Mission: Implausible

Good morning, Mr. Phelps. Your mission, should you choose to accept, is to infiltrate the finals of the National Open Pairs. It seems that our Chief of Security, one Barry Crane (pictured here with his twin bodyguards) has abandoned his command duties to pursue ACBL masterpoints. Mr. Crane must be stopped from winning this bridge tournament at all costs.

Mr. Crane is a shrewd operative, especially at a bridge table, and you are authorized to recruit additional IMF agents for this insurgence — but they must be expert bridge players.

Surveillance shows that Mr. Crane always sits South, so it is important that your chosen agents obtain North-South entries (request to be stationary) not only to ensure direct bridge comparisons but to avoid personal confrontation that would arouse suspicion.

Welcome to the IMF (Implausible Matchpoint Force) recruiting office! Are you qualified to be an agent? Find out now. As South on these six problems, choose your play from the options listed. Each option will be 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 your opponents are average tournament players.

In February 2005 these problems were presented as a contest with 1153 entrants from 118 locations around the world. The contest is now closed, but you can still quiz yourself and find your score immediately. If you’re lucky, you might even win a valuable prize.*

*Prizes include three master-of-disguise kits and a tryst at the IMF barracks with Cinnamon or Barney. Winners must be
at least 18 years of age and have PIA Clearance Level 3. Employees of PavCo Intelligence Agency are ineligible.

As always, should you or any member of the IMF fail on this mission, the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions.

This tape will self-destruct in five seconds.

Problem 1

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

After winning the K, what next?

A. Win A, ruff spade
B. Win two trumps, A, ruff spade
C. Win two trumps, A, A, K
D. Win two trumps, A-K, ruff diamond
E. Win A-K, ruff diamond
F. Duck a club

Problem 2

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

West continues with the 5 to East’s ace, and you ruff. What next?

A. Draw trumps, lead a diamond
B. Win A, K, lead a diamond
C. Win K, A, ruff heart
D. Win K, A, A, Q
E. Win K, A, Q, A
F. Lead a diamond

Note: Trumps split 3-2.

Problem 3

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

After winning the J, what next?

A. Lead the Q
B. Finesse the Q
C. Finesse the 10
D. Win J, lead heart to king
E. Win J, lead heart to jack
F. Run the club suit

Problem 4

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

You win the K and play the 10 from hand. What next?

A. Lead the Q
B. Lead the 3
C. Lead the K
D. Lead 3 to queen
E. Lead 3 and finesse 10
F. Lead the Q

Problem 5

Matchpoints	K 3 2			West	North	East	South
E-W vul	9 5 3			LHO	Partner	RHO	You
	7 5						2 1
	A Q 7 6 3			Dbl	Rdbl1	3	Dbl1
				Pass	3	Pass	Pass
Lead: K		East plays 2		Pass
				1. subversion in action
	Q J 10 6 5
	K
	A 8 6 4
3 South	8 5 4

You duck, and West shifts to the 4; two, eight, jack. What next?

A. Lead the Q
B. Lead the 5
C. Lead the K
D. Win A, ruff diamond
E. Finesse the Q
F. Duck a club

Problem 6

Matchpoints	K 4			West	North	East	South
None vul	A K Q 4			LHO	Partner	RHO	You
	9 8 4 2						1
	A 10 5			Pass	2 NT	Pass	3
				Pass	4	Pass	Pass
Lead: J		East plays 3		Pass
	A Q J 10 6
	5 2
	A 7
4 South	K 6 4 2

Sorry, you won’t score anything for 100 honors. Your play?

A. Win A, draw trumps
B. Win A, lead club to king
C. Win K, draw trumps
D. Win K, lead hearts
E. Win K, lead club to ace
F. Duck the first trick

 Click to see how you did

Challenge 8X17 Main Analyses

Scores Top Mission: Implausible

Acknowledgments to Mission: Impossible (1966-73) CBS Television
and Barry Crane (1927-85) matchpoint wizard of all time.
© 2005 Richard Pavlicek