Problem 254 for March 2011

Problem Corner by Patrick Jourdain

West opens a 15-17 1NT and East gambles a raise to 3NT. How should West play Three Notrumps playing Teams against competent opposition? North leads the king of hearts, and continues with the queen when West holds up, South showing an odd number of hearts.

W
West
AK
A764
A9532
54
K
E
East
J84
J3
104
KQ10632

 
Answer to Prize problem 253

The only genuine chance is that South has the bare ace of clubs, preventing the hold-up. Declarer should win the second heart to prevent a diamond switch, and then play a low club from both hands! If South has to win declarer can later finesse the ten of clubs.

Note that where South does have the bare ace of clubs with a doubleton heart and declarer ducked the second heart South could jettison his ace of clubs on the third heart to create an entry for North holding  J 9 8 7!

Non-prize problem for March 2011

How should West play Four Hearts on unopposed bidding?

West
East
1
2
3
4
All Pass
 

 
North leads two top spades, South wins the first trump and exits with a trump, both defenders following.

W
West
8
QJ8432
AJ3
A104
K
E
East
J32
K107
K86
K753

Answer to non-prize problem

This deal is from the 1995 Cavendish Invitation Pairs. Robb Gordon made Four Hearts by using dummy’s trump entry to ruff the third spade and then playing a club to the king and a club to the ten.

North held:

N
North
AK54
96
Q10942
Q2

 
and was endplayed with his doubleton club honour.

This line was a successful extra chance and still heavy odds-on. If North could exit with a club either they would be 3-3, or if North held four clubs, then the diamond finesse was favourite to win.


This article has been published with permission from Bridge Magazine