Puzzles 8G01   Main


The “Great 88” Conspiracy


  by Richard Pavlicek

While studying bridge in the late ‘60s, I came across the book Double Dummy Bridge by George S. Coffin. This was a compilation of 300 double-dummy problems, some by the author, but most by other composers, who were given due credit. The book captivated my fancy and was a major influence toward a pastime I enjoy to this day, creating bridge puzzles. The book is no longer in print but has been republished with three other Coffin books under the title Bridge Play Four Classics.

The first 88 problems in Double Dummy Bridge, all five-card endings, were an attempt to illustrate all the available endplay techniques. Dubbed the “Great 88,” these mini-problems were split into five “tribes” according to the kind of endplay, though the categorization was fuzzy, and Coffin evidently gave up with his title of Tribe 5. Nonetheless, the work is a significant contribution to card-play theory and its classical status is deserved. Some curious facts:

One ending does not work. That is, the goal cannot be achieved against best defense.
Two endings are illegal, because they could never occur in bridge without a revoke.
One ending is essentially the same as another, with just a slight change in card ranks.

Being a puzzler at heart, I won’t reveal the culprits; but I have presented the “Great 88” here for your examination. Or, perhaps I should say, the “Great 84” plus four impostors. These are exactly as in the book, however, I have corrected a few obvious typos in duplicated spot cards. Each ending is named to describe the technique (terminology is Coffin’s which may be archaic today) and you are told which suit is trumps (or notrump), the number of tricks North-South must win, and the player on lead.

Can you find the shady culprits listed above? Lurking in the shadows are some clues.

Tribe 1 (1-26)Tribe 2 (27-35)Tribe 3 (36-49)Tribe 4 (50-68)Tribe 5 (69-88)

Addenda: [March 2001] Thanks to Jonathan Weinstein for discovering the second ending that is illegal; originally, I had noticed only one. [August 2011] Thanks to Sebastien Louveaux (Belgium) for discovering the ending that is the same as another.

Tribe 1: Eliminations, Endplays of Position

1. Avoidance

NT win 3 S A 9 8 7
H
D A
C
S K 2
H A Q 3
D
C
Table S Q 5
H 9 8 7
D
C
South leadsS 6 4
H K 2
D 2
C

2. The Pitt coup

S win all S A 2
H 7 5 3
D
C
S 3
H Q 9 8
D A
C
Table S Q 9
H 6 4
D Q
C
South leadsS K J
H
D 7 5 3
C

3. Gambit and jettison

S win 4 S A
H 8 7 3
D A
C
S 8
H Q
D Q 9 8
C
Table S 6
H 9
D K
C K J
South leadsS
H A 6
D
C Q 4 3

4. Forced finesse

NT win 4 S 8 4 2
H 3 2
D
C
S J 9
H 7 5
D 2
C
Table S A 7 6
H K 8
D
C
South leadsS K Q 3
H A Q
D
C

5. Strip setup finesse

S win 4 S 7
H
D Q 6 3
C A
S 5
H
D
C K 9 8 4
Table S 9
H
D J 10 8
C 7
South leadsS
H
D K 9 4
C 6 5

6. Double strip finesse

NT win 4 S
H 8 6
D
C A 9 6
S
H 9
D 8
C 8 7 4
Table S 5
H A 5 3
D
C 5
South leadsS A
H 7 4 2
D
C 2

7. Crossruff strip

S win 3 S 9 7
H
D 7 2
C 2
S J
H J
D K J
C J
Table S
H Q 3
D Q
C K Q
South leadsS 8 6
H
D A 8
C 8

8. Jettison entry strip

S win 4 S 2
H 3 2
D
C A 2
S
H K Q
D K Q
C 8
Table S
H
D J 9
C K J 6
South leadsS
H
D A 4 3
C Q 3

9. Jettison two-entry strip

S win 4 S
H A 7
D
C Q J 5
S 8
H K 3
D
C K 9
Table S
H 6 5
D A K 9
C
South leadsS J
H J 9
D Q J
C

10. Double-entry strip

NT win 4 S 7 4 3
H A
D A
C
S A 6 5
H K
D K
C
Table S Q
H Q
D Q
C Q J
South leadsS K J 2
H
D
C 3 2

11. Fork strip

NT win 4 S 5 2
H 5
D 5
C 5
S K 6 3
H K
D A
C
Table S 9 8
H 9
D 9
C 9
South leadsS A Q
H A
D 3
C A

12. Total fork strip

H win 3 S 10 4 2
H
D A
C 4
S A 9 6
H
D 3
C 5
Table S Q J 7
H
D J
C Q
South leadsS K 8 5
H 8
D 6
C

13. Progressive fork strip

NT win 4 S Q 3
H
D
C K Q J
S 8 6 5 4
H A
D
C
Table S K 10 2
H
D
C 6 4
South leadsS A J 9 7
H J
D
C

14. Transfer fork strip

S win 4 S 6
H 4
D
C A J 5
S
H Q
D K 4
C 9 2
Table S
H
D 6 5
C Q 8 4
South leadsS
H
D 7 2
C K 6 3

15. Jettison double fork strip

S win 3 S
H
D J
C 10 8 6 2
S 9
H 9 5 3
D 8
C
Table S 7
H 8
D
C A 9 7
South leadsS J
H 6 4 2
D 5
C

16. Repeat-jettison fork strip

S win 4 S
H A
D A
C K J 7
S J
H 3
D 7 6 4
C
Table S 5
H
D Q 9
C A Q
South leadsS Q
H 2
D K J 8
C

17. Two-fork double strip

NT win 4 S
H 8
D J 7
C A 9
S
H 6 5
D Q
C Q 6
Table S
H Q 7
D A 8
C 8
South leadsS A
H A 9 3
D 6
C

18. Double blocked fork strip

S win 3 S
H Q 9
D J 9 5
C
S 4
H J
D K 7 3
C
Table S
H K 10 7 3
D Q
C
South leadsS 9
H 8
D A 6 4
C

19. Crossruff or finesse strip

S win 4 S 10
H 5
D
C A 10 5
S
H K Q
D
C K Q 9
Table S
H J 10
D K Q
C J
South leadsS 5
H A
D
C 4 3 2

20. Crossruff entry strip

S win 4 S 3
H 4
D A
C 3 2
S
H 7 5
D 9 8
C A
Table S
H K
D K
C K Q J
South leadsS 5 4
H A
D
C 7 5

21. Crossruff fork strip

S win 4 S A
H A Q
D Q
C A
S
H J 9
D J
C J 9
Table S
H K 5
D K
C K Q
South leadsS 3
H 3 2
D 3
C 3

22. Crossruff split-fork strip

S win 4 S 3
H Q
D
C K 10 3
S
H K
D A
C J 8 6
Table S
H A 9
D
C Q 7 5
South leadsS 4
H 6
D
C A 9 4

23. Entry or fork strip

NT win 4 S 3
H 7 2
D Q 2
C
S
H Q 9 8
D K 9
C
Table S 2
H J 5 4
D J
C
South leadsS
H A K 3
D A 7
C

24. Jettison-entry fork strip

NT win 3 S K 9 8 4
H
D K
C
S
H 9 8
D A 6 5
C
Table S A J
H
D
C 8 7 6
South leadsS
H Q 6 5
D 7 2
C

25. Blocked fork strip or entry strip

NT win 4 S K J 3
H
D K
C 8
S
H 9
D 9
C Q 7 2
Table S Q 7
H
D Q J
C 9
South leadsS
H J
D 8 4
C J 6

26. Crossruff entry fork strip

S win 4 S 3
H 3 2
D
C 5 3
S
H 6 4
D 6
C 6 4
Table S
H
D 9 8 7 5 4
C
South leadsS 7 5
H 7 5
D
C 2

Puzzles 8G01   MainTop   The “Great 88” Conspiracy

Tribe 2: Coups, Endplays of Time

27. En passant

S win 4 S A 5 4
H 2
D
C 2
S 9 8
H 9
D 9
C 9
Table S 7
H
D A 7
C 8 7
South leadsS
H 3
D 3 2
C A 3

28. Grand coup

S win all S
H 4 2
D A K
C A
S J 9
H
D J 9
C J
Table S K 4
H
D 4 3
C 4
South leadsS A Q 2
H
D 2
C 2

29. Grand coup fork strip

S win 4 S 8 7 6
H A
D
C 9
S K Q 9
H 9
D 9
C
Table S 3
H K
D K
C K Q
South leadsS A J 10 2
H
D A
C

30. Overruff grand coup

S win 4 S Q 9 7 2
H
D
C Q
S J 10 8
H 3 2
D
C
Table S
H
D K 6
C K 6 2
South leadsS 5 4
H 4
D 5
C 4

31. Repeating grand coup

S win all S A K
H
D
C Q 10 8
S 4 3 2
H 8
D 8
C
Table S J 9 7 6 5
H
D
C
South leadsS Q 10 8
H A
D A
C

32. Undercut

S win 4 S
H 4
D A 6 5
C A
S
H A
D Q J 9 8
C
Table S K Q 10
H
D K
C 4
South leadsS A J 2
H 6
D 4
C

33. Uppercut

S win 2 S Q 7
H 8
D J
C A
S 9 8 3
H A
D 9
C
Table S A 6 5
H
D 2
C 8
South leadsS 4 2
H 4 2
D 4
C

34. Smother play

S win 4 S A 4 2
H 2
D
C 2
S K 6 5 3
H 3
D
C
Table S 10 9
H 10 9
D 10
C
South leadsS Q J 8 7
H 7
D
C

35. Double smother

S win all S A 10 3
H
D A K
C
S Q 8 5
H 5
D 5
C
Table S J 6
H 6
D 6
C 6
South leadsS K 9 2
H A
D
C 4

Puzzles 8G01   MainTop   The “Great 88” Conspiracy

Tribe 3: Squeezes, Endplays of Mass

36. Double squeeze

NT win all S A 2
H 2
D
C K Q
S Q 9
H A
D
C J 9
Table S K J
H
D A
C 8 6
South leadsS 3
H
D 2
C A 7 2

37.

S win 4 S 9 4
H
D 2
C K 3
S J
H
D 8
C 9 7 2
Table S A 5
H Q
D
C J 8
South leadsS Q 6 3
H 2
D
C 6

38. Double automatic squeeze

NT win all S A Q 3
H
D
C K 4
S K 9 6
H
D A
C 9
Table S J 8 7
H A
D
C 7
South leadsS 2
H 2
D 2
C A 2

39. Split squeeze

NT win all S K 3
H
D 7 4
C A
S Q
H
D
C J 8 7 6
Table S J
H
D Q J
C K 9
South leadsS A 2
H
D A
C Q 2

40. Overtake squeeze

NT win 4 S A 9 6 4
H
D
C K
S 3
H A 2
D A
C A
Table S 10 8 7 5 2
H
D
C
South leadsS K Q J
H K
D K
C

41. Progressive squeeze

NT win all S 3
H A 3
D Q
C 4
S K 9
H K 9
D 9
C
Table S Q 8 2
H
D J
C A
South leadsS A 7
H 7
D K 8
C

42. Transfer repeat squeeze

NT win all S A 7
H 4
D 6
C 7
S K 6 5 4
H
D Q
C
Table S J 9
H
D 9 8
C Q
South leadsS Q 8
H
D A 5 4
C

43. Three-two squeeze

NT win all S
H A 4
D 4
C 4 2
S
H K 6
D K
C J 9
Table S
H
D A 3
C 8 6 3
South leadsS 7
H 7
D
C A Q 7

44. Finesse jettison squeeze

NT win 4 S K 8
H
D 9 5 3
C
S Q 7 6 4
H
D K
C
Table S
H J
D J 10 7
C 9
South leadsS
H 9
D Q 8
C 6 3

45. Progressive jettison squeeze

NT win 4 S A 4
H 9
D A
C 5
S Q J
H
D K J
C Q
Table S
H 7 3
D 7 6 4
C
South leadsS 9 6
H K 4
D 8
C

46. Progressive jettison squeeze or squeeze

NT win all S
H A 3
D A 9
C Q
S
H Q 4
D K 4
C K
Table S
H 7 5
D 8 7 6
C
South leadsS 9
H 8 6
D Q J
C

47. Trump squeeze

S win all S K J 8 4
H
D
C K
S 10 9
H A
D A
C A
Table S Q 6 5
H
D
C 3 2
South leadsS A 7 3
H K
D K
C

48. Squeeze or forced finesse

NT win 4 S K Q
H K Q
D J
C
S A 8 7 6 5
H
D
C
Table S 9
H A
D K 9 3
C
South leadsS 2
H 3
D A Q 7
C

49. Finesse squeeze

S win all S 8 2
H
D A 9
C 2
S
H 7 3
D K J
C 9
Table S
H 6 2
D 8
C 7 4
South leadsS
H 5 4
D Q
C A 6

Puzzles 8G01   MainTop   The “Great 88” Conspiracy

Tribe 4: Compound and Hybrid Endings

50. One-way finesse or fork strip

NT win 3 S K J
H
D
C A 6 2
S
H
D Q 5
C Q J 5
Table S A Q 9
H
D J 7
C
South leadsS 8 5 3
H
D K 4
C

51. Forced jettison strip squeeze

S win 3 S
H A
D A J 6 4
C
S J
H J 10 8 6
D
C
Table S 8
H
D Q 9 8
C K
South leadsS 9
H Q 9 7
D
C 7

52. Crossruff strip triple squeeze

S win 3 S 6
H 7 6
D
C 7 6
S
H
D K J 8 7 6
C
Table S 9
H Q J
D
C Q J
North leadsS 7
H K 8
D Q
C 8

53. Forced triple squeeze (with fork strip)

NT win 4 S 9
H Q 8
D
C Q 7
S 10 8
H
D 10
C 10 8
Table S
H J 7
D
C J 6 4
South leadsS A 6
H 9
D 9
C 9

54. Squeeze strip or suitout

S win 4 S
H 7 6
D A 2
C 2
S
H K 9 4
D 9 5
C
Table S
H J 8
D K Q
C K
South leadsS 7
H A Q 5
D 7
C

55. Triple squeeze forced finesse

NT win 4 S Q 6
H 3
D 8
C 2
S 10 4
H 10
D
C 10 4
Table S K
H 8 2
D A
C 8
South leadsS
H A 4
D K
C A K

56. Jettison squeeze finesse

NT win 4 S A
H K 2
D K 2
C
S K
H A
D A
C 8 7
Table S 4 2
H
D
C Q J 9
South leadsS 5 3
H
D
C A K 3

57. Squeeze or squeeze strip

S win 4 S
H A Q 9
D K Q
C
S 4
H
D
C Q 6 5 4
Table S 7
H K J
D A J
C
South leadsS K
H 2
D 2
C J 10

58. Triple squeeze scoop strip

NT win 4 S K 8 7 4
H
D
C 2
S Q J
H Q
D Q
C Q
Table S A 6 5
H
D
C 9 8
South leadsS 2
H 9
D 9
C A K

59. Triple squeeze entry strip

NT win 4 S A 6 5 4
H K
D
C
S 3 2
H A
D A
C A
Table S 10 9 8 7
H
D
C K
South leadsS K Q J
H
D K
C 2

60. Jettison triple squeeze entry strip

NT win 4 S 4 3
H 2
D J
C A
S 9 5
H 9
D
C K 9
Table S K
H
D 9 8
C 5 4
South leadsS A
H
D 4 3 2
C 6

61. Fork squeeze entry strip

NT win 4 S
H A 5 2
D
C A 9
S
H Q 8 6
D
C 6 4
Table S
H J
D K 9
C K 8
South leadsS
H K 7 3
D Q 7
C

62. Squeeze finesse

NT win all S K 2
H 9
D 9
C K
S Q 3
H A
D A
C Q
Table S J 8 6 4
H
D
C J
South leadsS A 9 5
H
D
C A 2

63. Finesse threat 3-2 squeeze

S win all S 2
H
D K 5
C A 7
S
H 9
D Q 8
C J 9
Table S
H J 8
D J 9 7
C
South leadsS
H 2
D A 10 4 3
C

64. Hexagon squeeze finesse

NT win all S 2
H A 9
D 2
C 2
S A
H K 4
D K
C Q
Table S K
H Q
D Q 4
C J
South leadsS
H 2
D A 9
C A K

65. One-way squeeze scoop finesse

NT win all S K J 2
H K
D
C 2
S 9 8 7
H A
D
C 3
Table S Q 5 4
H 3
D
C 4
South leadsS A 6 3
H
D
C A K

66. Automatic squeeze scoop finesse

NT win all S
H
D 10 5
C A 5 2
S
H
D 9 3
C 10 8 6
Table S 9 8
H
D Q 7 6
C
South leadsS
H 9
D K 8
C K 9

67. Squeeze ruffout

S win all S A 5
H
D K 9 8
C
S
H K Q
D Q J 10
C
Table S 7
H
D
C Q J 8 7
South leadsS 9 3
H 10 9 5
D
C

68. Squeeze overruff

C win all S Q 5
H 5
D
C K Q
S
H J 6 4
D J
C 5
Table S K
H K 10
D 8 7
C
South leadsS
H A 8 7
D 10
C 9

Puzzles 8G01   MainTop   The “Great 88” Conspiracy

Tribe 5: Five-Card Problems

69. Repeat-squeeze entry strip

NT win 2 S 2
H K 4
D K
C K
S 8
H A 2
D Q
C Q
Table S A K 9 7
H 9
D
C
South leadsS Q J 6 4
H 8
D
C

70. Forced unblock triple-squeeze scoop

NT win 2 S Q J 8
H 7
D 7
C
S A K 7
H
D
C K 7
Table S
H 9
D J
C J 9 4
South leadsS 9 6 5
H
D
C Q 8

71. Squeeze unblock finesse

NT win 3 S Q 5
H 3 2
D
C J
S J 10 9 7
H
D
C A
Table S A 6 4
H K 9
D
C
South leadsS K 8
H A J
D
C 9

72. Blocked fork strip

S win 3 S
H Q 7
D J 9 2
C
S 3
H J
D K 8 5
C
Table S
H K 9 5 2
D Q
C
South leadsS J
H 8
D A 7 3
C

73. En passant mutate

S win 4 S 8 6
H 7 4
D
C 8
S
H Q 9 8
D K J
C
Table S A Q
H 6
D 7 6
C
West leadsS K
H A J
D Q 10
C

74. Repeated trump discard

S win 4 S 4 2
H Q J 9
D
C
S 9
H 7
D 9 7 6
C
Table S K Q 8
H
D Q J
C
West leadsS A J 6 3
H
D
C 8

75. Squeeze scoop ruffout

S win all S
H K 9
D K
C A Q
S
H Q J
D Q
C J 6
Table S
H A 8
D
C K 5 4
South leadsS 9 7
H
D 9
C 9 7

76. Coup or squeeze

S win all S 8 6 4
H
D
C Q 9
S 7 5
H
D 6
C 10 7
Table S
H 5
D J 10
C K 8
South leadsS
H 7
D 7
C A 4 2

77. Triple-squeeze ruffout

S win 4 S 5 2
H
D 9 8
C 9
S
H K Q 9 7 5
D
C
Table S J
H 2
D K Q
C Q
West leadsS A 4
H
D 7 4
C 7

78. Progressive squeeze jettison scoop

NT win 4 S 5
H 9 5
D
C A 7
S 9
H A 10
D
C K 8
Table S
H Q 8
D
C J 10 9
South leadsS
H J
D 7 6
C Q 3

79. Double squeeze strip

NT win 4 S
H A 9 7
D 8 3
C
S K 5
H K 5 4
D
C
Table S
H 10 8 6
D 10 9
C
South leadsS 8
H Q J 3
D
C Q

80. One-way squeeze or ditto

NT win 4 S 7
H Q 7
D 7
C 7
S A
H 9 8 6
D 5
C
Table S
H
D A 6
C 8 6 4
South leadsS
H J
D J 4
C J 5

81. En passant or double squeeze

S win 4 S J 5
H 5
D
C J 8
S Q 9
H Q
D
C 9 6
Table S
H
D 9 8
C Q 7 4
South leadsS 3
H
D J 3
C K 3

82. Squeeze entry strip

NT win 4 S 5
H Q 6
D A J
C
S Q 6
H
D 9 7 6
C
Table S 9
H J 9
D K
C K
South leadsS 8
H
D Q 5 4
C 8

83. Double-squeeze scoop

NT win 4 S
H
D 8 6
C A Q 6
S
H
D J 10
C J 10 7
Table S
H 9 8
D
C K 8 4
South leadsS J
H J
D
C 9 5 3

84. Jettison strip mutate

S win 4 S
H A
D A
C K 9 2
S
H K
D 9 7 3
C Q
Table S 3
H J 5
D
C A 10
South leadsS 5
H Q 6
D 10 8
C

85. Split squeeze entry strip

NT win 3 S J 5 3
H
D A Q
C
S
H 9 6 4
D 4 2
C
Table S K Q 9
H
D K J
C
South leadsS 8 2
H Q 7 3
D
C

86. Hexagon squeeze finesse

NT win 4 S
H 9
D A 9
C 7 5
S
H J
D J 6
C J 6
Table S
H Q 7
D Q 7
C Q
South leadsS 8
H K 8
D 8
C 8

87. Endplays in series

NT win 4 S 9
H A 8
D
C 8 7
S K
H K 7 6 5
D
C
Table S 10
H
D 10 9
C 10 9
South leadsS
H 9 2
D 5
C A 4

88. Contra squeeze

NT win 3 S
H A
D 10 4 3
C A
S
H
D A Q 7 6 5
C
Table S A 2
H K
D J
C K
South leadsS K Q J
H
D K 2
C

Puzzles 8G01   MainTop   The “Great 88” Conspiracy

Original endings © 1967 George S. Coffin
© 1998 Richard Pavlicek