8R81 rpbridge.net Main

Half the Deck

by Richard Pavlicek

Over the years I’ve been accused of not playing with a full deck, which regrettably had nothing to do with bridge. But that’s history! I am now on the road to recovery, and last month I reached the half-way mark.

So you don’t believe I could be half recovered? Well, then as evidence I offer the following deal, where South opens 2 NT and is left to play there. Look carefully and you will see that each side holds half the deck. Besides the 20-20 HCP split, each side has two of every card rank. Unfortunately, all N-S honor cards are in one hand, which makes the play a nightmare for declarer.

2 NT South 7 5 4 3 Trick Lead 2nd 3rd 4th
West leads 9 8 3 2 1. W 9 3 A 10
6 2. E 5! J K 2
7 6 5 4 3. W 6 9 10 A
9 8 6 Table A J 2 4. S K 6 4 2
K 6 4 Q 10 7 5 5. S Q 8 5 J
J 7 3 2 K 5 4 6. S 10 J 6 4
A Q 9 10 8 3 7. W 4 3 7 8
K Q 10 8. E Q 2 2 8
A J 9. E 3 J Q 4
A Q 10 9 8 Win 2 more tricks, down 3
K J 2

A diamond lead strikes me as revolting, so most expert Wests would start the 9. East can deduce that South has five diamonds, so a heart shift stands out, after which routine defense puts declarer down three. In fact if South exits with the Q at Trick 6, he can be set four.

The only bright spot for South is his sparkling diamonds, an ace-high flush, which is the winning poker hand at the table. East would be second with an ace-high straight, followed by North with a nine-high straight, and West with a measly two-pair (nines and sixes). Note that the equality of card ranks rules out any full house or four-of-a-kind, and a straight flush is impossible given the fixed East-West hands.

Anyone with half a brain — and I must be up to 5/8 by now — knows that bridge is a superior game to poker. Your mission, should you choose to accept, is to make South the winner where it counts:

Arrange the N-S cards so South can make his contract.

Construct a layout below. Goal is to win the most tricks with double-dummy play and defense including the opening lead (West can lead any card). Any arrangement is fine (South can have any strength or distribution). Ties will be broken by the worst South poker hand.

2 NT South
West leads Enter 13 cards
for South

North will get
what remains
9 8 6
K 6 4
J 7 3 2
A Q 9 Table A J 2
Q 10 7 5
K 5 4
10 8 3

KQT7543
AJ9832
AQT986
KJ76542

8R81 rpbridge.net Main Top Half the Deck

Enter the contest

Join the fun and participate! You won’t win anything, other than the satisfaction of making my Winner List if you’re clever or lucky. Contest ends August 31, 2026 at midnight GMT. Winners and solutions will be published September 2, 2026. To enter, provide your name, location and e-mail address, then click Submit. A copy of your entry will be sent to you automatically, so be sure your address is correct. Multiple entries by the same person are allowed, but only the latest one counts.

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8R81 rpbridge.net Main Top Half the Deck

2 NT South	7 5 4 3		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
West leads	9 8 3 2		1. W	9	3	A	10
	6		2. E	5!	J	K	2
	7 6 5 4		3. W	6	9	10	A
9 8 6		A J 2	4. S	K	6	4	2
K 6 4		Q 10 7 5	5. S	Q	8	5	J
J 7 3 2		K 5 4	6. S	10	J	6	4
A Q 9		10 8 3	7. W	4	3	7	8
	K Q 10		8. E	Q	2	2	8
	A J		9. E	3	J	Q	4
	A Q 10 9 8			Win 2 more tricks, down 3
	K J 2

2 NT South West leads	Enter 13 cards for South North will get what remains
9 8 6 K 6 4 J 7 3 2 A Q 9		A J 2 Q 10 7 5 K 5 4 10 8 3

	KQT7543 AJ9832 AQT986 KJ76542