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Bridge Deals

Answer to 2008 O-Week Double Dummy Problem #1

Contract:	6S
Declarer:	South
Lead:	C2

	North
	KJ9
	Q532
West	A6	East
2	KJ107	43
K8		J976
KJ872	South	Q109
86532	AQ108765	AQ94
	A104
	543
	---

Problem #1

Problem #2

Problem #3


NORTH/SOUTH must make 12 tricks against the best defence with spades as trump.

Those of you who play chess are at a clear advantage in solving this problem.

DO NOT SCROLL DOWN UNLESS YOU WANT TO KNOW THE ANSWER!

There are two key plays to this hand in clubs and hearts.
The way to play clubs is to repeatedly lead high ones from the North hand. When East covers, you play a trump. Eventually you set up a trick to discard something from the South hand.
The way to play this heart suit is to lead a low heart from the South hand.
If West plays the King you can make 3 tricks, losing one trick. If West plays low, you can make 2 tricks without losing any.
On the first scenario, you can discard a diamond on the established club and another one on the last heart.
On the second scenario, you want to discard a heart on the established club and eventually trump a diamond in the North hand.

This is where chess players might recognise this situation as Zugzwang. If you play a high club at trick 1 East will play LOW!!! and you will be forced to discard before playing on hearts. The standard counter to this situation is to make a waiting move.
It is a good thing that you have a 4th club in the North hand.

ANSWER:
At trick 1 play the C7 from the North hand and play a trump from the South hand. Now you can lead a low heart.
If West plays the King, best defence is to return a diamond. You play the DA and lead a high club. East has to cover and you trump with the SA. Now play a trump and win in the North hand. Lead another club, East covers again and you trump with the SQ. Now you can play a trump, winning in the North hand, and lead a heart finessing the H10. Cash the HA and play another trump winning in the North hand. Cash the club and the last heart discarding diamonds.

If West plays low, win the HQ. From here establish the clubs to discard a heart. You lose a diamond and trump the other one in the North hand.