Problem Collection 7A60 by Richard Pavlicek

Those Were the Days

“Once upon a time there was tavern… where we used to raise a glass or two…” The above picture reminds me of a tavern near Stuttgart, West Germany, circa 1965-66, where we often went on Saturdays — not so much for the food and drink, but because of a running bridge game. My Army buddy, and bridge mentor, was Kent Feiler (who now lives in the Chicago area), and we’d have a great time playing rubber bridge for small stakes. I especially remember how friendly the locals were to us “lost kids,” which was a great comfort being so far from home. Yes, those were the days, my friend… but I digress.

Perhaps you can reminisce old times as well, as you challenge yourself with these 27 declarer play problems. Each group of three problems has a common theme, explained in the heading. Decide how you would play to make each contract as safely as possible. Do not take any risks for an overtrick. The answer to each problem follows immediately, so try to resist the urge to peek!

Quiz 7J42

Which Suit First?

As South, can you find the best play in these 4

contracts? Decide whether you will draw trumps immediately (assume the enemy trumps split 3-1) and which side suit you will lead first.

1. 4 by South

A 10 9 8
Q 4 3 2
J 4 3
4 3
Lead: K [W - E]
Q J
A K 7 6 5
A 2
K 10 9 6

Answer

The obvious danger is when East has the

K (the finesse loses) and West has the

A. You would then lose four tricks as soon as East gains the lead. Fortunately, you can prevent this from happening.

Win the A, draw trumps ending in your hand, and lead a diamond. West is marked for the queen, so assume he wins it. If he returns a spade, win the ace; pitch your last spade on the J and lead the 10 for a ruffing finesse (pitch a club if East plays low). If it loses to West, you are safe with any return.

West held:
4-3-2 8 K-Q-10-9-8-7 A-J-7

2. 4 by South

A 10 3
Q 4 3 2
5 4 3
K 4 3
Lead: J [W - E]
K 4 2
A K 7 6 5
Q 6
A 8 2

Answer

Chances are grim. You have nine easy tricks but no obvious way to make another. Barring a miracle in spades (e.g., Q-J doubleton) the only realistic hope is an elimination play hoping to force an opponent to give you a ruff and discard.

Draw trumps ending in dummy, and lead a diamond. Assume a club is returned (nothing matters); win the ace and lose another diamond; next win the K and ruff the last diamond. Finally, cash the K-A and exit with a spade. Guess what? It’s your lucky day!

West held:
Q-J-8-5 J-10-9 K-8-7-2 J-6

3. 4 by South

A 10 7 2
Q 4 3 2
8 5 4 3
Q
Lead: A-J [W - E]
K 9 8
A K 7 6 5
6 2
K 3 2

Answer

Once again, prospects are bleak. If you lead spades, you will almost surely have to lose a spade; then you’ll be set immediately. The best chance is to develop a squeeze.

Pitch a spade from dummy as you win the K and lead a diamond. Your plan is to ruff one diamond, ruff your last club, and lead all your trumps to reach this ending: A-7 8 opposite K-9-8. If only one person can protect spades and diamonds, you will win the rest.

Bridge is an easy game. Just lead diamonds on every hand (hehe).

West held:
J-4 J-9-8 A-J-7 A-J-10-9-8

Quiz 7J46

Look Mom! No Finesses!

As South on each of these contracts you have several finessing opportunities, yet the proper play involves taking none of them. Are you ready for these unfinessable tasks?

1. 3 NT by South

6 3 2
7 6
9 8 7 4 3
8 5 2
Lead: J [W - E] East plays Q
A K 5 4
K 5
A K Q 6 5
A Q

Answer

You have eight top tricks, and a successful finesse in hearts or clubs will give you nine. Ha! Finesses are for kids. The first trick makes it obvious that West has four or five spades, and this information gives you a lock.

Win the first trick, cash three top diamonds (but no more), cash your remaining top spade, and exit with a spade. As West runs his spades pitch two clubs from dummy and a diamond from your hand. Whatever West leads next will give you your ninth trick.

West held:
J-10-9-8-7 A-J-8-2 2 K-7-3

2. 4 by South

J 10 4 3
A Q 10 9 2
9 4
Q 7
Lead: K-A [W - E]
A K 9 8 7 6 5 2
4 3
K 10
J

Answer

Did you ruff the second club? If so, you can’t establish the heart suit without letting East on lead, then a diamond shift through your king beats you. The key to deny East the lead is a loser-on-loser play.

On the second club pitch a heart. Assume West shifts to a heart; win the ace, and ruff a heart with the K (no need to risk an overruff). Draw the outstanding trump, then dummy has three spade entries to establish and enjoy the long heart. Note that you must use your 2 wisely to reach dummy’s four.

West held:
Q 7-6 A-J-8-7-6 A-K-8-6-5

3. 5 by South

A K J 5
J 4 3
K 4 3 2
A 2
Lead: Q [W - E]
4 3 2
A 10 5
A Q J 10 8 7
3

Answer

Yes, 3 NT would be a better contract, but you were trying for slam and wisely stopped short. You have lots of chances with the spade and heart finesses (plus spades might split 3-3). No thanks! Only a neat endplay will cinch 11 tricks.

Win the A, draw three rounds of trumps (saving the K as an entry to dummy) and cash both top spades. Next lead the 2 and — sound the trumpets — pitch a spade. No matter who wins or which suit is returned, there is no layout of the cards that can defeat you.

West held:
9-8 K-8-7 9-6-5 Q-J-10-7-4

Quiz 7J50

Ice-Cold Contracts

With the Winter Olympics around the corner, it seems appropriate to offer a few contracts on ice. In each case, can you find the line of play that is guaranteed to succeed?

1. 3 NT by South

K 4 3
4
10 9 8 7 6 5
K 10 6
Lead: Q [W - E]
Q J 5 2
A K 10
K Q
A Q J 4

Answer

You have six top tricks and the resources to develop three more, but the opponents may establish hearts before you can do this. The key is to exploit the spade suit, which can give you three tricks by itself if an opponent takes the ace “on air” (or if the suit breaks 3-3).

Win the A, lead the 4 to the 10, and lead a low spade. If East takes the ace, you can claim (or if the Q loses to West, he cannot lead a heart). If the Q wins, cross to the K and do it again. If this also wins, simply lead the K to ensure a ninth trick.

West held:
7-6 Q-J-9-6-3 4-3 9-8-5-3

Addendum 2-06-05: Thanks to Mate Mraz (Hungary) for spotting an oversight. If West has — Q-J-9-x-x J-x-x x-x-x-x-x, declarer cannot succeed against best defense because East threatens to establish his six-card spade suit. OK then, would you believe 99 percent?

2. 6 by South

7 6 5
9 8 7 6 5
K Q 3
10 3
Lead: K [W - E] East plays 5
A Q 8
A K Q J 10
A 10 6 4
A

Answer

Chances are certainly good, but only one plan will ensure success. Draw trumps (three rounds if necessary), then cross to the

K and ruff the remaining club. Next cross to the

Q and lead dummy’s last diamond, then:

If East shows out, win the ace and lead the 10 to West, pitching a spade from dummy. If East follows, finesse the 10; either it will win or it will lose to West’s J-x-x. In either scenario, if West gets the lead he is endplayed, forced to lead a spade into your A-Q or give you a ruff and discard.

West held:
K-9-4-2 4 7-5 K-Q-8-7-6-2

3. 6 NT by South

6 2
A K 10 5 4
K J
A K 3 2
Lead: 10 [W - E]
A K Q J
9 3
A 4 2
Q 7 5 4

Answer

You have 11 top tricks and lots of chances, but it takes proper squeeze technique to guarantee a 12th trick against any layout.

Lead the 3 and finesse the 10, which loses and a spade is returned (nothing matters). Cash the A-K and suppose East shows out (play is similar if West is out). Next cash the A-K and, if East follows, pitch a club; either hearts will split or you will have a double squeeze (win Q, lead spades). If East instead shows out on the third heart, pitch a diamond, then West will later be squeezed in hearts and clubs.

West held:
10-9-8 J-8 10-8-7-3 J-9-8-6

Quiz 7J54

Jack of All Trades

On each of these contracts you have no jacks, yet the location of these cards in the enemy hands may be crucial to your success. Can you find the best plays?

1. 3 NT by South

K 9 5 3
4
8 7 5 3
K 10 4 3
Lead: 6 [W - E] East plays K
A 10 2
A Q 10
A K Q
Q 9 6 5

Answer

After capturing the

K with the ace, you have seven top tricks, and the club suit will always provide two more. The danger is that if you lose an early club trick to East, a heart return through your A-10 will put the contract in jeopardy.

The proper play is to cross to the K and lead a low club to the nine (assuming East follows low). This way, even if it loses to the jack, you cannot be attacked further in hearts, and it’s an easy matter to force out the A to ensure nine tricks. Any other line of play entails the risk of being defeated.

West held:
Q-J-7-6 J-9-8-6-3 4-2 J-2

2. 3 NT by South

A 10 9
K Q 10 2
6 5 4 3
K 3
Lead: 2 [W - E] East wins K then leads 7
Q 4 3
A 9
K 10 7 2
A Q 10 4

Answer

After losing to the

K, you have eight iron-clad tricks but no clear way to establish another. You could always succeed if you knew where the

J was, or if East held the

J or the

A; but these are uncertain. Based on the fourth-best lead, however, there is a foolproof line.

The secret is to win both spades (queen first), then lead a diamond to the 10 (or cover East’s play) to force West on lead. West can cash his fourth spade (pitch a diamond from each hand); but what can he lead next? This neat triple endplay guarantees a ninth trick.

West held:
J-8-6-2 8-3 A-Q-J J-7-5-2

3. 4 by South

Q 9 7
A K 5
K 10 2
A Q 7 2
Lead: 10 [W - E]
K 10 8 6 5
8 4 3
A 6 3
6 3

Answer

You may have to guess who has the

J, but there is no hurry. Since all your side tricks are quick (off the top), there is little danger of a ruff. This suggests a waiting game.

Win the K, cross to your hand with the A, and lead a club to the queen. This finesse is inevitable, so you may as well take it. It wins (else the contract is probably hopeless). Next cash the A and ruff a club; then win the A and K and lead the last club. When East shows out, you have a lock: Ruff low, and exit with a red suit. Eventually you must win two more trump tricks.

West held:
A-J-4 10-9-7 J-8-5 K-9-8-5

Quiz 7J58

If It Walks Like a Duck…

…and it quacks like a duck, you got a duck — at least you do on each of these problems. The catch is deciding which suit and when to duck. How do you play each contract?

1. 3 NT by South

A Q 6 5 4
7 5
8 5 4
A 7 2
Lead: 4 [W - E] East plays J
3 2
A K 6 2
A K 2
K 5 4 3

Answer

It might appear that you should duck the first trick, but that would be an error. The opponents might shift to a club (and lead another club later) to knock out dummy’s

A entry before you can establish the spade suit.

Win the K and duck a spade. The first-round duck is crucial to establish the long spade in the likely event they break 4-2. Whatever the return, win in hand and finesse the Q (or win the ace if the king pops up) and continue spades.

West held:
K-8 Q-10-8-4 J-9-7 Q-10-8-6

2. 4 by South

4 3
Q 10 3 2
A 7 5 4 2
4 3
Lead: 9 [W - E] East plays 7
A K 6 5 2
K J 9 8
6 3
A K

Answer

West’s lead is surely a singleton (note that you would have shown a spade suit in the auction), so the danger is obvious: If you cash the top spades, West will ruff; then the opponents will lead two rounds of trumps, leaving you a trick short.

It doesn’t help to draw trumps. After winning the A, you should duck a spade. Then you can ruff your low spades (with the Q-10 if necessary) and eventually draw trumps to win the K, or crossruff, depending on the defense.

West held:
9 A-7-5 K-J-10-8 J-9-7-6-5

3. 4 by South

Q 3
A 3
A K 6 5 3
8 5 3 2
Lead: Q [W - E] East plays 7
K J 10 9 8 7
9 6 2
8 2
A 4

Answer

Your 10th trick might come from (1) a heart ruff or (2) establishing the diamond suit. The opponents can prevent (1) by leading trumps, or (2) by attacking dummy’s

A entry — but with proper technique, they can’t stop both.

Win the A, cash the A-K, and ruff a diamond (assume they break 4-2). Next duck a heart. If they drive out the A, you can ruff your heart; if they clear trumps, you can establish the long diamond with the A entry. Neat.

West held:
5-4 K-8-7-5 Q-10-9-4 Q-J-10

Quiz 7J62

Jettison Jamboree

The jettison play (unblocking a suit by discarding) is easy to miss and often noticed only after it is too late. See if you have the foresight to bring home these three ambitious contracts.

1. 3 NT by South

10 3
9 4 3
3
A K 6 5 4 3 2
Lead: 5 [W - E] East plays Q
A J 9 2
A J
A J 10 2
9 8 7

Answer

With a normal 2-1 club break, it looks like 10 easy tricks; but then you notice the problem. Your club spots are all higher than dummy’s, so the suit will be blocked after winning the A-K.

The solution begins by ducking the first heart and winning the next. Then cross to dummy with a club and lead the 9 to pitch a club. The opponents can win only four heart tricks, and the clubs will now run. If East instead shifted to a spade or a diamond at trick two, you would win the ace and duck a club.

West held:
Q-8-7-6 K-10-7-5-2 Q-9-4 J

2. 6 by South

5 4 3
7 4
Q 6 5 3 2
7 4 3
Lead: A [W - E] East plays 9
A J 9
A K Q J 10 8
A K 10 7
—

Answer

Dummy’s five-card diamond suit is a pretty sight, but there’s a hitch. The missing diamonds will usually split 3-1, and if either opponent has J-x-x, the suit will be blocked. With no side entry to dummy, the fifth diamond will be lost.

This time the crucial play comes early. At trick one you must refuse to ruff and pitch a diamond. Now your 12 tricks are clear to run. The only time you will fail is if diamonds are 4-0, but in that event the contract was virtually hopeless no matter what you did.

West held:
Q-10-2 2 J-9-4 A-Q-J-10-5-2

3. 6 by South

A K 3
A K 3
3
J 8 7 6 4 3
Lead: K [W - E]
Q J 10 9 2
Q J 10 9 2
Q 10 2
—

Answer

You certainly have your bidding shoes on, but 12 tricks are in view with a normal trump break. Ruff the club lead, give up a diamond, and ruff the club return. The problem is how to return to hand after ruffing two diamonds without suffering a heart ruff.

Ruff a diamond high, lead the 3 to your queen, and ruff your last diamond high. Next lead the 3 to your hand to draw trumps, as you pitch both top hearts from dummy to leave your hand high. The crowd goes wild!

West held:
5-4 8-6-5-4 J-9-7-6 A-K-2

Quiz 7J66

Book ‘em, Dano!

Did you ever hear of a “Hawaiian trump break?” My catch-phrase title should be familiar to those who remember the old TV series Hawaii Five-O. And yes, I’m talking about a 5-0 trump break. On each problem, West shows out on your first trump lead. Ouch! Decide your play.

1. 4 by South

A K 3
K Q 10
8 7 6 4 2
K 8
Lead: 6 [W - E]
Q 8 2
A 6 5 4 3
A 5 3
A 4

Answer

After winning the

K to find out East has

J-9-8-7-2, you seem to be fated to lose two trumps and two diamonds; but maybe not. The key is to stop leading trumps and catch East in an endplay.

Cash all your side winners, then exit with a diamond. Suppose West wins two diamonds; then whatever he leads next, pitch a diamond from dummy and let East win the trick — underruff in your hand. Now you can claim the rest, as East must lead a trump around to the Q-10.

East held:
10-7-5 J-9-8-7-2 J-10 Q-10-2

2. 4 by South

K Q J 10
A 6 3
Q 2
10 7 6 3
Lead: K [W - E]
A 9 7 2
8 4 2
A K J 3
9 2

Answer

After winning the

A, the

K reveals your misery. You need East to have three diamonds, so cash the

Q and

A-K to pitch a heart from dummy. It is tempting now to pitch the last heart on the

J and let East ruff. No! East will return a trump and you will go down.

You actually have a lock. Ruff the good diamond and lead a heart. If East gets in to return a trump (best), win the ace then ruff your last heart. The remaining 9-7 must take two more tricks behind East’s 8.

East held:
8-6-5-4-3 J-7 9-6-5 K-Q-8

3. 6 by South

A K Q 8 5 4
J 10 9 8
2
7 4
Lead: K-A [W - E]
7 6
A K Q 5
A K Q J 5 4
3

Answer

Hopefully, you were careful to ruff the second club with the

Q (or higher); then the

A exposes that nasty SOB (East) with all your trumps again. Grr!

To have any chance, you must be able to cash two spades; but you need only one diamond trick. Proper technique is to win the A, A (important) and K. When spades break 3-2, you are home. Just lead good spades until East ruffs, then overruff with the K and lead your low trump to dummy.

East held:
10-3 7-6-4-3-2 8 Q-J-9-8-5

Quiz 7J70

Holiday Grand Adventure

Are you planning for a grand time over the holidays? Well, here’s a chance to get a head start with three grand slams. Can you find the only play to guarantee 13 tricks against any distribution?

1. 7 by South

Q 10 8 3 2
Q 10 8 7 6 5
10
4
Lead: K [W - E] East plays 5
A K 4
—
A K Q J 8 7 6
A K 2

Answer

East’s show-out on the first trick portends the bad distribution ahead. Do you draw trumps and bank on a fourth spade trick? Or do you ruff a club in dummy?

An expert does neither. Ruff the lead; cross to the 10; ruff a heart and draw trumps (East started with all five) pitching three hearts and a spade. When West shows out on the A-K (the only problem), cross to the Q. Since West must hold the A, and East must hold the J, your 2 will win the last trick!

West held:
7 A-K-J-9-4-3-2 — 10-9-7-6-3

2. 7 by South

—
K Q 9
A Q J 9 8 3 2
A 3 2
Lead: K [W - E]
K 5 4 3 2
A J 6 5 4 3 2
K
—

Answer

This one looks easy, but remember Murphy’s Law: If something can go wrong, it will — especially in Richard’s quizzes.

Only one sequence of plays will ensure success: Win the A and pitch the K! Next ruff a diamond high and lead a heart to the queen. The only problem arises if West is void in diamonds and has all three trumps; then ruff another diamond high, and draw West’s trumps with the proven finesse. The remaining diamonds provide five discards.

West held:
A-J-9-8-6 10-8-7 — K-Q-J-9-4

3. 7 by South

K Q J 5
A 4 3 2
6 3 2
K Q
Lead: 8 [W - E] East plays 2
A 10 9 3 2
—
A K Q
A 9 7 5 3

Answer

What could be simpler than this? Well, think again. Only the finest declarer would succeed when East shows out on the first trick.

The key play is to win the spade lead in dummy and unblock the nine (or 10). Then ruff a heart high, and lead a low spade. If West splits his 7-6, win high (else win the five) and ruff another heart high. Finally, lead your last spade, finessing West and drawing trumps. After cashing the A and unblocking the K-Q, you have 13 cold tricks.

West held:
8-7-6-4 K-J-9-7-5 10-9-7-5 —

Quiz 7J74

Fifteen Ruff-Cut Diamonds

Here’s your chance, guys! Challenge your wife or sweetheart, and find out once and for all if diamonds are a girl’s best friend. Can you make 5

three times? The secret is in the ruff!

1. 5 by South

8 2
6
Q 6 5 4 3
9 8 5 4 3
Lead: J [W - E] (East follows)
A Q 6 5
A 9 7
A K 8 7 2
2

Answer

West found a great lead, and all you can be sure of are 10 tricks (five diamonds, two aces and three ruffs). If the spade finesse loses, you’ll be sunk by another trump lead.

The proper play is to win the K and lead your singleton club. If a second trump is led, win in dummy and ruff a club; cash the A; ruff a heart; ruff a club, and ruff a heart. If clubs split 4-3 (all followed) one more ruff establishes the fifth club as your 11th trick. Otherwise, you must rely on the spade finesse.

West held:
K-10-9-3 J-10-5-4 J-10 A-J-10

2. 5 by South

A 6 2
K J 6 5
K 3
7 6 5 2
Lead: K [W - E]
K 8 7 3
4
A Q J 10 9 8 7
A

Answer

What pretty diamonds! With 10 solid tricks, it is tempting to lead a heart toward dummy. If West has

A-Q (or one honor and you guess right), your problems are over; but otherwise you will need a 3-3 spade break, which is odds-against.

A much better play is to cash both top spades immediately (low to the ace then low to the king). Barring a singleton spade, you can claim! Just give the opponents a spade, then you can ruff your fourth spade with the K.

West held:
Q-10-9-5 9-8-7-3 2 K-Q-10-9

3. 5 by South

6 5 4 3
J 5 4 3 2
5 2
A 2
Lead: K [W - E]
J
A
A K 8 6 4 3
K Q 5 4 3

Answer

This delicate contract needs a 3-2 trump split and may need 3-3 clubs as well. Ruffing a club in dummy will improve your chances, as the defender who ruffs or overruffs may do so with his natural trump trick.

Alas, if you start clubs immediately, you will lose two club ruffs. (Whoever ruffs can put his partner in with a spade for another club lead.) The solution is to lead your spade at trick two — a scissors coup — to cut their communication. Then your club ruff will succeed.

West held:
A-10-8-7 K-Q-8 Q-9 J-9-7-6

	A 10 7 2 Q 4 3 2 8 5 4 3 Q
Lead: A-J
	K 9 8 A K 7 6 5 6 2 K 3 2

	6 3 2 7 6 9 8 7 4 3 8 5 2
Lead: J		East plays Q
	A K 5 4 K 5 A K Q 6 5 A Q

	J 10 4 3 A Q 10 9 2 9 4 Q 7
Lead: K-A
	A K 9 8 7 6 5 2 4 3 K 10 J

	K 4 3 4 10 9 8 7 6 5 K 10 6
Lead: Q
	Q J 5 2 A K 10 K Q A Q J 4

	7 6 5 9 8 7 6 5 K Q 3 10 3
Lead: K		East plays 5
	A Q 8 A K Q J 10 A 10 6 4 A

	K 9 5 3 4 8 7 5 3 K 10 4 3
Lead: 6		East plays K
	A 10 2 A Q 10 A K Q Q 9 6 5

	A 10 9 K Q 10 2 6 5 4 3 K 3
Lead: 2		East wins K then leads 7
	Q 4 3 A 9 K 10 7 2 A Q 10 4

	Q 9 7 A K 5 K 10 2 A Q 7 2
Lead: 10
	K 10 8 6 5 8 4 3 A 6 3 6 3

	A Q 6 5 4 7 5 8 5 4 A 7 2
Lead: 4		East plays J
	3 2 A K 6 2 A K 2 K 5 4 3

	4 3 Q 10 3 2 A 7 5 4 2 4 3
Lead: 9		East plays 7
	A K 6 5 2 K J 9 8 6 3 A K

	Q 3 A 3 A K 6 5 3 8 5 3 2
Lead: Q		East plays 7
	K J 10 9 8 7 9 6 2 8 2 A 4

	10 3 9 4 3 3 A K 6 5 4 3 2
Lead: 5		East plays Q
	A J 9 2 A J A J 10 2 9 8 7

	5 4 3 7 4 Q 6 5 3 2 7 4 3
Lead: A		East plays 9
	A J 9 A K Q J 10 8 A K 10 7 —

	A K 3 A K 3 3 J 8 7 6 4 3
Lead: K
	Q J 10 9 2 Q J 10 9 2 Q 10 2 —

	A K Q 8 5 4 J 10 9 8 2 7 4
Lead: K-A
	7 6 A K Q 5 A K Q J 5 4 3

	Q 10 8 3 2 Q 10 8 7 6 5 10 4
Lead: K		East plays 5
	A K 4 — A K Q J 8 7 6 A K 2

	— K Q 9 A Q J 9 8 3 2 A 3 2
Lead: K
	K 5 4 3 2 A J 6 5 4 3 2 K —

	K Q J 5 A 4 3 2 6 3 2 K Q
Lead: 8		East plays 2
	A 10 9 3 2 — A K Q A 9 7 5 3

	8 2 6 Q 6 5 4 3 9 8 5 4 3
Lead: J		(East follows)
	A Q 6 5 A 9 7 A K 8 7 2 2