Puzzles 9P01 (1998) by Richard Pavlicek

The “Great 88” Conspiracy

When I was 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 one of the pastimes 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 possible endplay techniques. Dubbed the “Great 88,” these mini-problems were divided into five “Tribes” according to the kind of endplay, though the categorization was a bit fuzzy and Coffin chose to fudge with his title of Tribe 5. Nonetheless, the work is a significant contribution to card-play theory and its classical status is deserved.

Here are some curious facts:

One of the endings does not work. That is, the stated goal cannot be achieved against best defense.
Two of the endings could never occur in bridge without a revoke.

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 85” plus three impostors. These are exactly as in the book, however, I corrected a few obvious typos in duplicated spot cards. Each ending is given a name to describe the technique involved (the 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.

So, if you have nothing better to do, you might want to play bridge detective. Can you find the three bogus endings? I won’t tell you the answer here, but I’ll give you a hint: Start from the end and work backwards. If you think you have found them, or gave up trying, you can e-mail me for the answer.

[Addendum, March 2001. Thanks to Jonathan Weinstein for discovering the second ending that is illegal (unreachable without a revoke). Originally, I had only noticed one.]

Copyright © 1999 Richard Pavlicek. Copyright © 1967 George S. Coffin.

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Tribe 1: Eliminations, Endplays of Position

1. Avoidance

Notrump win 3 tricks

South leads
S A 9 8 7
H
D A
C
S K 2
H A Q 3
D
C
[W - E]S Q 5
H 9 8 7
D
C
S 6 4
H K 2
D 2
C

2. The Pitt coup

Spades win 5 tricks

South leads
S A 2
H 7 5 3
D
C
S 3
H Q 9 8
D A
C
[W - E]S Q 9
H 6 4
D Q
C
S K J
H
D 7 5 3
C

3. Gambit and jettison

Spades win 4 tricks

South leads
S A
H 8 7 3
D A
C
S 8
H Q
D Q 9 8
C
[W - E]S 6
H 9
D K
C K J
S
H A 6
D
C Q 4 3

4. Forced finesse

Notrump win 4 tricks

South leads
S 8 4 2
H 3 2
D
C
S J 9
H 7 5
D 2
C
[W - E]S A 7 6
H K 8
D
C
S K Q 3
H A Q
D
C

5. Strip setup finesse

Spades win 4 tricks

South leads
S 7
H
D Q 6 3
C A
S 5
H
D
C K 9 8 4
[W - E]S 9
H
D J 10 8
C 7
S
H
D K 9 4
C 6 5

6. Double strip finesse

Notrump win 4 tricks

South leads
S
H 8 6
D
C A 9 6
S
H 9
D 8
C 8 7 4
[W - E]S 5
H A 5 3
D
C 5
S A
H 7 4 2
D
C 2

7. Crossruff strip

Spades win 3 tricks

South leads
S 9 7
H
D 7 2
C 2
S J
H J
D K J
C J
[W - E]S
H Q 3
D Q
C K Q
S 8 6
H
D A 8
C 8

8. Jettison entry strip

Spades win 4 tricks

South leads
S 2
H 3 2
D
C A 2
S
H K Q
D K Q
C 8
[W - E]S
H
D J 9
C K J 6
S
H
D A 4 3
C Q 3

9. Jettison two-entry strip

Spades win 4 tricks

South leads
S
H A 7
D
C Q J 5
S 8
H K 3
D
C K 9
[W - E]S
H 6 5
D A K 9
C
S J
H J 9
D Q J
C

10. Double-entry strip

Notrump win 4 tricks

South leads
S 7 4 3
H A
D A
C
S A 6 5
H K
D K
C
[W - E]S Q
H Q
D Q
C Q J
S K J 2
H
D
C 3 2

11. Fork strip

Notrump win 4 tricks

South leads
S 5 2
H 5
D 5
C 5
S K 6 3
H K
D A
C
[W - E]S 9 8
H 9
D 9
C 9
S A Q
H A
D 3
C A

12. Total fork strip

Hearts win 3 tricks

South leads
S 10 4 2
H
D A
C 4
S A 9 6
H
D 3
C 5
[W - E]S Q J 7
H
D J
C Q
S K 8 5
H 8
D 6
C

13. Progressive fork strip

Notrump win 4 tricks

South leads
S Q 3
H
D
C K Q J
S 8 6 5 4
H A
D
C
[W - E]S K 10 2
H
D
C 6 4
S A J 9 7
H J
D
C

14. Transfer fork strip

Spades win 4 tricks

South leads
S 6
H 4
D
C A J 5
S
H Q
D K 4
C 9 2
[W - E]S
H
D 6 5
C Q 8 4
S
H
D 7 2
C K 6 3

15. Jettison double fork strip

Spades win 3 tricks

South leads
S
H
D J
C 10 8 6 2
S 9
H 9 5 3
D 8
C
[W - E]S 7
H 8
D
C A 9 7
S J
H 6 4 2
D 5
C

16. Repeat-jettison fork strip

Spades win 4 tricks

South leads
S
H A
D A
C K J 7
S J
H 3
D 7 6 4
C
[W - E]S 5
H
D Q 9
C A Q
S Q
H 2
D K J 8
C

17. Two-fork double strip

Notrump win 4 tricks

South leads
S
H 8
D J 7
C A 9
S
H 6 5
D Q
C Q 6
[W - E]S
H Q 7
D A 8
C 8
S A
H A 9 3
D 6
C

18. Double blocked fork strip

Spades win 3 tricks

South leads
S
H Q 9
D J 9 5
C
S 4
H J
D K 7 3
C
[W - E]S
H K 10 7 3
D Q
C
S 9
H 8
D A 6 4
C

19. Crossruff or finesse strip

Spades win 4 tricks

South leads
S 10
H 5
D
C A 10 5
S
H K Q
D
C K Q 9
[W - E]S
H J 10
D K Q
C J
S 5
H A
D
C 4 3 2

20. Crossruff entry strip

Spades win 4 tricks

South leads
S 3
H 4
D A
C 3 2
S
H 7 5
D 9 8
C A
[W - E]S
H K
D K
C K Q J
S 5 4
H A
D
C 7 5

21. Crossruff fork strip

Spades win 4 tricks

South leads
S A
H A Q
D Q
C A
S
H J 9
D J
C J 9
[W - E]S
H K 5
D K
C K Q
S 3
H 3 2
D 3
C 3

22. Crossruff split-fork strip

Spades win 4 tricks

South leads
S 3
H Q
D
C K 10 3
S
H K
D A
C J 8 6
[W - E]S
H A 9
D
C Q 7 5
S 4
H 6
D
C A 9 4

23. Entry or fork strip

Notrump win 4 tricks

South leads
S 3
H 7 2
D Q 2
C
S
H Q 9 8
D K 9
C
[W - E]S 2
H J 5 4
D J
C
S
H A K 3
D A 7
C

24. Jettison-entry fork strip

Notrump win 3 tricks

South leads
S K 9 8 4
H
D K
C
S
H 9 8
D A 6 5
C
[W - E]S A J
H
D
C 8 7 6
S
H Q 6 5
D 7 2
C

25. Blocked fork strip or entry strip

Notrump win 4 tricks

South leads
S K J 3
H
D K
C 8
S
H 9
D 9
C Q 7 2
[W - E]S Q 7
H
D Q J
C 9
S
H J
D 8 4
C J 6

26. Crossruff entry fork strip

Spades win 4 tricks

South leads
S 3
H 3 2
D
C 5 3
S
H 6 4
D 6
C 6 4
[W - E]S
H
D 9 8 7 5 4
C
S 7 5
H 7 5
D
C 2

Tribe 2: Coups, Endplays of Time

27. En passant

Spades win 4 tricks

South leads
S A 5 4
H 2
D
C 2
S 9 8
H 9
D 9
C 9
[W - E]S 7
H
D A 7
C 8 7
S
H 3
D 3 2
C A 3

28. Grand coup

Spades win 5 tricks

South leads
S
H 4 2
D A K
C A
S J 9
H
D J 9
C J
[W - E]S K 4
H
D 4 3
C 4
S A Q 2
H
D 2
C 2

29. Grand coup fork strip

Spades win 4 tricks

South leads
S 8 7 6
H A
D
C 9
S K Q 9
H 9
D 9
C
[W - E]S 3
H K
D K
C K Q
S A J 10 2
H
D A
C

30. Overruff grand coup

Spades win 4 tricks

South leads
S Q 9 7 2
H
D
C Q
S J 10 8
H 3 2
D
C
[W - E]S
H
D K 6
C K 6 2
S 5 4
H 4
D 5
C 4

31. Repeating grand coup

Spades win 5 tricks

South leads
S A K
H
D
C Q 10 8
S 4 3 2
H 8
D 8
C
[W - E]S J 9 7 6 5
H
D
C
S Q 10 8
H A
D A
C

32. Undercut

Spades win 4 tricks

South leads
S
H 4
D A 6 5
C A
S
H A
D Q J 9 8
C
[W - E]S K Q 10
H
D K
C 4
S A J 2
H 6
D 4
C

33. Uppercut

Spades win 2 tricks

South leads
S Q 7
H 8
D J
C A
S 9 8 3
H A
D 9
C
[W - E]S A 6 5
H
D 2
C 8
S 4 2
H 4 2
D 4
C

34. Smother play

Spades win 4 tricks

South leads
S A 4 2
H 2
D
C 2
S K 6 5 3
H 3
D
C
[W - E]S 10 9
H 10 9
D 10
C
S Q J 8 7
H 7
D
C

35. Double smother

Spades win 5 tricks

South leads
S A 10 3
H
D A K
C
S Q 8 5
H 5
D 5
C
[W - E]S J 6
H 6
D 6
C 6
S K 9 2
H A
D
C 4

Tribe 3: Squeezes, Endplays of Mass

36. Double squeeze

Notrump win 5 tricks

South leads
S A 2
H 2
D
C K Q
S Q 9
H A
D
C J 9
[W - E]S K J
H
D A
C 8 6
S 3
H
D 2
C A 7 2

37. Double squeeze

Spades win 4 tricks

South leads
S 9 4
H
D 2
C K 3
S J
H
D 8
C 9 7 2
[W - E]S A 5
H Q
D
C J 8
S Q 6 3
H 2
D
C 6

38. Double automatic squeeze

Notrump win 5 tricks

South leads
S A Q 3
H
D
C K 4
S K 9 6
H
D A
C 9
[W - E]S J 8 7
H A
D
C 7
S 2
H 2
D 2
C A 2

39. Split squeeze

Notrump win 5 tricks

South leads
S K 3
H
D 7 4
C A
S Q
H
D
C J 8 7 6
[W - E]S J
H
D Q J
C K 9
S A 2
H
D A
C Q 2

40. Overtake squeeze

Notrump win 4 tricks

South leads
S A 9 6 4
H
D
C K
S 3
H A 2
D A
C A
[W - E]S 10 8 7 5 2
H
D
C
S K Q J
H K
D K
C

41. Progressive squeeze

Notrump win 5 tricks

South leads
S 3
H A 3
D Q
C 4
S K 9
H K 9
D 9
C
[W - E]S Q 8 2
H
D J
C A
S A 7
H 7
D K 8
C

42. Transfer repeat squeeze

Notrump win 5 tricks

South leads
S A 7
H 4
D 6
C 7
S K 6 5 4
H
D Q
C
[W - E]S J 9
H
D 9 8
C Q
S Q 8
H
D A 5 4
C

43. Three-two squeeze

Notrump win 5 tricks

South leads
S
H A 4
D 4
C 4 2
S
H K 6
D K
C J 9
[W - E]S
H
D A 3
C 8 6 3
S 7
H 7
D
C A Q 7

44. Finesse jettison squeeze

Notrump win 4 tricks

South leads
S K 8
H
D 9 5 3
C
S Q 7 6 4
H
D K
C
[W - E]S
H J
D J 10 7
C 9
S
H 9
D Q 8
C 6 3

45. Progressive jettison squeeze

Notrump win 4 tricks

South leads
S A 4
H 9
D A
C 5
S Q J
H
D K J
C Q
[W - E]S
H 7 3
D 7 6 4
C
S 9 6
H K 4
D 8
C

46. Progressive jettison squeeze or squeeze

Notrump win 5 tricks

South leads
S
H A 3
D A 9
C Q
S
H Q 4
D K 4
C K
[W - E]S
H 7 5
D 8 7 6
C
S 9
H 8 6
D Q J
C

47. Trump squeeze

Spades win 5 tricks

South leads
S K J 8 4
H
D
C K
S 10 9
H A
D A
C A
[W - E]S Q 6 5
H
D
C 3 2
S A 7 3
H K
D K
C

48. Squeeze or forced finesse

Notrump win 4 tricks

South leads
S K Q
H K Q
D J
C
S A 8 7 6 5
H
D
C
[W - E]S 9
H A
D K 9 3
C
S 2
H 3
D A Q 7
C

49. Finesse squeeze

Spades win 5 tricks

South leads
S 8 2
H
D A 9
C 2
S
H 7 3
D K J
C 9
[W - E]S
H 6 2
D 8
C 7 4
S
H 5 4
D Q
C A 6

Tribe 4: Compound and Hybrid Endings

50. One-way finesse or fork strip

Notrump win 3 tricks

South leads
S K J
H
D
C A 6 2
S
H
D Q 5
C Q J 5
[W - E]S A Q 9
H
D J 7
C
S 8 5 3
H
D K 4
C

51. Forced jettison strip squeeze

Spades win 3 tricks

South leads
S
H A
D A J 6 4
C
S J
H J 10 8 6
D
C
[W - E]S 8
H
D Q 9 8
C K
S 9
H Q 9 7
D
C 7

52. Crossruff strip triple squeeze

Spades win 3 tricks

North leads
S 6
H 7 6
D
C 7 6
S
H
D K J 8 7 6
C
[W - E]S 9
H Q J
D
C Q J
S 7
H K 8
D Q
C 8

53. Forced triple squeeze (with fork strip)

Notrump win 4 tricks

South leads
S 9
H Q 8
D
C Q 7
S 10 8
H
D 10
C 10 8
[W - E]S
H J 7
D
C J 6 4
S A 6
H 9
D 9
C 9

54. Squeeze strip or suitout

Spades win 4 tricks

South leads
S
H 7 6
D A 2
C 2
S
H K 9 4
D 9 5
C
[W - E]S
H J 8
D K Q
C K
S 7
H A Q 5
D 7
C

55. Triple squeeze forced finesse

Notrump win 4 tricks

South leads
S Q 6
H 3
D 8
C 2
S 10 4
H 10
D
C 10 4
[W - E]S K
H 8 2
D A
C 8
S
H A 4
D K
C A K

56. Jettison squeeze finesse

Notrump win 4 tricks

South leads
S A
H K 2
D K 2
C
S K
H A
D A
C 8 7
[W - E]S 4 2
H
D
C Q J 9
S 5 3
H
D
C A K 3

57. Squeeze or squeeze strip

Spades win 4 tricks

South leads
S
H A Q 9
D K Q
C
S 4
H
D
C Q 6 5 4
[W - E]S 7
H K J
D A J
C
S K
H 2
D 2
C J 10

58. Triple squeeze scoop strip

Notrump win 4 tricks

South leads
S K 8 7 4
H
D
C 2
S Q J
H Q
D Q
C Q
[W - E]S A 6 5
H
D
C 9 8
S 2
H 9
D 9
C A K

59. Triple squeeze entry strip

Notrump win 4 tricks

South leads
S A 6 5 4
H K
D
C
S 3 2
H A
D A
C A
[W - E]S 10 9 8 7
H
D
C K
S K Q J
H
D K
C 2

60. Jettison triple squeeze entry strip

Notrump win 4 tricks

South leads
S 4 3
H 2
D J
C A
S 9 5
H 9
D
C K 9
[W - E]S K
H
D 9 8
C 5 4
S A
H
D 4 3 2
C 6

61. Fork squeeze entry strip

Notrump win 4 tricks

South leads
S
H A 5 2
D
C A 9
S
H Q 8 6
D
C 6 4
[W - E]S
H J
D K 9
C K 8
S
H K 7 3
D Q 7
C

62. Squeeze finesse

Notrump win 5 tricks

South leads
S K 2
H 9
D 9
C K
S Q 3
H A
D A
C Q
[W - E]S J 8 6 4
H
D
C J
S A 9 5
H
D
C A 2

63. Finesse threat 3-2 squeeze

Spades win 5 tricks

South leads
S 2
H
D K 5
C A 7
S
H 9
D Q 8
C J 9
[W - E]S
H J 8
D J 9 7
C
S
H 2
D A 10 4 3
C

64. Hexagon squeeze finesse

Notrump win 5 tricks

South leads
S 2
H A 9
D 2
C 2
S A
H K 4
D K
C Q
[W - E]S K
H Q
D Q 4
C J
S
H 2
D A 9
C A K

65. One-way squeeze scoop finesse

Notrump win 5 tricks

South leads
S K J 2
H K
D
C 2
S 9 8 7
H A
D
C 3
[W - E]S Q 5 4
H 3
D
C 4
S A 6 3
H
D
C A K

66. Automatic squeeze scoop finesse

Notrump win 5 tricks

South leads
S
H
D 10 5
C A 5 2
S
H
D 9 3
C 10 8 6
[W - E]S 9 8
H
D Q 7 6
C
S
H 9
D K 8
C K 9

67. Squeeze ruffout

Spades win 5 tricks

South leads
S A 5
H
D K 9 8
C
S
H K Q
D Q J 10
C
[W - E]S 7
H
D
C Q J 8 7
S 9 3
H 10 9 5
D
C

68. Squeeze overruff

Clubs win 5 tricks

South leads
S Q 5
H 5
D
C K Q
S
H J 6 4
D J
C 5
[W - E]S K
H K 10
D 8 7
C
S
H A 8 7
D 10
C 9

Tribe 5: Five-Card Problems

69. Repeat-squeeze entry strip

Notrump win 2 tricks

South leads
S 2
H K 4
D K
C K
S 8
H A 2
D Q
C Q
[W - E]S A K 9 7
H 9
D
C
S Q J 6 4
H 8
D
C

70. Forced unblock triple-squeeze scoop

Notrump win 2 tricks

South leads
S Q J 8
H 7
D 7
C
S A K 7
H
D
C K 7
[W - E]S
H 9
D J
C J 9 4
S 9 6 5
H
D
C Q 8

71. Squeeze unblock finesse

Notrump win 3 tricks

South leads
S Q 5
H 3 2
D
C J
S J 10 9 7
H
D
C A
[W - E]S A 6 4
H K 9
D
C
S K 8
H A J
D
C 9

72. Blocked fork strip

Spades win 3 tricks

South leads
S
H Q 7
D J 9 2
C
S 3
H J
D K 8 5
C
[W - E]S
H K 9 5 2
D Q
C
S J
H 8
D A 7 3
C

73. En passant mutate

Spades win 4 tricks

West leads
S 8 6
H 7 4
D
C 8
S
H Q 9 8
D K J
C
[W - E]S A Q
H 6
D 7 6
C
S K
H A J
D Q 10
C

74. Repeated trump discard

Spades win 4 tricks

West leads
S 4 2
H Q J 9
D
C
S 9
H 7
D 9 7 6
C
[W - E]S K Q 8
H
D Q J
C
S A J 6 3
H
D
C 8

75. Squeeze scoop ruffout

Spades win 5 tricks

South leads
S
H K 9
D K
C A Q
S
H Q J
D Q
C J 6
[W - E]S
H A 8
D
C K 5 4
S 9 7
H
D 9
C 9 7

76. Coup or squeeze

Spades win 5 tricks

South leads
S 8 6 4
H
D
C Q 9
S 7 5
H
D 6
C 10 7
[W - E]S
H 5
D J 10
C K 8
S
H 7
D 7
C A 4 2

77. Triple-squeeze ruffout

Spades win 4 tricks

West leads
S 5 2
H
D 9 8
C 9
S
H K Q 9 7 5
D
C
[W - E]S J
H 2
D K Q
C Q
S A 4
H
D 7 4
C 7

78. Progressive squeeze jettison scoop

Notrump win 4 tricks

South leads
S 5
H 9 5
D
C A 7
S 9
H A 10
D
C K 8
[W - E]S
H Q 8
D
C J 10 9
S
H J
D 7 6
C Q 3

79. Double squeeze strip

Notrump win 4 tricks

South leads
S
H A 9 7
D 8 3
C
S K 5
H K 5 4
D
C
[W - E]S
H 10 8 6
D 10 9
C
S 8
H Q J 3
D
C Q

80. One-way squeeze or ditto

Notrump win 4 tricks

South leads
S 7
H Q 7
D 7
C 7
S A
H 9 8 6
D 5
C
[W - E]S
H
D A 6
C 8 6 4
S
H J
D J 4
C J 5

81. En passant or double squeeze

Spades win 4 tricks

South leads
S J 5
H 5
D
C J 8
S Q 9
H Q
D
C 9 6
[W - E]S
H
D 9 8
C Q 7 4
S 3
H
D J 3
C K 3

82. Squeeze entry strip

Notrump win 4 tricks

South leads
S 5
H Q 6
D A J
C
S Q 6
H
D 9 7 6
C
[W - E]S 9
H J 9
D K
C K
S 8
H
D Q 5 4
C 8

83. Double-squeeze scoop

Notrump win 4 tricks

South leads
S
H
D 8 6
C A Q 6
S
H
D J 10
C J 10 7
[W - E]S
H 9 8
D
C K 8 4
S J
H J
D
C 9 5 3

84. Jettison strip mutate

Spades win 4 tricks

South leads
S
H A
D A
C K 9 2
S
H K
D 9 7 3
C Q
[W - E]S 3
H J 5
D
C A 10
S 5
H Q 6
D 10 8
C

85. Split squeeze entry strip

Notrump win 3 tricks

South leads
S J 5 3
H
D A Q
C
S
H 9 6 4
D 4 2
C
[W - E]S K Q 9
H
D K J
C
S 8 2
H Q 7 3
D
C

86. Hexagon squeeze finesse

Notrump win 4 tricks

South leads
S
H 9
D A 9
C 7 5
S
H J
D J 6
C J 6
[W - E]S
H Q 7
D Q 7
C Q
S 8
H K 8
D 8
C 8

87. Endplays in series

Notrump win 4 tricks

South leads
S 9
H A 8
D
C 8 7
S K
H K 7 6 5
D
C
[W - E]S 10
H
D 10 9
C 10 9
S
H 9 2
D 5
C A 4

88. Contra squeeze

Notrump win 3 tricks

South leads
S
H A
D 10 4 3
C A
S
H
D A Q 7 6 5
C
[W - E]S A 2
H K
D J
C K
S K Q J
H
D K 2
C

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Copyright © 1998 Richard Pavlicek. Copyright © 1967 George S. Coffin.