Quiz 8E17   Main


Root for the Home Team


  by Richard Pavlicek

March of 2002 brought sadness to the bridge world, with the loss of one its great icons in Bill Root. Besides being a first-rate player for many years, Mr. Root was a household name for countless players. Like Goren of a previous era, “according to Root” was a catch-phrase of the times. His popular bridge books, bridge teaching (arguably the world’s most successful) and bridge cruises enlightened myriads about this great game.

As Root’s regular partner in major events for some 20 years, we had our successes, but we also experienced some heart-breaking losses. I think it was the losses that cemented our friendship the most. Bill was helpful to me in my teaching career, and always there when I needed advice, filling a profound gap when I lost my father in the same era. Thank you, Bill, for all the good times.

Enough sadness. I looked through my collection of old deals and chose these six from the Nationals (1992-94) and put them together here as a quiz. Each deal features Bill Root on defense. The winning defenses might best be described as thoughtful rather than brilliant, but they certainly illustrate what a great player he was.

As West or East on each problem, simple select the button of the defense you would follow. If you would do something else, please don’t admit it! Click “Score Me” at any time to see your IMP score, which is based on your expected result combined with our teammates’ result at the other table. Your goal is to finish plus! Are you ready to see if you can keep pace with Mr. Root? Batter up!

Problem 1

With North bidding spades, you lead a deceptive S J against 1 NT. Trick 1 is shown.

1 NT South
None Vul
S K 7 5 3
H 9 2
D A Q 10 7 5
C 9 2
West

Pass
Pass
All Pass
North

1 D
1 S
East

Pass
Pass
SOUTH
1 C
1 H
1 NT
S Q J 9 6
H A 10 7 4
D K 6 2
C Q 3
Table 1. S J 3 2 8

Your next lead:   S Q   S 6   H 4   D K   D 2   C Q

Kansas City 1993

1 NT South
None Vul
S K 7 5 3
H 9 2
D A Q 10 7 5
C 9 2
Root
West

Pass
Pass
All Pass
 
North

1 D
1 S
Pavlicek
East

Pass
Pass
 
SOUTH
1 C
1 H
1 NT
S Q J 9 6
H A 10 7 4
D K 6 2
C Q 3
Table S 10 4 2
H K 8 3
D J 8 4
C K 10 7 4
S A 8
H Q J 6 5
D 9 3
C A J 8 6 5
1. S J 3 2 8

After the S J held, Root shifted to the D K. Wow! Declarer obviously could duck this and enjoy four diamond tricks, but he thought Root was short in diamonds (wouldn’t you?) and grabbed the ace. No doubt he was also upset with his dubious holdup at trick one. The contract was now doomed, and declarer continued his poor strokes to finish down two.

Our teammates played 1 NT and made 1, +90.

Quiz 8E17   MainTop   Root for the Home Team

Problem 2

You lead the D J against 6 H. Trick 1 is shown. Partner’s signal is standard count.

6 H South
Both Vul
S A K 9 5 3
H 4
D 7 6
C 9 7 5 4 3
West

Pass
Pass
Pass
All Pass
North

2 S
4 C
5 D
East

Pass
Pass
Pass
SOUTH
2 C
3 H
4 NT
6 H
S Q 10 8 6 2
H 5
D K J 10 4 3
C J 6
Table 1. D J 6 2 8

Your next lead:   S Q   S 2   H 5   D 10   D 4   C J

Toronto 1992

6 H South
Both Vul
S A K 9 5 3
H 4
D 7 6
C 9 7 5 4 3
Root
West

Pass
Pass
Pass
All Pass
 
North

2 S
4 C
5 D
Pavlicek
East

Pass
Pass
Pass
 
SOUTH
2 C
3 H
4 NT
6 H
S Q 10 8 6 2
H 5
D K J 10 4 3
C J 6
Table S J 7
H J 9 2
D Q 5 2
C A Q 10 8 2
S 4
H A K Q 10 8 7 6 3
D A 9 8
C K
1. D J 6 2 8

After the D J held, Root promptly shifted to clubs; down one. This might look easy, but many defenders would outsmart themselves, reading the diamond layout accurately and shifting to trumps (declarer can then succeed on a double squeeze). Root, however, remembered the Blackwood bid and no follow-up with 5 NT, hence an ace in my hand was likely. At the time, I regretted not doubling 4 C, but that might have stopped them from bidding six. Note that declarer’s duck at trick one was the only real hope to succeed.

Our teammates played 4 H and made 5, +650.

Quiz 8E17   MainTop   Root for the Home Team

Problem 3

You lead the C K against 4 H. Tricks 1-4 are shown. Partner’s club signal is standard count.

4 H South
E-W Vul
S Q 9 3 2
H Q 10 9 2
D A K 4
C 10 4
West

Pass
Pass
North

2 C
4 H
East

Pass
All Pass
SOUTH
1 NT
2 H
S A
H 7 5 4 3
D 10 7 5
C K Q J 9 5
Table 1. C K 4 7 A
2. H A 3 2 6
3. H K 4 9 C 2
4. S 4 A 2 8

Your next lead:   H 5   D 10   D 7   D 5   C Q   C J

Toronto 1992

4 H South
E-W Vul
S Q 9 3 2
H Q 10 9 2
D A K 4
C 10 4
Root
West

Pass
Pass
 
North

2 C
4 H
Pavlicek
East

Pass
All Pass
 
SOUTH
1 NT
2 H
S A
H 7 5 4 3
D 10 7 5
C K Q J 9 5
Table S J 10 8 7
H 6
D Q 9 8 2
C 8 7 6 2
S K 6 5 4
H A K J 8
D J 6 3
C A 3
1. C K 4 7 A
2. H A 3 2 6
3. H K 4 9 C 2
4. S 4 A 2 8

Root did not cash his club but switched smartly to the D 5 (any diamond is fine). With any other defense declarer could succeed, but Root was now able to lead diamonds twice to foil the endplay against me. Is that a good partner or what?

Our teammates played 4 H and made 4, +420. West led the S A then the C K, after which there was no defense to stop Norman Kay from bringing home 10 tricks.

Quiz 8E17   MainTop   Root for the Home Team

Problem 4

Partner leads the D 6 (third from even, low from odd) against 4 H. Tricks 1-2 are shown.

4 H South
E-W Vul
S K Q J 6 5
H K 7 2
D A J 7 4
C 3
West

2 NT
NORTH
1 S
4 H
East
1 NT
All Pass
South
2 H
1. D 6 A 9 5
2. C 3 Q 5 4
Table S A 10 8
H A 8
D K 9 8 3
C K Q 9 2

Your next lead:   S A   S 8   H A   H 8   D K   D 3


qz03

4 H South
E-W Vul
S K Q J 6 5
H K 7 2
D A J 7 4
C 3
Pavlicek
West

2 NT
 
NORTH
1 S
4 H
Root
East
1 NT
All Pass
 
South
2 H
S 9 4
H 4 3
D Q 10 6 2
C A 10 8 7 4
Table S A 10 8
H A 8
D K 9 8 3
C K Q 9 2
S 7 3 2
H Q J 10 9 6 5
D 5
C J 6 5
1. D 6 A 9 5
2. C 3 Q 5 4

Root shifted to the S 8 (ace and another is fine too). Leading spades was crucial, since the ruff was the only way to beat the contract. Note that declarer has the communication and timing to succeed against taps, trump leads or any other defense. It’s a great feeling when partner saves you from not finding the best opening lead.

Could declarer have succeeded by leading trumps first? No, Root would duck the first trump. If declarer next leads the S K, Root would duck that as well. Declarer now must lead a second trump to stop the spade ruff, then two rounds of clubs establishes a club trick before the S A is knocked out. Other variations also fail with proper defense.

Our teammates played 3 H and made 3, +140.

Quiz 8E17   MainTop   Root for the Home Team

Problem 5

Partner leads the H K against 2 S doubled. Tricks 1-2 are shown.

2 S× South
Both Vul
S A 10 8
H A 3
D A 8 6 4
C A 7 6 2
WEST
1 H
2 H
Pass
North
Dbl
Dbl
Pass
East
1 S
Pass
Dbl
South
Pass
2 S
All Pass
1. H K A 2 4
2. D 4 3 10 J
Table S K Q 9 6 5 3
H 2
D Q 7 3
C 9 4 3

Partner next leads the H J then the H Q, ruffed with the S 10. Your two plays:

D 7-Q   D 7 C 3   D 7 S Q   C 3-4   C 3 D 7   C 3 S Q


qz03

2 S× South
Both Vul
S A 10 8
H A 3
D A 8 6 4
C A 7 6 2
Pavlicek
WEST
1 H
2 H
Pass
 
North
Dbl
Dbl
Pass
Root
East
1 S
Pass
Dbl
 
South
Pass
2 S
All Pass
S
H K Q J 9 8 7
D K J 9 2
C Q 10 8
Table S K Q 9 6 5 3
H 2
D Q 7 3
C 9 4 3
S J 7 4 2
H 10 6 5 4
D 10 5
C K J 5
1. H K A 2 4
2. D 4 3 10 J

When I led the good H J at trick three, Root pitched a diamond. I continued with the H Q, ruffed with the S 10, Root pitched his last diamond, and declarer had to go down one. The deal seemed innocuous at the time — after all, how could we not beat 2 S when partner had K-Q sixth in trumps. It wasn’t until later that I realized how thoughtful his defense was. Had he pitched a club or overruffed, declarer could have succeeded. I’ll leave it to you as a declarer-play exercise.

Our teammates defended 3 H, down 2, +200.

Quiz 8E17   MainTop   Root for the Home Team

Problem 6

Partner leads the D 3 (fourth best) against 3 NT. Tricks 1-4 are shown.

3 NT South
None Vul
S 9 2
H J 9 7
D K 6 4
C A 10 8 7 3
West

Pass
Pass
All Pass
North

2 C
2 NT
East

Pass
Pass
SOUTH
1 NT
2 S
3 NT
1. D 3 4 A 2
2. D 7 8 9 K
3. S 9 10 K A
4. S 7 2 8 3
Table S J 10 8 6
H 6 5 4 3
D A 7
C 9 4 2

Your next lead:   S J   S 6   H 6   H 3   C 9   C 2


qz03

3 NT South
None Vul
S 9 2
H J 9 7
D K 6 4
C A 10 8 7 3
Pavlicek
West

Pass
Pass
All Pass
 
North

2 C
2 NT
Root
East

Pass
Pass
 
SOUTH
1 NT
2 S
3 NT
S A 7 5
H Q 10 8
D J 9 5 3
C Q J 5
Table S J 10 8 6
H 6 5 4 3
D A 7
C 9 4 2
S K Q 4 3
H A K 2
D Q 10 8 2
C K 6
1. D 3 4 A 2
2. D 7 8 9 K
3. S 9 10 K A
4. S 7 2 8 3

At the critical juncture, Root accurately shifted to the C 2 (any club is okay). A beautiful play, as I was about to be crunched in three suits. With any other defense, declarer can give up another spade and squeeze me repeatedly. Declarer could have succeeded, of course, by winning the D Q at trick two and establishing clubs (perhaps superior, though hardly clear).

Our teammates played 3 NT and made 3, +400.

I hope you enjoyed the quiz as much as I enjoyed putting it together. If you struck out, so be it — instead of the mighty Root, you can enjoy being the mighty Casey — but what’s important in life is to cherish the memory.

Quiz 8E17   MainTop   Root for the Home Team

© 2002 Richard Pavlicek