Challenge 8X33 MainAnalyses


Par for the Course


Scores by Richard Pavlicek

Besides golf, what do Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and Phil Mickelson have in common? Answer: They’d all flunk this bridge challenge! But then, you wouldn’t do so well in the U.S. Open at Pinehurst. To even things up a bit, put on your golf shoes! You will play six holes (four Par 4’s, one Par 5, one Par 3) in the identical order of Holes 1-6 at the daunting Pinehurst No. 2 course.

As declarer, try to find the best play to make each contract from Options A-F, which will be rated on a 1-to-10 scale per my judgment. Even par is great, so don’t worry about overtricks!

Bidding is standard (except as noted) and your opponents use standard leads and signals.
For a reference see Standard American Bridge. Assume all players are experts.

In June 2005 these six problems were presented as a contest with 966 entrants from 115 locations around the world. The contest is closed, but you can still quiz yourself and find your score immediately. If you’re lucky, you might even win a valuable prize.*

*Prizes include three sets of uranium-shafted clubs, and six dozen plutonium-core balls. Winners must be at least 18 years of age
and have won at least one major, and I don’t mean hearts or spades. Employees of PavCo Shafts ‘R’ Us are ineligible.

Your name has just been announced, so head over to the first tee. Warning: Stay clear of the bunkers! A solid drive in the fairway should leave you just a short iron to the green. Fore!

Hole 1 — Par 4 S

IMPs
None Vul
S Q 9 3 2
H Q
D A Q J 10 5 2
C A 5
West

2 H
All Pass
NORTH
1 D
3 S
East
Pass
4 H
South
1 S
4 S
Lead: H KTableEast plays H 7



4 S South
S K J 10 8
H 10 4 2
D K 7
C J 9 3 2

West continues with the H A. Your play?
A. Ruff, win S J, lead S 10
B. Ruff, win S J, ruff heart
C. Ruff, win S J, run diamonds
D. Ruff, win D K, ruff heart
E. Ruff, run diamonds
F. Pitch a club

Hole 2 — Par 4 H×

IMPs
N-S Vul
S 7 6 4 3
H J 10
D 5 4 2
C A K 4 2
West

2 S
Pass
North

3 H
Pass
EAST
1 NT
3 S
Dbl
South
2 H
4 H
All Pass
Lead: S QTableEast wins S K



4 H× South
S 8
H K Q 7 6 4 2
D A Q
C 9 6 5 3

East continues with the S A. Your play?
A. Ruff, win H J, lead H 10
B. Ruff, win H J, finesse D Q
C. Ruff, win H J, C A-K
D. Ruff, win C A-K
E. Ruff, duck a club
F. Pitch a club

Hole 3 — Par 4 S

IMPs
E-W Vul
S Q 2
H A 2
D K 8 6 4 2
C Q 7 6 3
West

Pass
Pass
All Pass
North

2 D
3 S
East

Pass
Pass
SOUTH
1 S
2 S
4 S
Lead: H 9Table



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

East plays the H J if you play H 2 (else the H 7). Your play?
A. Win H A, H K, ruff heart
B. Win H A, D A, D K, ruff diamond
C. Win H K, lead S J
D. Win H K, lead S 6
E. Win H K, D A, D K, ruff diamond
F. Win H K, lead a club

Hole 4 — Par 5 C

IMPs
Both Vul
S 10 3
H A Q J 7 5
D Q J 2
C A K Q
WEST
Pass
2 S
Pass
North
1 H
Dbl
5 C
East
1 S
Pass
All Pass
South
Pass
4 C
Lead: C 2TableEast pitches S 7



5 C South
S 9 5 2
H 2
D A 10 5
C J 10 7 6 4 3

After winning the C A, what next?
A. Lead the S 10
B. Lead the S 3
C. Win H A, run H Q
D. Run the D Q
E. Finesse D 10, lead a spade
F. Finesse D 10, finesse H Q

Hole 5 — Par 4 H

IMPs
N-S Vul
S A Q 4
H A K 3
D 8 6 5 4
C 9 3 2
West

2 S
Pass
NORTH
1 D
Pass
4 H
East
Pass
Pass
All Pass
South
1 H
3 C
Lead: H 6Table



4 H South
S 7 5
H Q J 10 9 2
D A Q
C 8 6 5 4

West finds another great trump lead! Your play?
A. Win H A, finesse D Q, finesse S Q
B. Win H A, finesse D Q, lead a club
C. Win H A, lead a club
D. Win H Q, finesse S Q, finesse D Q
E. Win H Q, finesse S Q, lead a club
F. Win H Q, lead a club

Hole 6 — Par 3 NT

IMPs
E-W Vul
S K 6 2
H Q J 3 2
D Q 7 4
C A J 9
West

Pass
Pass
North

1 H
3 NT
EAST
Pass
Pass
All Pass
South
1 C
1 NT
Lead: S JTableEast plays S 8



3 NT South
S A 9 4
H A K 4
D 8 5 3
C Q 8 3 2

Finally, a notrump bid! Your play?
A. Win S K, H K, run C Q
B. Win S K, H K, finesse C J
C. Win S K, run hearts
D. Win S A, run C Q
E. Win S A, finesse C J
F. Win S A, finesse C 9

 Click to see how you did

Challenge 8X33 MainAnalysesScoresTop Par for the Course

Acknowledgments to the USGA — Golfer pictured is Tiger Woods
© 2005 Richard Pavlicek