squeeze or a squeeze without the count (I may have wrong names). West could have avoided the pain by leading [something else] to get the hand over with quickly.

Charles Blair: The same old (ruffing squeeze) tune.

OK, wise guy. I’ll strum your old tune on a UK-ulele. Prince Charles? Tony Blair? I rest my case.

Jordi Sabate: The only way to reduce the count for a red-suit squeeze against West.

Jonathan Mestel: I usually find it much easier to lose tricks. I need to keep the A as a late entry.

Neelotpal Sahai: After the killing trump lead, my 11th trick has to come via a squeeze. To rectify the count, [one or] two tricks have to be lost while the A and a trump are in dummy. A double squeeze with hearts as the common suit will not work, as the enemy guards sit over mine; so it has to be a heart-diamond squeeze against West, for which he needs [4+ hearts and 5+ diamonds]. …

Tim DeLaney: I must keep the possibility of 4-4 spades in the picture, while angling for a red-suit ruffout squeeze against West in the event spades are 5-3.

Lajos Linczmayer: If spades are 4-4, contract is easy to make; and if West has four hearts and at least five diamonds, I can squeeze him in the reds. After the third round of spades, I hope I will know more.

Barry Rigal: I plan to win the club return and run trumps to catch West in a ruffing squeeze, with or without the count — [hoping] West is 3=4=5=1.

Rainer Herrmann: Rectifying the count, should there be a red-suit squeeze against West.

Jerry Fink: If spades are 5-3, this is the only way to make the contract against adequate defense, by a hoped-for heart-diamond squeeze against West. If spades are 4-4, Lines A-D all win.

Dawei Chen: After this start, a red-suit squeeze against West [may] be available. It will be a trump squeeze if defenders attack a red-suit entry, or a squeeze without the count if they play a second trump.

Snorri Karlsson: My main chance is to find spades 4-4; otherwise, I must play to squeeze West in hearts and diamonds. Since the A must be kept as an entry for the hearts, I must give up a spade trick now.

Dale Freeman: Rectifying the count.

Julian Pottage: Contract looks hopeless unless West has five diamonds and four hearts, in which case a secondary squeeze is possible — but I must lose one trick early.

Mauri Saastamoinen: West is again on target. If he has something like, A-Q Q-10-x-x K-J-x-x-x x-x, I will eventually reach the ending of K-5-2 A opposite 6 7-6 7, and he cannot guard both hearts and diamonds.

Adrian Barna: Planning to ruffout-squeeze West if he is 4-5 in the reds. If a trump is returned, squeeze will be without the count; otherwise, a diamond duck rectifies the count.

Perry Groot: Best chance seems to be that West is 4-5 in the reds, then Line A prepares for a trump squeeze (without the count).

John Lusky: Starting to rectify the count. Regardless of the return, a ruffing squeeze develops against West if he has five diamonds and four hearts. On a trump return, the squeeze will be without the count; otherwise, I will duck a diamond and win the forced trump return.

John Reardon: I must congratulate West on his lead. I hope he has A-Q-x Q-x-x-x K-J-10-x-x x, and enjoys the red squeeze I am planning.

Leif-Erik Stabell: Looks like West might be 3=4=5=1 or similar, and the tempo is right for a trump squeeze without the count — in A minor and A major.

Steve White: Planning to squeeze West in the reds if he has four hearts and five diamonds, or to ruff a diamond in dummy if opponents play two rounds of diamonds.

Jim Munday: Rectifying the count for a red-suit squeeze against West, while retaining the option to play for 4-4 spades. Defense must return a trump (lest I ruff a diamond), which I will win in dummy to ruff a spade, then decide how to proceed from there.

Dmitri Shabes: This is the only way to set up a red-suit squeeze against West. If a trump is returned immediately, it is a two-loser squeeze with two extended menaces. Otherwise, I will be able to duck a diamond with impunity (opponents must return a trump) to establish a regular ruffing squeeze. If West does not have at least four hearts and five diamonds, the only hope is 4-4 spades. I will be able to choose [which plan to follow] after seeing three rounds of spades and drawing the enemy trumps.

Dean Pokorny: My [best] hope is to trump-squeeze West in the red suits when he has four hearts and five diamonds (say, 3=4=5=1). To do this, I have to rectify the count by losing one spade, and optionally one diamond if East returns that suit.

Roger Sun: Ducking a diamond return, then playing for a diamond-heart ruffing squeeze.

Joon Pahk: If opponents don’t let me ruff a diamond, I’ll hope that West has at least five diamonds and four hearts, so I can delayed-duck-squeeze him.

I once tried a delayed-duck squeeze. Unfortunately, after a bottle of Cold Duck, it ended up a dead duck.

Toby Kenney: Rectifying the count for a squeeze without the count.

Wanna run that by me again? Never mind.

Carsten Kofoed: I’ll play West for 4=4=3=2 or 2=4=5=2. [Later] I will discover if West has more than two spades, then I can choose either to develop a spade trick or squeeze West in the red suits.

Julian Wightwick: I seem to need spades 4-4 (West being 4=4=3=2 or 4=4=4=1); but if I can rectify the count, West might be squeezed in the reds. Perhaps this will confuse the issue.

Harry Elliott: Beginning to rectify the count for a red-suit squeeze on West. …

Daniel de Lind van Wijngaarden: To set up a squeeze when West started with A-Q-x Q-J-x-x K-J-10-x-x x.

David Caprera: Toughest of the set. … I will likely have a decision to make, but I get to see three rounds of spades first (I expect West to show me A-Q-x). Is the 8 an honest card? Perhaps not, after it took me an hour to play to trick two. How to decide? At the other table, I doubt my teammate will find the killing trump lead; or that the opposing declarer will play for a red-suit trump squeeze with or without the count. Is there a reporter in the room? Am I on vugraph? Are we hopelessly behind? Do the opponents look disinterested because spades are 4-4? Did the kibitzer leave? Where’s the 3? Who knows. …

Manuel Paulo: Consider this possible West hand: A-Q-5 Q-10-x-x K-Q-10-x-x 2. After the opening lead, I don’t envisage a diamond ruff on the table. Nevertheless, opponents have no good answer to this play, because West will be trump-squeezed in the red suits, with or without the count.

Leonard Helfgott: There seems to be no play if West has less than four hearts (3=3=4=3 or 3=3=5=2). … I hope to rectify the count,…while at the same time catering to the possibility of 4-4 spades (4=4=4=1 or 4=4=3=2, the latter more likely on the auction). I will have to guess the distribution later. …

Tim Capes: If I read West for four hearts and five diamonds, I can play on squeeze lines: On a diamond return, I duck, and opponents are forced to switch to a trump (to avoid letting me ruff a diamond). On a trump return, I reach A-x-x A-x opposite x x-x-x A, and West can’t keep both three hearts and three diamonds. …

Bineet Jha: Bidding suggests West is 3=4=5=1 or 2=4=5=2, and I [expect] to squeeze him in hearts and diamonds. Whichever suit he shortens, I will concede a trick in that suit and claim.

Andy Stark: Remember the band called “Squeeze”?

Yes, British. I heard they added some loser on drums and now only play in strip clubs.

Peter Gill: Rectifying the count.

S.T. Arasu: Preparing for a red-suit squeeze against West…

Franco Chiarugi: After the lead, there is [little] hope for a diamond ruff; so I will try to squeeze West in diamonds and hearts. I must rectify the count without losing the A entry in dummy… Opponents can only lead diamonds once (I duck) but must then lead a club. Final situation will be 7 A-K-5-2 A opposite 6-3 7-6 A-Q. West has four hearts and two diamonds, but the A squeezes him.

Analyses 8Y40 Main Challenge

Scores Top Concerto in A Minor

Problem 4

IMPs N-S Vul	A Q J 5 Q 6 4 2 J 4 K 7 3		WEST Pass 2 Pass	North 1 Pass 5	East 1 Pass All Pass	South 2 4
Lead: J		East wins K
5 South	6 2 3 A 10 9 8 7 6 5 A J 6

East overtakes and shifts to 3 (West plays 7) won by dummy’s jack.

Play	Award	Votes	Percent
D. Run J (loses); win A; finesse 10	10	196	26
F. Run J (loses); finesse Q; 10	9	183	24
C. Run J (loses); win A; A	7	57	7
E. Run J (loses); finesse Q; win A	6	84	11
B. Lead J to ace; lead 5	4	135	18
A. Ruff heart; cash A	3	106	14

What evil lurks in yonder fjords? East’s unusual defense suggests a singleton spade, hoping for a ruff if West wins a trump trick. But can this really be? Hardly, as West would surely open 2  with K-10-9-8-7-4. More likely, East is giving you the business with K-Q-x, K-x-x or Q-x-x, trying to talk you out of a trump finesse. Therefore, you should reject Lines A and B, which lose immediately to K-Q-x.*

*Some respondents fell victim to the problem options. Given that the diamond finesse loses in Lines C-F, they deduced that cashing the A (Line A or B) must yield the maximum tricks when West has a diamond honor. True. Unfortunately, as I’ve stated many times before, information given is authorized only when it would be known at the table. Thus, you don’t know West has a diamond honor until he plays it.

Consider the following layout:

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

After the devious spade shift to dummy’s jack, you run the J to West’s queen. On the spade return, you take the marked finesse, and finesse again in trumps (Line F) to secure 11 tricks. Well done! Or was it?

Almost. East might have been even more devious with, say, K-3 A-K-x-x-x K-x-x x-x-x. From his point of view, you might hold x-x-x x A-Q-10-9-x-x-x A-x and be destined to succeed — unless he could convince you the spade finesse is working. Then you would safeguard the contract against a spade ruff by abandoning the trump finesse. Ouch! East then scores his K, and later the K (unless you have four eyes).

Proper play on the spade return is to win the ace (Line D), because you don’t need the finesse if West has the K. After finessing again in trumps, lead all but one trump to reach this ending:

win all	Q		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	Q		10 S	6	4	Q	5
	—		West then East squeezed
	K 3
K		—
—		A
—		—
Q 8 4		10 9 5
	—
	—
	6
South leads	A J 6

Based on the known location of the A, the last trump produces a double squeeze. West must pitch a club, you pitch the Q from dummy, and East must also pitch a club; hence, the Q has to drop. Holding the J is irrelevant; A-x-x would do just as well.

Some might argue that East-West are trickier still, such that West could have the A. Now that would be incredible, not only from West’s opening lead but from East’s play at trick one. In contrast, it is at least plausible that East has the K.

A close second goes to finessing the Q (Line F), probably at least 99 percent in practice, losing only to the subterfuge described above. But hold on tight! You might fall out of your chair if it loses.

Finessing once in diamonds but not twice (playing West for K-Q doubleton) is clearly anti-percentage but not as bad as usual based on the presumed 5-3 heart division and ignoring any inferences about spade length. What strikes me as truly inferior is not to finesse at all, as East’s most likely reason for the spade bluff is a holding of K-Q-x. Therefore, Line C gets third place, and Line E a close fourth.

If you’re going to win the A first, it must be better to lead the J from dummy, so Line B edges out Line A for fifth place. Indeed, Grieg is reputed to have scored an overtrick this way, felling all the diamond tops on one trick.

Comments for D. Run J (loses); win A; finesse 10

Bruce Neill: It feels like East is trying something tricky to talk me out of a finesse against his K-Q-x or K-x-x — so I finesse! I don’t need to repeat the spade finesse since, if it’s working, a double squeeze works just as well.

David Kenward: The 3 is unlikely to be a singleton (no 2 opening), so it looks like East holds K-Q-x and is trying to persuade me to cash the A. When the J loses, there is no need to take a spade finesse, since a double squeeze works just as well when West holds the K.

N. Scott Cardell: Either East has a singleton spade, or that’s what he wants me to think. Fortunately, I know it’s the latter, because West wouldn’t pass in first seat holding K-10-9-8-7-4 J-10-x,…including the K or Q. … Instead, East may have 8-4-3 A-K-x-x-x K-Q-x x-x (hoping I have K-6-2 3 A-10-9-8-7-6-5 A-x), or K-8-3 A-K-x-x-x K-x-x x-x (hoping I have x-x-x 3 A-Q-10-9-8-7 A-Q-x); and I must admit I would go wrong in those cases. … As East’s deception only makes sense with at least one diamond honor, finessing twice in diamonds is almost a sure thing; but there’s no need to risk a spade finesse, as I have a double squeeze whenever the K is with West.

Herb Lavine: My first thought is that East has K-Q-x and is trying to get me to [cash the A] to avoid a [nonexistent] spade ruff. … When the J loses (to the Q presumably) I win the A, as a double squeeze will work if West has the K. … Advantage of the A is that East… might hold K-x A-K-x-x-x K-x-x x-x-x, and be trying to talk me out of a trump finesse with x-x-x x A-Q-10-9-x-x-x A-x…

Charles Blair: Playing for a double squeeze is really baroque excessiveness. I haven’t looked at your “Style Guide” recently and am puzzled by the italicized “overtakes.”

Among other things, italics are used for emphasis. This seemed appropriate because the play was unusual, and I wanted to make it clear that dummy’s queen was not played on the J lead. -RP

Jonathan Mestel: No weak two-bid, [so no singleton spade]. If the spade finesse is on, I don’t need it.

Neelotpal Sahai: A spade ruff is no worry, as West would bid spades with K-10-9-8-7-4 at his first or second turn. The percentage play in diamonds is to play for split honors. When West returns a spade, the finesse is not required, as a double squeeze (common suit clubs) will materialize if the K is onside. …

Perry Groot: What the hell is East up to? He suggests a singleton spade, but that’s nearly impossible given the bidding. More likely, East has K-Q-x and is trying to fool me, hoping I cash the A. Hence, I expect the J to win!

John Lusky: It looks like East is pretending to have a singleton spade to talk me out of a diamond finesse. This ploy might have worked if I had three spades, but I don’t think West passed K-10-9-8-7-4 as dealer at favorable vulnerability. So I will take two diamond finesses. There is no need to repeat the spade finesse, since a double squeeze will develop if West has the K. East might be playing a deep game with K-x A-K-9-x-x K-x-x 10-x-x, thinking that I have the Q. My 4  call was pretty sporty without it!

Leif-Erik Stabell: Clever defense by East, who wants me to believe the 3 is a singleton and refrain from finessing diamonds. He probably has both diamond honors; but could he have double-crossed me with two small diamonds? No need to take another spade finesse, since I have an automatic double squeeze if the finesse is right.

Travis Crump: East is acting like he has a stiff spade, but I tend not to believe him. If West has the K, there is an automatic double squeeze, so no need to take a second finesse.

Dean Pokorny: Even when vacant spaces are 10 to eight, a double finesse is mathematically better than cashing the A. … I don’t believe East has a singleton spade… Therefore, I’ll finesse diamonds twice, intending to double-squeeze them…

Debbie Cohen: Not sure what East is up to; but if West has the K, going up with the ace still wins.

Harry Elliott: Big question: What is East doing? The 3 is probably not singleton, else East would open 2 . … I’ll stay with the a priori percentage play to double-finesse diamonds. If West actually has the K, there is no need to finesse, as a double squeeze will develop.

John Auld: Either West forgot to open 2 , or East is trying to stop a trump finesse. Favorite is K-Q-x but not so; East must have the other trump honor. No need to finesse spades, as West having the K [avails] a double squeeze. Maybe East has tried something brilliant. What a problem.

Daniel de Lind van Wijngaarden: It looks like East wants me to believe he has a singleton, trying to persuade me to play trumps from the top; maybe K-x A-K-x-x-x K-x-x x-x-x. I don’t finesse spades, as I have a double squeeze if West has the K.

David Caprera: No weak two-bid? I think East probably has K-Q-x. I am sure I know where the A is, in which case I don’t need the spade finesse. Good for style points.

Cecil Livingston: East has me guessing — but I don’t need the spade finesse.

Tony Norris: If spades were 6-1, West would have a 2 opening; so East (probably holding K-Q-x) is trying to persuade me to cash the A. When the first trump finesse loses, this assumption fails. Now the possibility of a flimflam arises: If East had Q-x-x [or K-x-x] and the K, would he lead a spade? Perhaps, if he thought I had A-K [or A-Q] and he would be finessed. If West has the K (and East the A), my last trump will squeeze each opponent out of a club stopper; so no reason to risk the spade finesse. So that plus restricted choice seems to indicate Line D.

Douglas Dunn: The 3 looks like a singleton; but if it were,…West would have opened 2 . So I run the J;…when it loses, there’s no need to finesse the J, as I have a double squeeze if West has the K and East the A.

Ed Barnes: If East has a stiff spade,…good luck to him!

Andy Stark: In case East is diabolical. [If West has the K], I will make the [contract].

David Brooks: I assume East is trying to persuade me to play diamonds from the top. If the spade finesse is right, I don’t need to take it, as a double squeeze is marked.

Analyses 8Y40 Main Challenge

Scores Top Concerto in A Minor

Problem 5

IMPs E-W Vul	Q J 6 K 3 A 2 A 10 9 7 6 5		West Pass Pass	North 3 6	East Pass All Pass	SOUTH 1 3 NT
Lead: Q		East plays 5
6 South	K 10 9 2 A 7 6 4 Q J Q J 8

Play	Award	Votes	Percent
A. Win K; lead Q	10	309	41
F. Win A; run Q	8	327	43
B. Win K; A; run Q	7	72	9
D. Win A; lead 10	4	22	3
E. Win A; lead Q to ace	3	25	3
C. Win K; A	1	6	1

There’s nothing shy about partner’s bidding! Enamored by six-card support, he seems to have gone con moto with his last bid, as you wonder if he might be a descendant of Edvard Grieg. Actually, 6  is decent contract, considering that 3 NT could fail if both minor kings are offside, and 5  is no certainty either.

Clearly, you should plan to take the club finesse, so Lines C and E are folly. Even if you assume that West would cover the Q with K-x*, odds favor a finesse better than 3:1 versus dropping a stiff king. Zia’s dubious advice, “If they don’t cover, they don’t have it,” isn’t worth a wooden nickel in an expert game — even a wooden Nickell ducks smoothly.

*Covering with K-x is right, as declarer could have Q-x-x and be playing for a stiff jack to avoid a trump loser.

Routine play suggests winning the heart lead in hand to take an immediate club finesse (Line F), as other options (Lines A, B and D) add the risk of a heart or spade ruff. Consider a plausible layout:

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

Suppose you win the A and run the Q and J. West routinely ducks both, and you’re history. East will signal in diamonds, and West will hold up his A until the third round to leave your hand entryless; so your fourth spade goes to sleep, and you must lose a diamond. Down one. Even a blank K onside would create a problem, since you would have to knock out the A before drawing the last trump, costing a spade ruff when West has A-x-x-x.

The proper way to retain communication is to win the first heart in dummy and lead the Q (Line A) overtaking with the king.* If West ducks, you will pick up trumps and lead the J. If he wins the A, no return matters; you have two major-suit entries to hand, one for the club finesse and one to reach the fourth spade. The only danger in Line A is the risk of a spade or heart ruff, but this is negligible.

*If you didn’t notice your spade spots were good enough to overtake, I wasn’t going to tell you. Equally correct is to lead the 6 to your 10 (or 9), but that option wasn’t listed.

Some respondents assumed East must have the A, else West would have cashed it holding the K as well. Sorry, but I don’t buy it. The auction clearly indicates longer clubs and greater strength in dummy, so your K rates to be in the slot. Cashing the A will often help declarer, though it would be a reasonable choice lacking a good alternative. Anyone who would lead the A on my example deal is nuts — or maybe I am [pick one].

If East has the A and K, any of Lines A, B, D and F will work (barring a ruff in Lines A, B and D) though you may have to guess the distribution. For example, in Line F, after drawing trumps, you will lead spades twice, which East must duck. Finishing trumps will then strip-squeeze East, so he can be endplayed with A K-x (or the A will drop his king if he blanks it). Line B offers the alternative to eliminate hearts before exiting with a third spade, which may avoid having to guess the layout.

Second place is a close call between Lines B and F, as any slight edge in eliminating hearts (Line B) is probably washed out by the risk of a heart ruff.* With Line F it seems highly unlikely you will misguess, because West must give correct spade count (so East knows to duck his ace) and you can ruff a heart in the process. The voting greatly preferred Line F, so I’ll go with the masses. Line B gets a close third.

*West holding Q-J-10-9-8-2 may be unrealistic, but he certainly could have led a stiff queen.

Other plays (Lines C, D and E) are greatly inferior. Winning the A and leading the 10 (Line D) does nothing but mangle your entries, though it does allow a later club finesse. If you’re going to try to drop a stiff K, it must be right to give West a chance to cover (Line E) as he usually will with K-x. Line C is almost too funny for words, as even if it works you will look foolish trying to explain it. Eight ever, nine never? The  K is always singleton? Or for Grieg’s sake, “The Hall of the Mountain King?”

Comments for A. Win K; lead Q

Bruce Neill: Spades 4-2 or 3-3 is a better chance than the diamond finesse. I need to [build] a spade entry (overtaking Q) before winning the A, so an opponent can’t hold up the A to kill my fourth spade.

David Kenward: Overtaking to create an extra entry to hand, then hope the K is onside.

N. Scott Cardell: I have no idea what Line D might be trying to do. In spite of last month, I’ll go out on a limb again and say that cashing the A is ridiculous. So I need the club finesse, and I also need to avoid a diamond loser. If I win the A (Line B or F) and finesse clubs, a subsequent holdup in spades may force me to rely on the diamond finesse as well. Much better is win the K and lead the Q, overtaking if East plays low. …

Charles Blair: Fortissimo overtake in spades. Do you agree with North’s bidding?

Jordi Sabate: If West has K-x-x,…and an opponent holds up the A until the third round, I will need the diamond finesse with Line F. The solution [barring an unlikely ruff] is Line A. If I win the K (overtaking), I will run the Q and still have the A entry to reach the fourth spade. If I lose the K, spades are good, [and I have two entries to my hand].

Jonathan Mestel: And overtake. Admit it; you just chose the Q to put us off. …

Neelotpal Sahai: The K has to be right, so I will plan for West holding A-x-x-(x) K-x-x-(x), with the K offside. It is important to win the K and keep the A entry intact to reach the fourth spade.

Tim DeLaney: Problem is to maintain a link to my hand in order to discard the 2 eventually on a spade. I will overtake the Q, and if ducked will take the successful club finesse. The risk of a spade ruff is minimal, since West didn’t overcall 1 , nor did he lead a singleton spade.

Lajos Linczmayer: I need the A later, as West may have, say, A-x-x Q-J-10 x-x-x-x K-x-x. I plan to overtake with the K, and take the club finesse as soon as I’m permitted to do so.

Rainer Herrmann: Beware of entry problems to avoid the diamond finesse.

Jerry Fink: And overtake, of course.

Dawei Chen: Overtaking with the K. This makes [with the K onside] assuming no major-suit ruff.

Snorri Karlsson: Planning to overtake and finesse in clubs, preserving the A as a later entry to my fourth spade.

Dale Freeman: Preserving the A, and overtaking with the K to create another entry. ‘A minor’ problem would be a major ruff!

Julian Pottage: So long as there is no ruff in a major, and West has the K, this (and overtaking) ensures the contract.

Mauri Saastamoinen: I need to be careful about entries. If opponents let me take the first spade with the king, I can easily finesse trumps and [establish] spades later. If West takes the first spade, I will reach my hand with the A to finesse trumps.

Adrian Barna: Overtaking with the K to finesse trumps. The A is needed to ensure access to the fourth spade, in case West has K-x-x and doesn’t cover.

John Lusky: Overtaking with the K to finesse in clubs. Other lines may lose contact with the long spade if the defense holds up, and fail against West hands like A-x-x Q-J-10-x x-x-x K-x-x.

John Reardon: I will overtake with the K. I need the club finesse, but I don’t need the diamond finesse.

Steve White: Overtaking with the K to take the club hook. Even if the K loses to the ace, I’ll have the A entry for the club hook, then the 10 for the fourth spade.

Travis Crump: The A is the only sure entry to the fourth spade, so I’ll overtake in spades to get to hand for the club finesse.

Jim Munday: The K must be onside to succeed. I need to manage entries so I don’t need the diamond finesse as well. As long as spades are 3-3 or 4-2 (and club is on) I’m safe. No matter what happens, I will have a reentry to the fourth spade…

Dmitri Shabes: Overtaking to finesse in trumps. The A is needed as a late entry to the fourth spade after I draw trumps.

Jonathan Ferguson: I’ll play for 4-2 or 3-3 spades and the K onside. West would probably have led a stiff spade, and he might have overcalled with A-x-x-x-x, Q-J and K.

Dean Pokorny: When the club finesse is on, and spades are no worse than 4-2, overtaking the Q with the king works easily. Relying on spades 3-3 or 4-2 is much better than relying on clubs [2-2].

Thibault Wolf: Overtaking with the K. If spades are 5-1 or 6-0 with the K onside, I missed; but I think this is better odds.

Thijs Veugen: I will save the A to reach the fourth spade. The club finesse must be on.

Toby Kenney: I need the club finesse to work. Danger is being blocked from hand, unable to cash the fourth spade. To prevent this, I keep my A as an entry, crossing to hand by overtaking the Q; if West wins the ace, I have a spade entry.

Carsten Kofoed: Overtaking with the K, and I have A major way to 12 tricks.

Claude Valiquette: I must finesse in trumps. Problem is that an opponent may be unkind enough to duck twice in…spades, thus not allowing me reach the fourth spade to pitch the losing diamond. I must preserve a sure entry to hand, so I win the K and overtake the Q with the king.

Julian Wightwick: Overtaking the Q and drawing trumps with the finesse. This loses to 5-1 spades, but Line F loses to 3-1 clubs unless the A is short.

Harry Elliott: The club finesse is essential, but the diamond finesse is not. I will keep the A entry to the fourth spade. With such riches in spades, I will overtake the Q; if the A wins, the 9 is an entry.

Daniel de Lind van Wijngaarden: I will overtake the Q, and if ducked, finesse in clubs.

Manuel Paulo: Consider this possible West hand: A-x-x Q-J-x x-x-x-x K-x-x. A diamond lead would have been fatal. Now, to be able to discard a diamond on the fourth spade, I must keep the A entry; meanwhile, I overtake the Q with the king to draw trumps with the finesse.

David Grainger: Overtaking with the K if East plays low. I must preserve an entry in case West has K-x-x-(x). Either the A will remain intact, or the defense will have to win the first spade.

James Yeager: With a sure spade loser, the K must be onside. I’ll soon see if it is, but I must [start] spades first…

Leonard Helfgott: Planning to overtake with the K to maintain entries after the successful club finesse; otherwise, an opponent can duck twice in spades…

Cecil Livingston: Line F is tempting, since I have to finesse clubs; but this preserves my entry to reach the fourth spade. I will overtake with the K, and if the ace is not taken, start clubs.

Tim Capes: Overtaking with the K to take the club hook [as soon as possible]. West holding K-x-x-(x) is more likely than A-x-x-x-x in either hand, [especially after] the lead.

Tony Norris: Diamond loser goes on the fourth spade, but only if I can get to it. … If clubs are 3-1 or 4-0 ( K onside) and the A is used immediately, it’s bye-bye if spades are ducked twice. By leading Q and overtaking, I have two entries to hand.

Douglas Dunn: I will overtake with the K, and if ducked, take the club finesse.

Jacques Olivier: I’ll try to retain an entry in hand to cash the fourth spade. (Plan is to overtake and finesse in clubs.)

Steve Moese: If West has the A, I’ll apply the Rabbi’s Rule.

Barry White: I will overtake and finesse clubs — as my name is not Belladonna. …

That would be my guess. Doesn’t “Belladonna” translate to “pretty girl?” Too late to ask Giorgio.

Wally Goldfrank: I need the A as an entry to the fourth spade, so I’ll force a spade entry to take the trump finesse.

Stefan Tarpan: Overtaking. I’ll try to keep the A as an entry. I need the club finesse, but not the diamond finesse.

Andy Stark: … I will play the K on the queen, and take the club finesse; then I’ll be ready to handle anything the defense does.

Gabor Lippner: Overtaking with the K. If it wins, I’ll finesse and draw trumps, then play on spades ( A will be entry to hand). If it loses, I’ll win either major return in hand, finesse and draw trumps, win the J, and come back to hand for the fourth spade.

Peter Gill: Overtaking. I need the trump finesse. My precaution at trick two gains when East has K-x-x-(x), and loses…to 5-1 spades. Good odds, especially with no spade opening lead. Norwegian bidding style has changed somewhat in the 100-odd years since this hand was bid.

David Brooks: This ensures a spade entry, and [that or the A] will be a late entry to discard a diamond on the long spade.

David Dawson: I will overtake and finesse clubs, [saving] the A as a late entry if needed. A 5-1 spade break is much less likely than K-x-x West and the A being held up twice.

Richard Stein: One good overtake (Problem 4) deserves another!

Javier Carbonero: Overtaking with the K if the ace does not appear.

If the ace appears, you can score aesthetic points by undertaking the K as well.

Gerald Murphy: Overtaking, then the club finesse. [After drawing trumps], I’ll lead the J and another, while retaining the A [to allow] a diamond discard on the fourth spade.

Bill Powell: Keeping the A as an entry to the fourth spade.

Paulino Correa: … This (and overtaking) assures a second entry to hand. If I win the A to start clubs, and West has A-x-x and K-x-x, he will hold up the A until the third round, then I will be unable to come to hand for the diamond discard.

Rob Wijman: Overtaking with the K to finesse clubs keeps my options open, unless I run into a spade ruff.

Analyses 8Y40 Main Challenge

Scores Top Concerto in A Minor

Problem 6

IMPs None Vul	3 4 2 A 7 6 5 4 3 A K 7 2		West Pass 3 All Pass	North 3 4	East Dbl Pass	SOUTH 1 Pass 6
Lead: J		East plays 7
6 South	A 10 6 5 A 9 3 K Q 9 2 4 3

Play	Award	Votes	Percent
E. Duck; win A; ruff heart	10	197	26
C. Win A; K	7	216	28
F. Duck; win A; K	6	160	21
D. Duck; win A; A; ruff spade	5	102	13
A. Win A; A; ruff spade; lead 4	4	62	8
B. Win A; lead 3	3	24	3

Grieg would have been proud of this auction to an excellent slam in A minor with only 24 HCP, just two octaves of a chromatic scale in his profession. North made an aggressive move with his 4  slam try. South appreciated his good trumps and controls, having already implied a minimum with his second-round pass.

Six diamonds is laydown with any 2-1 trump break; but East’s takeout double in the teeth of your game-forcing auction strongly implies short diamonds, so a void would not be surprising. In that event, ruffing two clubs in hand (the obvious route to 12 tricks) would likely succumb to an overruff, since you cannot afford to ruff high.

Consider a likely layout:

IMPs	3		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
None Vul	4 2		1 W	J	2	7	3!
	A 7 6 5 4 3		2 W	10	4	5	A
	A K 7 2		3 S	9!	8	3	6
J 8 7 4		K Q 9 2	4 N	3	Q	A	4
J 10 8		K Q 7 6 5	5 S	5	7	4	2
J 10 8		—	6 N	5	Q	K	8
9 8 6		Q J 10 5	7 S	6	8	6	9
	A 10 6 5		8 N	A	5	3	6
	A 9 3		9 N	K	10	4	8
	K Q 9 2		10 N	2	Q	2	9
6 South	4 3		11 S	10	J	7	K
			Declarer succeeds

If you won the A and K (Line C) to find out what you’re up against, you would quickly find out. Unfortunately, you’ve already reached a point of no return. I’ll spare you the play-by-play, but all roads lead to down one.

If diamonds are 3-0, you must plan for a dummy reversal, or maybe that should be declarer reversal, since dummy is already the long trump hand. The idea is to win eight trump tricks by ruffing three spades and a heart in dummy, combined with four side-suit winners, which requires efficient use of your entries.

Only Line E (shown above) allows you to succeed. You must duck the first heart, win the next*, and ruff your last heart in dummy. Next cross to the A, and ruff a spade. These early plays are risk free on the bidding. Now is the time for your first trump lead, and sure enough, East shows out as you cross to the K. Ruff another spade, cash A-K, ruff a club, and ruff your last spade. Whew! Left with only A 7 opposite Q-9, you can claim.

*If West shifts to the J at trick two, you must win the ace, then proceed in a similar manner.

Curiously, the remaining five lines are all the same! At least I couldn’t find a difference among plausible layouts. All are claimers on a 2-1 trump break, and all fail against 3-0 trumps — unless East is 4=6=0=3, then they all succeed easily by ruffing two clubs in hand. Rather than delve into psychological issues, where misdefense may be more likely in one line than another, the voting order will do fine. Besides, after the grueling analysis of Problem 6 last month, I’ll take an easy out when I see one. Score it up, Grieg!

Comments for E. Duck; win A; ruff heart

Bruce Neill: If East is 4=5=0=4, I can’t ruff two clubs in hand; but I can ruff four major cards in dummy if careful with entries.

David Kenward: East is likely to be 4=5=0=4. Next I cash the A; A; spade ruff; A-K; club ruff; spade ruff; K; spade ruff; and I’ve got only the Q remaining.

N. Scott Cardell: … If diamonds are 3-0, West is likely to be 4=3=3=3 (with 4-4 in the majors including J-10-x-x he would probably have bid 3 ), [in which case best chance] is a dummy reversal. I next win the A and ruff a spade, then the K. If trumps are 3-0, I ruff another spade, win A-K, ruff a club, and ruff my last spade…

Charles Blair: Back and forth between dummy and the closed hand — like a metronome.

Jordi Sabate: Only problem is West having three trumps; but then East is probably 4=5=0=4, and I can succeed with a dummy reversal. Only Line E uses all my hand entries at the right moment.

Jonathan Mestel: Is this a reverse dummy reversal?

Neelotpal Sahai: Dummy reversal… Two extra tricks have to come from ruffs, and this guards against a 3-0 trump break.

Tim DeLaney: Only way to keep my entries intact for a dummy reversal.

Lajos Linczmayer: If diamonds are 3-0, East’s [likely] shape is 4=5=0=4. If West has, say, J-x-x-x J-10-8 J-10-8 x-x-x, after next cashing the A, I can ruff all my spades.

Barry Rigal: … Next I use the A, one trump entry and a club ruff to ruff three spades in dummy. West must be 4-3-3-3, in which case he can do nothing but follow suit from trick one to 13! When was the last time you saw someone do that?

Good question, though not exactly true here. See Rainer below. -RP

Rainer Herrmann: If West has three trumps, my 12th trick will come when I lead the last club at trick 13, and he has to underruff.

Jerry Fink: Waste not, want not.

Dawei Chen: Just enough entries to complete a crossruff.

Snorri Karlsson: If diamonds are 3-0, I plan to make four ruffs in dummy. Therefore, I need to use my entries with care.

Dale Freeman: Next I’ll win the A, ruff a spade, and lead to the K. If diamonds are 3-0, I’ll ruff a spade, cash A-K, ruff a club, and ruff my last spade… Sort of A minor dummy reversal concerto.

Julian Pottage: If trumps are 3-0 (quite likely on the bidding), I need to ruff four major-suit cards in dummy.

Mauri Saastamoinen: If West has all three diamonds, he should be 4=3=3=3, [against which only] this play succeeds. …

Adrian Barna: If West has three trumps, I need four entries to hand for ruffs in dummy.

Perry Groot: Only difficulty is when West has all three trumps, in which case a dummy reversal is needed. Line E keeps the right number of entries.

John Lusky: Preparing to ruff four major-suit cards in dummy if West has three diamonds. If he shifts to a trump honor at trick two, I will win the ace to preserve my entries. Other lines waste a critical entry in one way or another.

John Reardon: I must cater for East being 4=5=0=4. …

Leif-Erik Stabell: With diamonds 2-1, there will be no fun; but it looks like East must be 4=5=0=4. In that case, I will have to ruff my losers in dummy with West following suit — “reverse declarer” I think it’s called.

Steve White: I need to use all my entries, including the A, to ruff losers in dummy.

Travis Crump: Preparing for a dummy-reversal crossruff in case trumps are 3-0.

Jim Munday: If diamonds do not break, this gives me entries to reverse the dummy, provided West has three clubs.

Dmitri Shabes: I need to get ready for a 3-0 trump split, so I next win the A and ruff a spade, then a trump to the king. On a 2-1 break I can claim. … Against three trumps in West, a spade ruff is followed by three rounds of clubs and another spade ruff.

Jonathan Ferguson: I hope my third heart wasn’t supposed to be a threat card.

Actually, it was! If you carefully saved it, you’d be a threat to the bridge community.

Dean Pokorny: If trumps are 3-0 (4=5=0=4 with East), a well timed dummy reversal is necessary to succeed. The lead must be ducked to preserve one vital entry in hand.

Joon Pahk: Contract is only in danger if trumps split 3-0, in which case I’ll need to use all four of my hand entries for a “declarer reversal.”

Thibault Wolf: If West has three diamonds, keeping communication for ruffs is important.

Thijs Veugen: If trumps don’t break, I can play a dummy reversal.

Toby Kenney: I’ll try to ruff one heart and three spades in dummy (if trumps break 3-0).

Claude Valiquette: If trumps are 2-1, no problem. …On the bidding, however, West is likely to have three trumps… There seems to be no way to succeed if West has only two clubs, but it should be possible if he has three clubs, with [proper] timing.

Julian Wightwick: Then A, spade ruff, and K. I need to be careful with my entries for a crossruff if West is 4=3=3=3 or 4=2=3=4.

Harry Elliott: West is likely to be 4=3=3=3, and entries to my hand are precious. Before checking trumps, I will ruff a heart, win the A, and ruff a spade. Now the K [will reveal] if trumps are 3-0…

John Auld: Only sequence to allow a crossruff if East is void in trumps as expected (bidding implies 4=5=0=4 shape). … The 10 is a red herring — or a black herring?

David Caprera: I assume East is 4=5=0=4 for his takeout double. What’s the secret of comedy? Timing!

Manuel Paulo: Consider this possible West hand: Q-x-x-x J-10-x J-10-8 x-x-x. Ruffing three spades and one heart in dummy develops as many trump tricks as ruffing two clubs in hand — and it’s [necessary] when West has three diamonds [and three clubs].

David Grainger: West is likely to hold all three trumps, else the hand is easy. This start, before testing trumps with the ace, will allow me to make when West is 4-3-3-3, a very likely shape.

Jean-Christophe Clement: Trying to ruff one heart and three spades in dummy, and hoping West has at least three clubs.

Tony Norris: If trumps are 3-0, choice is between ruffing two clubs in hand and reversing the dummy. The latter looks safer, so I’ll duck [to preserve entries]. Costs nothing.

Junyi Zhu: Planing for a dummy reversal when East is 4=5=0=4.

Steve Moese: I will control the tempo for tricks 2-13.

Ed Barnes: If diamonds are 3-0, my best shot is for West to be 4=3=3=3. …

Bineet Jha: A probable 3-0 trump break calls for [ruffing in dummy] to make my hand good.

Gabor Lippner: I only have a problem when East is void in diamonds, in which case I cannot ruff both club losers, so I have to ruff all my major-suit losers. This means four ruffs, so I need four hand entries: two major aces, one trump and one club ruff. [Play described].

Peter Gill: … Danger is East having a trump void, in which case I want to ruff as often as possible in dummy, and as little as possible in hand. Enemy bidding has been music to my ears.

David Dawson: I hope West is 4=3=3=3 (or trumps split).

Sebastien Louveaux: If diamonds are 3-0, I need to set up a dummy reversal. One of my entries has to be a club ruff, so West should be 4=3=3=3, likely in view of his spade preference. …

Javier Carbonero: Beginning to make four ruffs in dummy, if West reveals the three missing trumps.

Bill Powell: Allowing a dummy reversal if West is 4=3=3=3.

Final Notes

I hope you enjoyed the contest, and the classical theme of Grieg’s Concerto in A Minor as well as the little-known historical tidbits (aka BS). Grieg fans worldwide may be preparing a class-action libel suit, but that doesn’t faze me; money is no object with PavCo Diamonds in tune, and Matilda in June. Thanks to all who entered, and especially those who offered kind remarks about my web site.

Comments are selected from those scoring 47 or higher (top 194) or in the overall Top 100 prior to this contest, and on each problem only those supporting the winning play. This may be considered biased, but I feel it’s the best way to ensure solid content and avoid potential embarrassment in publishing comments that are off base. On this basis, I included about 80 percent of the eligible comments. 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. If I use only part of a comment, an ellipsis (…) shows where text was cut. In some cases I have inserted text [in brackets] to supply an omitted word or phrase, or to summarize a cut portion. Comments appear in the order of respondents’ rank, which is my only basis for sequencing.

I am confident that my lengthy study of these problems (combined with the input of comments) has determined the best solutions in theory, but oversights are possible. Feedback is always welcome.

I’ll leave you with the musical strains of the Bergen Boys Sextet:

Bill Powell: Hope my answers struck the right chord!

Bill Cubley: Your theme of scoring minors is on a sharp note.

Richard Stein: Making hash out of these contracts was as much fun as butchering my piano lessons.

Timothy Liang Kan: To hit the right note, sound plays require orchestral support. Sing your praises, partner. Sing!

Joseph Dimuro: Another submission from A minor player. Hope I’m not out of tune!

Neelotpal Sahai: Minor suit contract bring major headache.

Analyses 8Y40 Main Challenge

Scores Top Concerto in A Minor

Acknowledgments and apologies to Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)
© 2007 Richard Pavlicek