Make It on Ice!

On each of these 3 NT contracts, assume you are playing rubber bridge or IMPs.
West leads a spade as shown, and your only goal is to make your contract.
Only one play (A, B or C) will guarantee nine tricks. Can you find it?

1.	A K
None vul	Q
	Q J 10 4 3
	J 10 9 8 7
Lead: Q
	5 4 3
	K J 8
	A K 2
3 NT South	K 4 3 2

After winning the K, how do you play? 
 A. Lead the Q
 B. Run the diamonds
 C. Lead the J

2.	A 4 3
N-S vul	A
	K Q 9 2
	A Q 5 4 3
Lead: 9
	Q J 10
	K Q J 10 2
	5 4 3
3 NT South	7 2

From West’s lead, it looks like the K is offside. How do you play? 
 A. Win A; A; lead a spade
 B. Win A; A; lead the K
 C. Duck first spade to East’s king

Quit

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3.	10 6
E-W vul	A K J 4
	A 8 6 5 4
	A K
Lead: 4
	K 9 8 2
	9 7 3
	K Q
3 NT South	J 9 3 2

You play low from dummy and take East’s Q with your king. What next? 
 A. Lead the 2
 B. Finesse the J
 C. Win the K-Q

4.	4
Both vul	K 4 2
	7 5 4 3 2
	A Q J 10
Lead: 6
	A Q J
	Q J 7 5
	K Q J
3 NT South	K 3 2

East plays the 10 and you win the queen. What do you do next? 
 A. Lead the 5 to the king
 B. Lead the K
 C. Win Q; lead 2 to queen

Quit

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5.	K Q 5 4
N-S vul	J 6 3
	A K J 10 9
	K
Lead: J
	A 2
	A 10 2
	6 3 2
3 NT South	J 10 9 8 2

This looks easy — or is it? How do you play? 
 A. Win A; cash the A-K
 B. Win A; finesse the J
 C. Win K; lead the K

6.	Q 2
E-W vul	3 2
	A Q 10 9 8 7
	Q 6 3
Lead: 10
	A K 5
	A Q 8 4
	K
3 NT South	K 9 7 4 2

What a nice diamond suit! After carefully winning the K, what next? 
 A. Overtake K with A
 B. Win K; lead the K
 C. Win K; lead 2 to queen

Quit

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© 2003 Richard Pavlicek