Challenge 8X49 Main Analyses

Finesses of Frankenstein

by Richard Pavlicek

On a dark and stormy night your carriage breaks down, so you continue on foot to seek shelter. Soon you arrive at a dilapidated old windmill and knock on the door. No one answers. A light in the tower suggests someone is there, so you pound harder and harder, “Please, please… Open the door!”

“Go away!” a voice shouts. “The storm is at its peak, and power from the heavens is imminent. I must not be disturbed!”

Lightning bolts zap the tower, as you are almost deafened by thunderous cracks. Fifteen minutes later the door opens, “Sorry, I was doing an experiment,” says Dr. Henry Frankenstein. “Do you play bridge? I must test out my new partner. Come! We will play in the laboratory.”

You’d agree to almost anything to get out of the storm and follow Henry, where he sits down opposite a hideous creature at least seven feet tall. “Have a seat on my right,” says Henry. “My assistant will be your partner. Fritz? Come, Fritz! We’re ready to play.”

On these six problems, Dr. Frankenstein (South) is declarer and takes a finesse early in the play. As East, do you win the trick or duck? Choose your defense from the options listed. Each option will be rated on a 1-to-10 scale per my judgment.

Bidding is standard (unless noted). You use standard leads but no signals.
For a reference see Standard American Bridge. Dr. Frankenstein is an expert.
Fritz knows about nothing, but assume he chose the proper card in the suit led.

In October of 2005 these six problems were presented as a contest with 904 entrants from 114 locations around the world. The contest is 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 six cerebellum transplants (certified normal) and a 12-step program in electroshock therapy. Winners must be at least
18 years of age and a Life Burgomaster in their national bridge organization. Employees of PavCo Body Parts are ineligible.

Warning! Sit back from the table and stay clear of dummy.

“It’s alive!” Henry shrieks as he plans the play. “Fritz! Put down that torch!”

Problem 1

Rubber bridge	A K 10 5 2		`West`	`North`	`East`	`South`
None vul	Q J 8		Fritz	Monster	You	Frankenstein
	J 3			Pass	Pass	1 NT
	J 5 4		Pass	2 ¹	Pass	2
		Q 7 6 4	Pass	3 NT	Pass	Pass
Lead: 6		7 3 2	Pass
Lead: 6		K 9 5
3 NT South		Q 10 3	1. Burgomaster transfer

Trick Lead 2nd 3rd 4th
1. W 6 8 2 10
2. S J 3 2 ?

Your defense?

A. Win Q, lead 4
B. Win Q, lead 7
C. Win Q, lead 9
D. Win Q, lead 5
E. Win Q, lead 3
F. Duck smoothly

Problem 2

Rubber bridge	A 8 6		`West`	North	`East`	South
N-S vul	A 9 3 2		Fritz	Monster	You	Frankenstein
	J 9 6 2				Pass	1 NT
	7 2		Pass	2	Pass	2
		Q 9 2	Pass	4	Pass	Pass
Lead: 5		K 6 5	Pass
Lead: 5		A 5 3
4 South		J 9 6 4

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

Your defense?

A. Win K, lead Q
B. Win K, lead 2
C. Win K, lead 5
D. Win K, lead 3
E. Win K, lead 4
F. Duck smoothly

Problem 3

Rubber bridge	J 2		`West`	North	`East`	South
N-S vul	A Q J 5 2		Fritz	Monster	You	Frankenstein
	A 7					1
	K 7 5 3		Pass	1	Pass	2 NT
		9 7 6	Pass	6 NT	Pass	Pass
Lead: 3		K 3	Pass
Lead: 3		Q J 4 3
6 NT South		10 9 8 6

Trick Lead 2nd 3rd 4th
1. W 3 2 9 K
2. S 4 6 Q ?

Your defense?

A. Win K, lead 7
B. Win K, lead 3
C. Win K, lead J
D. Win K, lead 4
E. Win K, lead 10
F. Duck smoothly

Problem 4

Rubber bridge	A K 8 4 2		`West`	`North`	`East`	`South`
None vul	9 8 3		Fritz	Monster	You	Frankenstein
	A Q 6		Pass	1	Pass	1 NT
	K 2		Pass	2 NT	Pass	3 NT
		Q J 10 9 7	Pass	Pass	Dbl	Pass
Lead: 4		J 10 2	Pass	Pass
Lead: 4		K 5 2
3 NT× South		A 9

Trick Lead 2nd 3rd 4th
1. W 4 9 10 K
2. S 9 4 Q ?

If you duck Trick 2, declarer next leads the K. Your defense?

A. Win K, lead Q
B. Win K, lead 2
C. Duck, next duck K
D. Duck, win A, lead Q
E. Duck, win A, lead 2
F. Duck, win A, lead 9

Problem 5

Rubber bridge	K Q 9 2		West	North	East	South
Both vul	10 6 4		Fritz	Monster	You	Frankenstein
	A J 10 9					1
	Q J		Pass	3	Pass	4
		6 3	Pass	Pass	Pass
Lead: 3		J 9 8
Lead: 3		K 5 2
4 South		K 10 7 6 5

Trick Lead 2nd 3rd 4th
1. W 3 Q 7 2
2. N K 3 5 4
3. N 2 6 J 7
4. S 7 4 J ?

Your defense?

A. Win K, lead J
B. Win K, lead 9
C. Win K, lead 8
D. Win K, lead 5
E. Win K, lead K
F. Duck smoothly

Problem 6

Rubber bridge	A 9 2		`West`	`North`	`East`	`South`
None vul	Q 7 6 4		Fritz	Monster	You	Frankenstein
	3 2			1	Pass	2
	A Q 9 8		Pass	3	Pass	4 NT
		7 3	Pass	5	Dbl	6
Lead: 6		K J 9 8	Pass	Pass	Pass
Lead: 6		Q J 4
6 South		K 10 7 4

Trick Lead 2nd 3rd 4th
1. W 6 2 J A
2. S J 2 8 ?

Your defense?

A. Win K, lead 3
B. Win K, lead 9
C. Win K, lead Q
D. Win K, lead 4
E. Win K, lead 10
F. Duck smoothly

Click to see how you did

Challenge 8X49 Main Analyses Scores Top Finesses of Frankenstein