Challenge 7V33 MainAnalyses


Diamonds Are Forever


Scores by Richard Pavlicek

Your name is Bond, James Bond, and investigating the disappearance of priceless diamonds brings you to Las Vegas. As you walk into Willard Whyte’s casino, agents of SPECTRE escort you to the penthouse for a high-stakes bridge game. Strangely, it turns out that you or partner lead diamonds on each hand. Could this all be a setup?

This is a defensive-play challenge for all bridge players. On each of the six problems choose your next lead as West or East from the choices offered. Each option is rated on a 1-to-10 scale based on my judgment.

In June of 2001 these problems were presented as a contest, which had 335 entrants from 84 locations. The contest is now closed, but you can still challenge yourself and find your score immediately.

Bidding is standard, and you use standard leads and signals.
For a reference see Standard American Bridge. Assume all players are experts.

It might help to pour yourself a dry martini (shaken, not stirred) but keep your mind off women. If your defense truly sparkles, you might dazzle your way out of the casino and win a valuable prize.*

*Prizes include an auto-gyro helicopter and seven hand-built Aston Martin automobiles.
Winners must be born before Ian Fleming. PavCo Secret Service agents are ineligible.

Problem 1

IMPs
Both Vul
S J 4 2
H Q J 10
D 8 6 3
C K Q J 10
You
West

Pass
 
North

3 NT
 
EAST
Pass
All Pass
 
South
1 NT
S Q 10 9
H K 6 2
D K Q 10 5 2
C 8 3
Table3 NT South

Trick
1 W
Lead
D K
2nd
3
3rd
7
4th
4

Your next lead? SS 10  HDDC 8

Problem 2

IMPs
E-W Vul
S Q 10
H K 9 4 3
D Q J 7 5
C 10 9 8
You
West

Dbl
Pass
All Pass
 
NORTH
Pass
1 NT
2 S
 
East
Pass
Pass
Pass
 
South
1 S
2 C
4 S
S 9 3
H J 10 7 2
D A K 9 8
C A Q 5
Table4 S South

Trick
1 W
Lead
D K
2nd
5
3rd
2
4th
10

Your next lead? SHHDDC 5

Problem 3

IMPs
None Vul
S J 6 5
H A K 9
D Q 7 4
C Q J 10 8
You
West

1 D
Pass
All Pass
 
North

3 NT
4 H
 
East

Pass
Pass
 
SOUTH
1 C
4 C
6 C
S 10 4 3
H Q 10 6 5
D A K J 9 5
C 9
Table6 C South

Trick
1 W
Lead
D K
2nd
4
3rd
8
4th
2

Your next lead? S 10  SHHDC 9

Problem 4

IMPs
N-S Vul
S A K 8 2
H A Q J 4
D 6 3
C 5 4 2
 
West

Pass
Pass
 
North

1 H
3 NT
You
EAST
Pass
Pass
All Pass
 
South
1 C
1 NT
3 NT SouthTable S Q 5 4
H K 9
D A 10 4 2
C J 10 9 3

Trick
1 W
Lead
D 5
2nd
3
3rd
A
4th
9

Your next lead? SHD 10  DCC 3

Problem 5

Matchpoints
Both Vul
S 9 5 4
H A K 5 2
D A 5 4 2
C 9 3
 
West

Pass
Pass
 
North

2 C
3 NT
You
EAST
Pass
Pass
All Pass
 
South
1 NT
2 S
3 NT SouthTable S J 10 8 3
H 4 3
D K Q J 6
C Q 10 2

Trick
1 W
Lead
D 9
2nd
2
3rd
J
4th
3

Your next lead? SSHDCC 10

Problem 6

Matchpoints
None Vul
S K Q J 10 2
H A 8
D A J 5
C K 10 3
 
West

Pass
 
North

4 H
You
East

All Pass
 
SOUTH
3 H
4 H SouthTable S A 5 4
H J 10 3
D K 9 8 2
C A Q 8

Trick
1 W
2 N
Lead
D 4
S K
2nd
A
A
3rd
9
9
4th
6
6

Your next lead? SH 10  HDDC A

 Click to see how you did

Challenge 7V33 MainAnalysesScoresTop Diamonds Are Forever

Photo is Sean Connery, definitive portrayer of Ian Fleming’s James Bond character
“007” logo property of Danjaq LLC and United Artists Corporation
© 2001 Richard Pavlicek