High-card points are almost universally accepted as the primary gauge in hand evaluation, especially for notrump bidding, and trick production is usually proportional. Partnership assets for game or slam are well established, e.g., 25 HCP justify a bid of 3 NT. Sometimes, however, a bad lie of the cards will unravel a contract despite having substantial HCP. To wit:
Virtually every North-South pair would reach 3 NT on these cards. Two balanced hands, 26 HCP and no major fit makes game in notrump routine. Ah, but this deal arose in the Crooked Swiss, where players have an uncanny knack of knowing how the cards lie. North paused to think over 1 NT, no doubt for show, then exercised “good judgment” to pass. Indeed, even 1 NT was too high.
West led the 10 to South’s queen, the 10 lost to East’s queen, and a spade return felled the top honors. Leading a second club would result in down three, so declarer wisely cashed out for down one.
It has often been said that down one is good bridge. Twenty-six HCP may seem like a lot to fail in 1 NT, but there can be “good bridge” with even more, which brings us to the puzzle:
What is the most HCP North-South can hold and be unable to make 1 NT from either side?
Construct a deal to illustrate. Ties in HCP will be broken by the highest N-S pip count: A=14 K=13 Q=12 J=11 T=10 …As an additional challenge, West must have the best poker hand, and it cannot be a straight flush.
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by Richard Pavlicek by Richard Pavlicek