Bridge Puzzles

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Trick one is the best time to take stock, declaring or defending. Because trick one is crucial, think before you play.

20. Matchpoints, you are East, defending 4♥.

North (Dummy)
♠ K 4
♥ A 9 7 6 3
♦ K Q J 2
7 3
East (You)
♠ A J 9 7
♥ J 5 2
♦ A 9 3
♣ J 10 4
North South
1NT(1)
2♦(2) 2NT(3)
3♦(4) 3♥
4♥ Pass

(1) 15–17 high-card points.
(2) Transfer.
(3) Maximum with three hearts.
(4) Retransfer.

Partner leads the ♠2, fourth-best. Declarer calls for the ♠4. Plan your defense.

SOLUTION

Take your aces before you lose them. Rise with the ♠A and cash the ♦A. You can see 24 HCP between your hand and the dummy, which leaves partner without a face card. The most partner can have is a jack, and you are looking at all four of them.

If you finesse the ♠J at trick one, you will lose your ♠A when this is the layout:

North (Dummy)
♠ K 4
♥ A 9 7 6 3
♦ K Q J 2
7 3
♠ 10 6 5 2
♥ 10 4
♦ 7 6 4
♣ 9 8 6 5
East (You)
♠ A J 9 7
♥ J 5 2
♦ A 9 3
♣ J 10 4
♠ Q 8 3
♥ K Q 8
♦ 10 8 5
♣ A K Q 2

Declarer will win the ♠Q, draw trumps and discard dummy’s ♠K on the club suit and you will get only your ♦A.

Once you’ve taken the ♠A at trick one, cash the ♦A as well. The following could be the entire deal:

North (Dummy)
♠ K 4
♥ A 9 7 6 3
♦ K Q J 2
7 3
♠ 10 6 5 2
♥ 10 4
♦ 9 8 7 5
♣ 8 5 2
East (You)
♠ A J 9 7
♥ J 5 2
♦ A 6 3
♣ J 10 4
♠ Q 8 3
♥ K Q 8
♦ 10 4
♣ A K Q 9 6

If you don’t cash the ♦A, declarer will discard all four diamonds from dummy, using the long clubs and the ♠Q.

Once you know that partner is busted, the goal is to hold declarer to 11 tricks.

21. You are South, declaring 4♠.

North
♠ 2
♥ K 8 6 5 3
♦ A 8 7 4 2
♣ 9 4
South
♠ K Q J 10 8 7 3
♥ A 4
♦ —
♣ Q J 10 2
West North East South
1♥ Dbl
Pass 2♦ Pass 3♠
Pass 3NT Pass 4♠
All Pass

West leads the ♥7. Plan the play.

SOLUTION

Win the singleton heart lead with dummy’s ♥K and cash the ♦A, discarding your ♥A! Draw trumps and concede one spade and two clubs to make your contract. The key is to realize that your ♥A is a liability. If you draw trumps immediately, East, the opening bidder, is likely to produce the ♠A and return a heart, ruffed by West, down one. To prevent this, get rid of the ♥A on the ♦A before tackling trumps. After doing this, lead spades from the dummy. Remember to trump high if East takes the ♠A and leads a heart.

The ♥A is a loser. It’s the oldest story in the book; get rid of losers.