Keep the Ship Afloat

Much of the battle in the card play as declarer is to keep your ship afloat. Defenders are like icebergs lurking in the night; if you don’t stay alert, they’ll rock your keel and deep-six the contract. One can only wonder that if contract bridge had been invented 90 years ago, history might have been rewritten on that fateful night in April. Are you ready to play bridge? Or shall we just save time and man the lifeboats?

In April of 2002 these problems were presented as a contest open to all bridge players. There were 687 participants from 101 locations. The contest is now closed, but you can still challenge yourself and find your score immediately.

As South on each of the six problems, choose your play from options A-F. Each option is rated on a 1-to-10 scale per my judgment.

Bidding is standard (unless noted). Opponents use standard leads and signals.
For a reference see Standard American Bridge. Assume all players are experts.

Take over the helm for some rough waters ahead. If you make it back to port, you’re a hero, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Proceed full steam ahead, and you might win a valuable prize.*

*Prizes include a completely restored 23-foot propeller blade and a barnacled keg of 96-year-old Champagne.
Winners must be at least 18 years of age and a descendant of an RMS Titanic passenger (First Class only).
Employees of PavCo Maritime Salvage are ineligible.

Problem 1

IMPs	6 5			West	North	East	South
N-S vul	K J 8			LHO	Partner	RHO	You
	A Q J 10 4						1
	Q J 4			Pass	1	Pass	1 NT
				Pass	3 NT	Pass	Pass
Lead: K		East plays 10		Pass
	A 4 2
	A Q
	8 5 3
3 NT South	K 8 6 5 3

Your play?

A. Win first spade, lead 3 to queen
B. Win first spade, lead 3 to jack
C. Win second spade, lead 3 to queen
D. Win second spade, lead 3 to jack
E. Win third spade, lead 3 to queen
F. Win third spade, lead 3 to jack

Note: If you duck the first trick, West leads the Q and East plays the 3.

Problem 2

IMPs	K 10 9 2			West	North	East	South
E-W vul	Q 6 3 2			LHO	Partner	RHO	You
	A K Q J				1	Pass	1
	K			Pass	3	Pass	4
				Pass	Pass	Pass
Lead: Q		East wins A
	5 4
	A K 5 4
	8 7 5
4 South	9 4 3 2

East returns the 6, you play low, West the 8, and you ruff in dummy. What next?

A. Lead the K
B. Lead the 10
C. Win K, lead spade to king
D. Win K, lead spade to 10
E. Win Q, K, lead spade to king
F. Win Q, K, lead spade to 10

Problem 3

Matchpoints	6 4 3			West	North	East	South
None vul	A 7 6 4			LHO	Partner	RHO	You
	A K				1	Pass	1
	Q J 5 4			Pass	1 NT	Pass	2
				Pass	3	Pass	4
Lead: Q		East plays 2		Pass	Pass	Pass
	A 8 7 5 2
	K 3
	10 7 6 4 2
4 South	6

OK, so you bid a lot. Now shut up and select your play:

A. Win A, A-K, duck a trump
B. Win A, A-K, lead the Q
C. Win A, lead the 4
D. Win K, duck a trump
E. Win K, A, ruff a heart
F. Win K, lead club to queen

Problem 4

IMPs	K J 7 3			West	North	East	South
Both vul	J 3 2			LHO	Partner	RHO	You
	Q J 10 2						1
	7 6			3	Dbl	5	5
				Pass	Pass	Pass
Lead: A		East plays 5
	A 9 4
	A 10 4
	A K 8 7 6 5 4
5 South	—

You ruff and lead a diamond to the queen, both following. What next?

A. Win K, A
B. Ruff club, win K, A
C. Ruff club, win K, lead spade to nine
D. Ruff club, lead spade to jack
E. Ruff club, lead spade to seven
F. Ruff club, win J, lead spade to nine

Problem 5

Matchpoints	10 3 2			West	North	East	South
N-S vul	A 6 3			LHO	Partner	RHO	You
	Q 7 3			1	Pass	1	Dbl
	J 6 4 3			2	Pass	2	3
				Pass	4	5	5
Lead: K		East plays 4		Dbl	Pass	Pass	Pass
	A K Q J 8 6 4
	10 4 2
	—
5 × South	K Q 2

You ruff and cash the A; West plays the 5 and East the 9. What next?

A. Win K, lead the 2
B. Win K, lead the K
C. Win 10, lead the 3
D. Win 10, lead 3 to king
E. Lead the 2
F. Lead the K

Problem 6

IMPs	A 4 2			West	North	East	South
Both vul	A Q J 10			LHO	Partner	RHO	You
	A 5 4 2						1
	J 3			Pass	1	Pass	2 NT
				Pass	6 NT	Pass	Pass
Lead: 9		East plays 3		Pass
	K J 5
	K
	K Q 7 3
6 NT South	A K 9 7 4

Your play?

A. Win A-Q-J-10, K, Q
B. Win A, lead J and let it ride
C. Win A, lead 3 to nine
D. Win K, K, A
E. Win K, K, Q
F. Win K, lead 4 to jack

 Click to see how you did

Challenge 7V73 Main Analyses

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© 2002 Richard Pavlicek