Challenge 8Y41 Main Analyses

Waltzing with Matilda

by Richard Pavlicek

Congratulations! You’ve been hired by Matilda Mayer to be her partner at the Sun Valley Regional. After 40 years of bridge playing, Matilda is nearing her goal of Life Master — and this could be her moment. Money is no object! The meat-packing heiress (eldest daughter of Oscar) will endow you for life if you can put her over. No pressure there!

Unfortunately, Matilda knows about as much about playing bridge as you know about packing sausages. Fail, and you may end up as her chauffeur, driving the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile.

Matilda is eager to play bracketed knockouts, where anyone who can breathe wins masterpoints, courtesy of the ACBL going-out-of-business sale. With you as her partner she has great hopes, needing only 20 masterpoints, which is fewer than the carats in her gaudy ring. Will you be her hero?

Luck of the draw, and slipping a C-note to the Director, put you on the easy side of the bracket, and miraculously you reach the final. Now you’re up against a strong team and face six problems on defense, presented here.

On each problem, Matilda’s opening lead and the early play are given. As East, simply choose your defense from Options A-F listed. Each option will be rated on a 1-to-10 scale per my judgment.

Matilda’s leads will be proper cards, but signals are only “high if you want me.” Bidding is standard unless noted.
For a reference see Standard American Bridge. Assume opponents are experts.

In June 2007 these six problems were presented as a contest with 763 entrants from 110 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 a flawless 25-carat diamond ring (marquise cut by PavCo Diamonds) and a lifetime supply of Oscar Mayer wieners.
Winners must be at least 18 years of age, all beef and without fillers. Void in Idaho, 49 other states and non-US locales.

After a short pep talk, the final begins… “Hi!” charms Matilda to the opponents, “Nice to meat you.”

Problem 1

IMPs None Vul	Q 10 9 7 2 6 4 10 7 4 2 K 5		Matilda `WEST` 1 2 All Pass	`North` Pass 2 ¹	You `East` 1 Pass	`South` 1 NT 2
2 South		A 4 3 J 10 9 3 9 10 9 8 4 3

Trick
1 W
2 W
3 W Lead
K
A
3 2nd
2
4
7 3rd
9
3
3 4th
5
Q
J 1. transfer to spades

Your defense?
A. Win A, lead 4
B. Win A, lead J
C. Win A, lead 10
D. Lead the 4
E. Lead the J
F. Lead the 10

Problem 2

IMPs E-W Vul	A 10 6 K 6 K 10 8 2 10 6 4 3		Matilda West Pass	`North` 3 NT	You East All Pass	`SOUTH` 1 NT
3 NT South		J 9 5 3 Q 10 Q J 6 5 K J 5

Trick
1 W Lead
5 2nd
6 3rd
? 4th

Which heart do you play, and what will you do later if the 10 is led?
A. Q, cover 10 (king)
B. Q, cover 10 (jack)
C. Q, duck 10
D. 10, cover 10 (king)
E. 10, cover 10 (jack)
F. 10, duck 10

Problem 3

IMPs N-S Vul	2 K Q 8 3 A K Q 5 4 K J 6		Matilda `West` 2 3 All Pass	North Dbl Dbl	You `East` 2 NT Pass	SOUTH Pass Pass 4
4 South		A 7 5 A 6 4 2 7 6 A 10 8 3

Trick
1 W Lead
J 2nd
2 3rd
A 4th
4

Your defense?
A. Lead the 7
B. Win A, lead 7
C. Win A, lead 2
D. Lead the 2
E. Lead the 7
F. Lead the 3

Problem 4

IMPs None Vul	9 6 4 2 A 7 5 4 Q 8 6 4 2 —		Matilda `WEST` 3 Pass	`North` Pass Pass	You `East` 4 Dbl	`South` 4 All Pass
4 × South		A 8 3 Q A 10 9 7 5 A Q 7 2

Trick
1 W Lead
3 2nd
2 3rd
A 4th
K

Your defense?
A. Win A, A
B. Win A, lead 3
C. Win A, lead Q
D. Win A, lead 10
E. Win A, lead 5
F. Duck the first trick

Problem 5

IMPs N-S Vul	7 4 Q 8 2 A 7 4 2 7 5 3 2		Matilda `West` 4	NORTH Pass 5	You `East` 2 All Pass	South 4
5 South		K Q 9 8 2 7 4 9 5 3 K 10 6

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

Your defense?
A. Overtake, lead 8
B. Overtake, lead 4
C. Overtake, lead 3
D. Overtake, lead 6
E. Play the 9
F. Play the 2

Problem 6

IMPs E-W Vul	J 9 5 3 A 7 3 2 Q 8 K Q 4		Matilda WEST 2 Pass All Pass	`North` Pass 5	You East Pass Pass	`South` 4 6
6 South		— J 4 A J 9 7 5 4 2 10 8 7 6

Trick
1 W Lead
K 2nd
3 3rd
? 4th

Your defense?
A. Ruff, lead J
B. Ruff, lead A
C. Ruff, lead 7
D. Ruff, lead 6
E. Pitch the 9
F. Pitch the 6

Click to see how you did

Challenge 8Y41 Main Analyses Scores Top Waltzing with Matilda