Delusions of Grandeur

Welcome to the Grand Canyon! It took Mother Nature millions of years to carve the natural wonder in Arizona, but this version took less than a month. Floridians work much faster, and our canyons are proof of this. But no matter where you live, you are cordially invited to this grand opening.

You are playing in the finals of the Grand National Pairs and, incredibly, bid a grand slam on each of the first six boards. Talk about needing to take some tricks! See if you have what it takes to win in grand style.

In April of 2003 these six problems were presented as a contest, which had 732 entrants from 101 locations. The contest is now closed, but you can still challenge yourself and find your score immediately. As South simply 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.

Be sure to have a grand old time! And who knows? You might even win a valuable prize.*

*Grand prize is a concert grand piano, handcrafted in mahogany by Steinway and Sons (or PavCo and Son). Runners-up receive
a trip to Grand Coolee Dam — damn, that’s cool! Winners must be at least 50 years old with living great-grandparents.

Oh, and one final tip: Don’t worry about overtricks!

Problem 1

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

You win the J and cash the K, ready to claim. Oops! East pitches the 6. What next?

A. Win K-Q
B. Win K, A
C. Win K, A, A
D. Ruff heart, win K, A, A
E. Ruff heart, win A, A
F. Win A, A

Problem 2

Matchpoints	A 8 6 4 2			West	North	East	South
N-S vul	A J 9 2			LHO	Partner	RHO	You
	A J 8 2					Pass	1
	—			2 NT	4 1	Pass	4 NT
				Pass	5	Pass	7
Lead: Q		East plays 4		Pass	Pass	Pass
				1. splinter bid
	K Q 9 5 3
	K 8
	4
7 South	A K 7 5 2

Your play?

A. Ruff club, win K
B. Ruff club, win A, ruff diamond
C. Pitch heart (win A), K
D. Pitch heart (win A), A, ruff diamond
E. Pitch diamond (win A), K
F. Pitch diamond (win A), A, ruff diamond

Problem 3

Matchpoints	—			West	North	East	South
E-W vul	A 7 5 2			LHO	Partner	RHO	You
	K J 10 9 8						3
	7 5 3 2			Dbl	5	6	Pass
				Pass	7	Dbl	Pass
Lead: K		East plays 3		Pass	Pass
	7 4
	Q J 3
	A Q 7 6 5 4 2
7 × South	10

You can’t make this of course (goal is to go down only one). You ruff and lead a club.
East wins the A and leads the 3 won in dummy (West pitches a club). Next?

A. Win the A
B. Lead the 2
C. Ruff club, ruff spade, run trumps
D. Ruff club, spade, club, run trumps
E. Ruff out all black cards
F. Ruff club, run the J

Problem 4

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

Partner almost fell out of his chair when you jumped twice. Your play?

A. Win A, A-K-Q, K
B. Win A, A-K-Q, K
C. Win A, A-K-Q, finesse J
D. Win K, A-K-Q, A, K
E. Win K, A-K-Q, K
F. Win K, A-K-Q, K

Note: West is void in hearts.

Problem 5

Matchpoints	A J 9			West	North	East	South
N-S vul	A 10			LHO	Partner	RHO	You
	A K Q 5				2	Pass	2 NT
	K Q 9 2			Pass	4 NT	Pass	7 NT
				Pass	Pass	Pass
Lead: 4
	K 7
	K Q J 9
	4 3 2
7 NT South	A 10 4 3

If you play the 9 or J, East covers cheaply. Your play?

A. Win A, run hearts
B. Win A, A-K-Q, run hearts
C. Win K, A, run hearts
D. Win K, run hearts
E. Win K, A-K-Q, run hearts
F. Win K, A-K-Q, A, run hearts

Problem 6

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

You lead a spade to queen (both follow low) then the J on which East plays the 10. Your play?

A. Overtake with K
B. Win J, A, K, K
C. Win J, A, K
D. Win J, K, ruff diamond
E. Win J, ruff diamond
F. Win J, K

 Click to see how you did

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© 2003 Richard Pavlicek