Try To Remember

…the kind of September…

Today the title song invokes sad memories (think 9-11) but there was a time “when life was slow, and oh, so mellow.” Being raised in northeast Ohio, September was my favorite month — mild temperatures, leaves changing color, family picnics, going back in school (OK, that’s a stretch) and the icing on the cake was my birthday. Candles too!

Ah, the good old days. Gasoline 15 cents a gallon; no interstate highways; parents and teachers respected and cherished; kinder and gentler times all-around. Dwight Eisenhower was President and a bridge player! Speaking of whom, “Ike” will be your partner as you test your declarer play on these six problems.

Oops! My bad. That would make our President the dummy, which brings us back to modern times. Oh well. As South, simply choose your play from the Options A-F listed. 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.

In September 2007 these six problems were presented as a contest with 644 entrants from 104 locations. The contest is now closed, but you can still quiz yourself and find your score immediately. If you’re lucky, you may win a valuable prize.*

*Prizes include 25 “I Like Ike” T-shirts and 25,000 Eisenhower silver dollars. Winners must be native to their
country of residence, at least 18 years of age, and Tibetan monks. Void where inhabited by lawyers.

Try to remember, when life was so tender… and if you remember, then follow [suit].

Problem 1

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

West next leads the Q (East plays 5) as you duck, then the Q (East plays 2). Your play?

A. Win A, A-K
B. Win A, A, lead 5
C. Win A, lead 5
D. Duck, win A, A-K
E. Duck, win A, A, lead 5
F. Duck, win A, lead 5

Problem 2

IMPs	A 5			West	North	East	South
Both vul	A 6 4 3			LHO	Ike	RHO	You
	A 7 5 4				1	Dbl	1
	8 5 3			Pass	2	Pass	4
				Pass	Pass	Pass
Lead: 6		East wins A
	6 4 3 2
	K Q 5 2
	K Q J 6
4 South	K

East shifts to the J (West plays 7). How do you play?

A. Win K, A, ruff club
B. Win K, A, lead 5
C. Win K, duck spade
D. Win K-Q
E. Win A, A, lead 5
F. Win A, lead 5

Problem 3

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

After winning the Q, what next?

A. Win A, lead 3
B. Win A, lead 4
C. Lead the K
D. Win A, lead 3
E. Win A, lead 4
F. Duck a diamond

Problem 4

IMPs	A 6 4 3			West	North	East	South
None vul	A 7 5 2			LHO	Ike	RHO	You
	10					Pass	Pass
	A K Q 2			1	Dbl	Pass	1
				Pass	3	Pass	4
Lead: Q		East plays 2		Pass	Pass	Pass
	K 7 5
	8 6
	A 8 6 3 2
4 South	6 4 3

Your bids were certainly inspired. How about your play?

A. Win A, lead 2
B. Win A, A, ruff diamond, win K
C. Win A, A, ruff diamond, lead 2
D. Win A, A-K, lead 2
E. Win K, A, ruff diamond
F. Win K, A-K, lead 2

Problem 5

IMPs	A 9 8 5 2			West	North	East	South
E-W vul	K 2			LHO	Ike	RHO	You
	K 10 5						1
	9 7 5			Pass	1	Pass	2
				Pass	3	Pass	3
Lead: K		East plays 3		Pass	6 1	All Pass
				1. Ike doesn’t care, he’s dummy
	7
	A 10 6 3
	A 8 6
6 South	A K 8 6 4

Can you justify Ike’s optimism? After winning the A, what next?

A. Ruff spade, win K, ruff spade
B. Ruff spade, win K, A, ruff heart
C. Ruff spade, win A, K, ruff spade
D. Ruff spade, win A, K, A, ruff heart
E. Win K, A, ruff heart
F. Win A, K, A, ruff heart

Problem 6

IMPs	Q J 2			West	North	East	South
Both vul	A J 10 9 7			LHO	Ike	RHO	You
	A				1	Pass	1
	A J 10 4			Pass	3	Pass	3
				Pass	4	Pass	4 NT
Lead: 7		East plays 3		Pass	5	Pass	6
				All Pass
	A K 10 9 8
	8 5
	K 7 4
6 South	Q 5 2

What a frustrating lead! After winning the 10, what next?

A. Finesse the J
B. Win A, A, ruff diamond
C. Win A, lead J
D. Win A, lead 4
E. Run the Q
F. Finesse the J

 Click to see how you did

Challenge 8Y65 Main Analyses

Scores Top Try To Remember

Acknowledgments to “Try To Remember” lyricist, Tom Jones
© 2007 Richard Pavlicek