Challenge 7X73 Main Analyses

The Worst Leading Man

by Richard Pavlicek

Not to be outdone by the many award shows these days, I’ve decided to start my own. Forget the Oscars, Emmys, Grammys, Golden Globes or whatever, and say hello to the PavCo Awards honoring ineptitude at the bridge table. I’ve won a few myself over the years, but I won’t be greedy; I will share this award with other deserving people.

This year’s PavCo in the “Worst Leading Man” category goes to your partner — West on these six problems. Whether he was unlucky or un-brained might be debatable, but in each case he appears to be playing for the wrong side.

As East, your goal is to recover from the horrendous start by choosing your next lead from the choices listed. Each option is rated on a 1-to-10 scale, based on 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.

In April of 2004 these problems were presented as a contest with 908 entrants from 115 locations. The contest is closed, but you can still quiz yourself and find your score immediately. If you’re lucky, you might win a valuable prize.*

*Prizes include two gleaming statuettes (13 inches high) handcrafted in 24K gold, and 50 tickets to The Lord of the Rings: PavCo Returns.
Employees of PavCo Oscar Heists are ineligible. Void where prohibited by law, or where no such prohibitions exist.

Well, are you ready to face the man with the not-so-golden arm? Then plop yourself down in the East chair. It might boost your morale if you close your eyes on the opening lead; but after that debacle, partner will be on your side. See if you can find the best defense.

Problem 1

Matchpoints	K J 9 2		West	North	East	South
Both vul	10 8 7 4		WL Man	Dummy	You	Declarer
	A 2					1
	K 8 6		Pass	1	Pass	1
		Q 4	Pass	3 ¹	Pass	4
Lead: 4		Q J 9	Pass	Pass	Pass
Lead: 4		J 10 8 3
4 South		Q 9 7 2	1. forcing

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

Your next lead? 4 Q J 3 9 2

Problem 2

Matchpoints	Q 5 4		`West`	`North`	`East`	`South`
None vul	A 8 4 3 2		WL Man	Dummy	You	Declarer
	K 10 8 5 2		3	Pass	Pass	4
	—		Pass	4	Dbl	5
		J 9 7 6	Pass	Pass	Dbl	Pass
Lead: K		—	Pass	Pass
Lead: K		A Q J 9 4
5 × South		K 6 3 2

Trick Lead 2nd 3rd 4th
1. W K 4 7 A
2. S A 4 2 2
3. S Q 5 3 K

Your next lead? J 9 6 A Q 3

Problem 3

Matchpoints	Q 8 4		`West`	`North`	`East`	`South`
None vul	4 3		WL Man	Dummy	You	Declarer
	A 6 5 2				1 NT	3
	K Q J 7		Pass	4	Pass	Pass
		A J 3	Pass
Lead: 4		A K 5
Lead: 4		J 9 8
4 South		A 9 5 2

Trick Lead 2nd 3rd 4th
1. W 4 J A 6
2. S Q 2 3 A

Your next lead? 3 K 5 J 8 2

Problem 4

Matchpoints	10 4		West	`North`	East	`South`
E-W vul	8 4		WL Man	Dummy	You	Declarer
	A Q 10 6 4		4	Pass	Pass	4
	K 5 4 2		Pass	Pass	Pass
		A 3 2
Lead: 3		7 6 5
Lead: 3		K J 9 8 2
4 South		Q 10

Trick Lead 2nd 3rd 4th
1. W 3 4 5 9
2. S Q 5 4 A

Your next lead? 2 7 9 2 Q 10

Problem 5

Matchpoints	K 3		`West`	`North`	`East`	`South`
None vul	A J 8 2		WL Man	Dummy	You	Declarer
	K 10 4 2					1 NT
	J 9 2		Pass	2	Pass	2
		Q 10 9 8	Pass	3 NT	Pass	Pass
Lead: Q		Q 10 9 7	Pass
Lead: Q		6 5
3 NT South		Q 10 4

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

Your next lead? 10 10 7 6 Q 4

Problem 6

Matchpoints	K Q		West	North	East	South
Both vul	K 10 8 4		WL Man	Dummy	You	Declarer
	K 8 3 2			1 NT	Pass	4 ¹
	A Q 4		Pass	Pass	Pass
		A 7 2
Lead: A		7 6 5 3	1. no transfers to put West on lead!
Lead: A		J 10 4
4 South		J 10 8

Trick Lead 2nd 3rd 4th
1. W A 4 3 3
2. S 5 9 Q ?

Surely you’re not beating this. What is your plan to minimize overtricks?

A. Win A, lead 2
B. Win A, lead 5
C. Win A, lead J
D. Win A, lead J
E. Duck, win next spade
F. Duck twice

Click to see how you did

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