Quiz 7J70   Main


Holiday Grand Adventure


  by Richard Pavlicek

Planning a grand time for the holidays? Here’s your chance for a head start with three grands.
Can you find the only play to guarantee 13 tricks against any distribution?

Total Points
Both Vul
S Q 10 8 3 2
H Q 10 8 7 6 5
D 10
C 4
West

2 H
Pass
All Pass
North

Dbl
3 S
East

Pass
Pass
SOUTH
2 C
3 D
7 D
Lead: H KTableEast pitches C 5



7 D South
S A K 4
H
D A K Q J 8 7 6
C A K 2
Wow! East is void in hearts like you.
After ruffing the H K, what next?

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 D 10; ruff a heart and draw trumps (East started with all five) pitching three hearts and a spade. When West shows out on the S A-K (the only problem), cross to the S Q. Since West must hold the H A, and East must hold the S J, your C 2 will win the last trick!

West held: S 7 H A-K-J-9-4-3-2 DC 10-9-7-6-3

Quiz 7J70   MainTop   Holiday Grand Adventure

Total Points
E-W Vul
S
H K Q 9
D A Q J 9 8 3 2
C A 3 2
West

1 S
Pass
Pass
Pass
North

2 D
2 S
4 S1
7 H
East

Pass
Pass
Pass
All Pass
SOUTH
1 H
2 H
3 H
5 D
Lead: C KTableEast plays C 5



7 H South
S K 5 4 3 2
H A J 6 5 4 3 2
D K
C
1. spade void

What do you pitch on the C A?
What next?

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 C A and pitch the D 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: S A-J-9-8-6 H 10-8-7 DC K-Q-J-9-4

Quiz 7J70   MainTop   Holiday Grand Adventure

Total Points
N-S Vul
S K Q J 5
H A 4 3 2
D 6 3 2
C K Q
West

Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
North

2 NT
3 S
4 NT
5 NT
7 S
EAST
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
All Pass
South
1 S
3 C
4 D
5 H
6 D
Lead: S 8TableEast pitches C 2



7 S South
S A 10 9 3 2
H
D A K Q
C A 9 7 5 3
You win the S K. Which spade do you
play from hand? What next?

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 H A and unblocking the C K-Q, you have 13 cold tricks.

West held: S 8-7-6-4 H K-J-9-7-5 D 10-9-7-5 C

Quiz 7J70   MainTop   Holiday Grand Adventure

© 2003 Richard Pavlicek