Challenge 7X17 Main Analyses

Have Cards, Will Double

by Richard Pavlicek

Thursday 10 pm: I was scoring up the previous play contest when the doorbell rang. “Western Union!” screamed the young man. A telegram is rare these days, so I opened it with fear and trepidation:

Need assistance in high stakes game [stop]
Regular partner afraid to double [stop]
Losing money to weaker players [stop]
Cost no object. Name your own fee! [stop]
-Walter Weston, San Francisco

I was too busy to take the case myself, but luckily my brother Paladin (famous for hair-trigger doubles) was available, so I rushed him to the airport to catch the 12:30 red-eye to San Francisco.

Monday 9 am: Paladin reported good progress over the weekend and faxed me six problems on defense — all doubled contracts — which I present here as a challenge. As East, you must choose your next lead from the choices offered. Each option is scored on a 1-to-10 scale per my judgment.

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

In February 2003 these problems were presented as a contest, which had 776 entrants from 103 locations. The contest is now closed, but you can still challenge yourself and find your score immediately. If you’re lucky, you might even win a valuable prize* — but be sure to double check your answers, as I might be a double-dealing double-crosser.

*Prizes include a double-action Colt .45 and a Double Eagle coin. Winners must be at least 18 years of age.
Void where prohibited by law and where such prohibitions do not exist.

Problem 1

Total points	J 2		West	North	East	South
Both vul	A 8 6 5 4 2		Partner	Dummy	You	Declarer
	4 3				Pass	2
	K J 7		Dbl	Pass	Pass	Pass
		K 10 9 8 5
Lead: 10		7
Lead: 10		K 10 6 2
2 × South		A 8 3

Trick Lead 2nd 3rd 4th
1. W 10 J A 2

Your next lead? K 5 7 2 8 3

Problem 2

Total points	A J 10		`West`	North	`East`	South
N-S vul	A Q 5 4 3 2		Partner	Dummy	You	Declarer
	A 8 3			1	Pass	1 NT
	J		Pass	2 NT	Pass	3 NT
		K 8 5	Pass	Pass	Dbl	Pass
Lead: 4		J 10 9 8 6	Pass	Pass
Lead: 4		Q 9 7
3 NT× South		A 7

Trick Lead 2nd 3rd 4th
1. W 4 10 K 2

Your next lead? 8 J Q 9 A 7

Problem 3

Total points	8 6 5 4 3		West	North	East	South
Both vul	10 9 2		Partner	Dummy	You	Declarer
	5			Pass	1	1
	A 7 4 2		Dbl	2	3 NT	4
		10 2	Pass	Pass	Dbl	Pass
Lead: 2		Q J 8	Pass	Pass
Lead: 2		A K Q 10 9 7
4 × South		K J

Trick Lead 2nd 3rd 4th
1. W 2 5 Q 3

Your next lead? 10 2 Q 8 K K

Problem 4

Total points	A K 2		West	`North`	East	`South`
E-W vul	9 8 3		Partner	Dummy	You	Declarer
	Q			1	Dbl	2 ¹
	A K Q J 5 4		Pass	4	Dbl	Pass
		Q 7 5 3	Pass	Pass
Lead: 3		A Q J 6
Lead: 3		A K J 4	1. weak
4 × South		9

Trick Lead 2nd 3rd 4th
1. W 3 Q K 5

Your next lead? 3 A Q 6 A 9

Problem 5

Total points	K 10 7 6		`West`	`North`	`East`	`South`
None vul	K J 5 4		Partner	Dummy	You	Declarer
	4 3					1
	A 9 3		Pass	1	Pass	3 NT
		Q J 3	Pass	4 NT	Pass	6
Lead: 6		A Q 10 8 2	Pass	Pass	Dbl	All Pass
Lead: 6		6
6 × South		Q 10 8 2

Trick Lead 2nd 3rd 4th
1. W 6 4 10 3

Your next lead? J A 6 Q 10 2

Problem 6

Total points	9 8 3 2		West	`North`	East	`South`
E-W vul	2		Partner	Dummy	You	Declarer
	A K 7 6 5 3					1 NT
	J 3		Pass	2	Pass	2
		A K J 7 6	Pass	2 NT	Pass	3 NT
Lead: 5		8 7 6	Pass	Pass	Dbl¹	All Pass
Lead: 5		Q 4
3 NT× South		K 10 8	1. asks for spade lead (dummy’s implied suit)

Trick Lead 2nd 3rd 4th
1. W 5 2 6 10
2. S Q 2 3 K

What is your defensive plan?

A. Win all your spades
B. Win two more spades
C. Win J, lead the 8
D. Win J, lead the Q
E. Lead the 8
F. Lead the Q

Click to see how you did

Challenge 7X17 Main Analyses Scores Top Have Cards, Will Double