Double Dummy Challenge #9***

The rules are simple. You get the contract and the lead. You may look at all cards and play accordingly (you are always South). However, the defense can do the same, and they never make mistakes. You must find a way to make the contract against any defense.

Challenge #9 (difficulty: hard)



You are playing 6♥. West lead the ♠K. You must make your contract against any defense. Good luck!













Solution:
Win with the ♠A, ruff a spade with a high trump, play the ♥2 to the ♥7 in dummy, ruff another spade high, play the ♥3 to the ♥9 in dummy and ruff the final spade. Play the last 2 trumps to reach this ending:



On the last heart, West had to throw the ♣Q in order to protect all his 4 diamonds (else you can finesse and win 5 diamonds to make 13 tricks). Continue now with the ♦A and another diamond to the ♦10. Exit now with the ♣J and the defense is in trouble: If East plays low and allows West to win with the ♣K, he will be forced to continue with a diamond and you will make the last 2 tricks with dummy's ♦KJ. If East will rise with his ♣A, smashing West's ♣K on the way, he will be forced to play a club into your ♣108.

Well done to everyone who solved the problem!

Test Yourself #1

Dear readers! You are welcome to try to solve these 4 questions. You can see how you did at the bottom of the article.

1	You hold:	What do you bid as South?
	a. Pass; b. 3♦; c. 3♠; d. 3NT; e. 4♣; f. 4♠.

2
	Against 3NT your partner lead the ♥2 and dummy played the ♥Q. What do you play now? a. ♥7; b. ♥A and ♥7; c. ♥A and ♠9; d. ♥A and ♦9; e. ♥A and ♣5.

3	You hold:	What do you bid as South?
	a. Pass; b. 3♥; c. 3♠; d. 3NT; e. 4♣; f. 4♦; g. 5♦.

4
	Against 5♦ West leads the ♣A. How do you play? a. ♦3, ♦AK, ♠A, heart to ♥J; b. ♦3, ♦AK, ♠A, heart to ♥K; c. ♦3, draw 6 more diamonds and play spade; d. ♠5; e. ♦3, ♦AK, spade to ♠T; f. ♦3, ♦A, ♠A and spade; g. ♦3, ♠A, ♦A and spade.

Answers:

1. a. Pass = 0 points; b. 3♦ = 5 points; c. 3♠ = 2 points;
   d. 3NT = 0 points; e. 4♣ = 0 points; f. 4♠ = 2 points.
   
   What is 3♣? It’s a trial bid. Partner sees a chance for a game if you hold certain values in club (with ♣A or ♣K you must always accept his invitation). Meaning, he has a suit (3-5 cards) with "holes" in it, and he needs some "cover-ups". With help in club – bid 4♠ and without help bid 3♠.
   
   So what is your ♣Qxx worth? How do you evaluate the whole hand now?
   
   The answer: It’s unclear... For example, if your partner has a hand like this one:
   
   
   
   ...then there is no chance for a game (a heart lead sets immediately and on another lead, declarer needs to find the ♦A with East to develop the ♦K for a heart discard).
   
   But if partner has a hand like this:
   
   
   
   ...then 4♠ is cold on any lead (unless there is a spade loser).
   
   Bid 3♦. With that bid you will show that you have "something" in clubs (as partner asked) and another "something" in diamonds. You transfer the decision to your partner. With the first hand, partner must settle for 3♠. There is an obvious problem in hearts. With the second hand, he should happily accept and bid 4♠.
   
   Things to remember:
   After a major fit is found, a new suit by opener (or responder) would be a trial bid. That bid shows interest in game in the agreed suit and asks partner if he has some strength in the newly bid suit. It's recommendable to agree that such a trial bid shows some values in that suit and asks partner to fill in the "holes".
   
   Another example:
   
   

   Example A

   Example B

   
   After 1♠ opening by partner, you support with 2♠. Partner bids 3♦ - a trial bid. Notice how valuable the ♦K is in Example A. You must therefore accept the invitation and bid 4♠ in spite of your poor hand, because you do have what your partner is looking for. The contract has very high chance of success even though N-S don't have many points together.
   In Example B, you must sign off in 3♠, which will be very hard to make. (Declarer has 3 diamond losers, 2 heart losers and a club loser.)
   
   
2. a. ♥7 = 5 points; b. ♥A and ♥7 = 3 points; c. ♥A and ♠9 = 1 point;
   d. ♥A and ♦9 = 0 points; e. ♥A and ♣5 = 0 points.
   
   Your partner’s lead with the ♥2 says a lot: He has exactly 4 cards in hearts (as he lead 4th best), with an honor – the ♥J. Therefore declarer also holds 4 cards in hearts. Partner doesn't have any 5 card suit (else he would have lead it).Since there is only one entry to your hand, there is no point in trying to develop spades so you must concentrate on the hearts. If you win the ♥A and continue with another heart you will take out dummy's ♥K and develop partner's ♥J. If partner holds ♥J10, you will set up both his hearts. But if partner has ♥J9 (like in this example), the ♥10 will be high after partner takes the ♥J.
   
   
   
   You need to take in account that possibility and time your play so that the 3rd round of hearts is played from your hand: Don't win the heart lead (you can encourage with the ♥7)! Declarer will win the ♥Q but when he tries to develop one of his black suits, your partner will win the trick, continue a heart to your ♥A, knocking dummy's ♥K on the way, and when you play a 3rd heart, your partner's ♥J9 will beat South's ♥108. This is the only way defense can win 3 hearts, a club and a spade.
   
   Things to remember:
   And what if partner will get the impression that the ♥7 is a suit preference for spades (say ♠KQxxx ) and that you are interested in a switch? How can your partner know that you hold the ♥A? Good question. You can help him with a little agreement called "Smith". That signaling always comes at trick 2 after declarer won the first trick. A low card by you will discourage partner to continue the first suit and a high card will encourage. For example, on this hand: Declarer has won the ♥Q on the lead and played the ♣Q at trick 2. If you follow with the ♣4 you show no interest in hearts and ask for a switch. If you play the ♣8, you ask partner to continue hearts. On this particular hand West has another way to find out, even without Smith: Upon winning the ♣K he must play the ♠A. If East encourages, he will continue with spades. Otherwise West will go back to hearts.
   


3. a. Pass = 2 points; b. 3♥ = 5 points; c. 3♠ = 2 points; d. 3NT = 2 points;
   e. 4♣ = 0 points; f. 4♦ = 2 points; g. 5♦ = 2 points.
   
   Your partner's jump to 3♦ shows 15-17 points with a good 6 card suit. With a minimum hand (6-7 points) you are allowed to pass. With your hand above, a game is surely possible, due to the 2 aces in your hand. The question is: What to bid? 3NT or 5♦? Also here (like in last week’s test) you'd better transfer the decision to your partner. Bid 3♥, which shows strength in hearts (you need to agree with partner about the meaning of such bids – you can also agree differently – see below). This bid does not promise 4 cards in hearts since you’ve already denied a 4 card major suit by bidding 1NT. This way you show to your partner where some of your strength is located (it normally also denies strength in spade, else 3NT would be a better bid), transferring the decision to him, with that new information.
   
   If partner has a hand like this one for example:
   
   
   
   ...with a singleton spade and points in the other suits it's obvious that 3NT cannot be a good contract – On a spade lead you lose at least 5 spade tricks. 5♦ however is cold if clubs are 3-2 (and even with 4-1 if opponents are not leading hearts): You have time to draw trumps and establish clubs for a heart discard.
   
   But with a hand like this one:
   
   
   
   ...partner has strength in spade so he'll happily bid 3NT.
   
   Things to remember:
   • When you skip bidding a major suit, you deny 4 cards in that suit (1NT here denied both majors). Therefore, bidding that suit next will only show strength in the suit, helping partner to decide the preferable contract.
   • Some players have different agreements: They might play that bidding a major asks for strength in that suit (thus they show weakness) , meaning, partner will bid NT only with stopper in that suit where partner asked for help (so in our example, if using such an agreement, we'll have to bid 3♠).
   • And again – agree with your partner on what your preferences are, but remember: The disadvantage of any convention is that you need to remember it...


4. a. ♦3, ♦AK, ♠A, heart to ♥J = 1 point;
   b. ♦3, ♦AK, ♠A, heart to ♥K = 0 points;
   c. ♦3, draw 6 more diamonds and play spade = 1 point;
   d. ♠5 = 5 points;
   e. ♦3, ♦AK, spade to ♠T = 2 points;
   f. ♦3, ♦A, ♠A and spade = 1 point;
   g. ♦3, ♠A, ♦A and spade = 3 points.
   
   West's double clarifies that most of the missing points are likely to be in his hand. Therefore, if you choose to count on the heart finesse for making the contract, it would be better to try to play towards the ♥J in a hope to find the ♥Q with East. But this line of play would be "putting all your eggs in one basket": If your finesse fails – you go down.
   
   You can also try to establish the spades: If you play a spade to the ♠10, you might be able later to play another spade to the ♠A, ruff a 3rd spade, come back to dummy on the 3rd trump, and discard all your hearts on the good spades. The thing is that East is likely to win the spade trick and switch to hearts. And if West holds the ♥AQ, as is the case on this hand – you go down:
   
   
   
   Developing spades is a correct thought but you must try to do it without losing the lead to East, the dangerous hand. So... don't ruff the opening lead! Discard a spade instead. Ruff the club continuation (a heart switch from West will not help the defense), play the ♦A, spade to the ♠A and ruff a spade with a high diamond. Go back to dummy with the ♦7 to the ♦8, ruff a 3rd spade with a high diamond, go back to dummy with the ♦3 to the ♦4 and throw your losers on the good spades.
   
   Things to remember:
   • The "dangerous hand" is the player you don't want to lose a trick to (East in our example hand). Losing the lead to East will set you on the obvious heart return. However, you feel comfortable with West on lead, since your ♥K is not in danger no matter what West plays.
   • Ruffing is a useful technique to establish a long side suit and gain extra tricks. You need to ruff untill no one has any more cards in that suit. You must count how many entries you need for that process (and add 1 more in order to reach the tricks you have just developed). Once your long suit is high, you need to finish drawing trumps. Only then you can "enjoy" the high cards you have worked on.
   • On the hand above you need 3 entries: 2 to ruff 2 spades and 1 more to reach those high spades. That's why you had to ruff high, to preserve entries via the trump suit.

Grades:
16-20 points: Looks like you are a great player, able to analyze well the situation.
11-15 points: You understand the game well. A little thought above the basic rules will upgrade your level.
6-10 points: You lack experience, or theory (or both). Try to figure out what is your weakness (play of hand, defense or bidding) and try to improve it.
0-5 points: Try to focus more and next time you will do better. Perhaps a class to refresh your knowledge will be helpful.

Double Dummy Challenge #8**

The rules are simple. You get the contract and the lead. You may look at all cards and play accordingly (you are always South). However, the defense can do the same, and they never make mistakes. You must find a way to make the contract against any defense.

Challenge #8 (difficulty: medium)

You are playing 3NT. West lead the ♣T. East won ♣AK and continued with another club. West cashed ♣Q9 and played the ♥J. You must make your contract against any defense. Good luck!













Solution:
Win the ♥AK and play the ♠Q. Continue with the ♠K and overtake it with ♠A! This is the situation now:



When you play the ♥Q – East is in trouble: If he throws a diamond – You let the ♠3 go and run the ♦10 for 4 diamond tricks. If he parts with the ♠J – You throw a diamond, finesse to the ♦J, return to dummy with a spade and finesse diamonds again.

If you don't play that way but win all high spades, then when you play the ♥Q: If you throw a low diamond, you will remain with ♦AQJ and will not be able to finesse twice. If you throw the ♦J and keep the ♦AQ8, then when you run the ♦10, East will cover with his ♦K and the ♦9 will finally get promoted.

Well done to everyone who solved the problem!

Double Dummy Challenge #7**

The rules are simple. You get the contract and the lead. You may look at all cards and play accordingly (you are always South). However, the defense can do the same, and they never make mistakes. You must find a way to make the contract against any defense.

Challenge #7** (difficulty: medium)

You are playing 6♣. West leads the ♦A. You must make your contract against any defense. Good luck!











Solution:
Ruff in dummy, play the ♠AK, discarding the ♦J from hand and ruff a 3rd spade with the ♣A. Return to dummy with the ♣Q and play a 4th spade, throwing the ♦Q from hand.

If West ruffs and plays the ♦K – Ruff in hand, play another club to dummy's ♣K, pulling the last trump from West, and discard your remaining losers on the high spades.

If West chooses not to ruff – Simply continue spades and throw your losers. If you don't play that way and get rid of your diamonds, say you throw hearts – West will ruff and play the ♦K, forcing you to ruff again in dummy. Spades are dead now and you will have to lose a heart trick (or get another spade ruff by West).

Well done to everyone who solved the problem!

Short Term Memory

Life is amazing. Running a bridge club, I learn new things about life very every day. Joseph (Joe) remembers very well many things from his far past. His long term memory is excellent. However, he has huge problems with his short term memory: he forgets appointments, where he put things, what he ordered to drink and even what day of the week it is. But there are two short-term things he never forgets: to smile with his warm charming smile, and to play bridge! And I’m talking in short memory terms – despite his memory problem, he practically remembers all the cards and bids during the deal! How do you explain this?

"Are you a singleton?", I asked one of the ladies who walked into my club (meaning: Did you come alone and need me to find a partner for you?)
"No, I'm playing with Joe," she answered.
"Are you a singleton?" I ask another lady who enters the club alone one minute later.
"No, I'm playing with Joe," she says.
The first lady stands up and tells her: "No! I'm playing with Joe today. We played two days ago and we made an appointment for today."
"Well, we played yesterday and made an appointment for today," replies the second lady.
The two angry women agree to play with each other and leave Joe with no partner.
"How dare he cheat on us?"
"Let’s wait by the door and see what happens when Joe shows up and finds out than none of his dates is available," agrees the other one.

While we wait with the ladies, let's take a look at one of Joe's recent performances, a contract that he was the only one in the club to make: 



The bidding:



Joe got an obvious spade lead. He won with his Ace and drew 4 rounds of trump to pick up all of his opponents' trumps. As I said, he was the only one who found the winning play.

Dear reader, can you try to spot the solution yourself before reading on?
 
Joe remembered East's opening bid and played West to have the ♦A and no more spades. He continued with the ♣K and another club to the ♣Q. Now he played the ♦K and discarded the ♣A from his hand! West won with the ♦A but was forced to continue with a club or a diamond. Joe was able to throw his spade losers on the ♦Q and the ♣J. Well done Joe for using the stepping stone technique on West!

Joe finally showed up at the club, saw the two ladies waiting by the door and greeted them warmly with his charming smile. Then he walked straight to me: "Hi, Oren, I am a singleton today. Please find me a partner..."

Double Dummy Challenge #6****

The rules are simple. You get the contract and the lead. You may look at all cards and play accordingly (you are always South). However, the defense can do the same, and they never make mistakes. You must find a way to make the contract against any defense.

Challenge #6**** (difficulty: evil)

This week’s problem is Evil (as promised)! Let’s see if someone can solve it.

You are playing 4NT. West leads the ♠10. You must make your contract against any defense. Good luck!











Solution:
If the Spades situation would have been ♠KJ42 with North and ♠AQ53 with South, 5NT would have been easier to make than "our" 4NT here: Simply win the lead with the ♠Q , play the ♠5 to the ♠J and the ♣A. The remaining spades would have been: ♠K4 in dummy and ♠A3 in hand. Now you play the ♠K and perform an overtaking squeeze: If East discard a heart you play the ♠3 from hand. You have now 3 entries to hand (♦AK and the ♠A) to develop another 2 heart tricks, after you cash the ♥AK . If East throws a diamond – You overtake the ♠K with the ♠A , retaining 3 entries to dummy this time (the ♥AK and the ♠4), after you cash the ♦AK.

However you cannot reach that with the spades above as the remaining 2 spades will never allow you an entry to both sides. The solution to make 4NT is therefore to duck (!!!) the lead. Whatever West continues will allow you to cash the ♣A and the  ♠J to reach that situation in the spades: ♠K3 in dummy and ♠AQ in hand. Now you are able to play the ♠3 and perform the overtaking squeeze on East: If he throws a heart, you play the ♠Q and keep the ♠A as a 3rd entry to the hearts in hand. If he parts with a diamond – you overtake with the ♠A and keep the ♠K as a 3rd entry to the diamonds in dummy.

Well done to everyone who solved the problem!

A Silent Bidder

Click NEXT in the diagram to see the opening lead

Note: This is an intermediate level problem.

You agreed with your partner that a high card is encouraging and, if giving count, high-low shows an even number of cards.

You lead the ♣A and partner plays the ♣2.

1. How do you continue?
2. You decide to switch to the ♦A. Partner follows with the ♦2. How many clubs does partner have?
3. How many diamonds does partner have?
4. Which card will you play at trick 3?

Answers

1. How do you continue?
   You need to switch (many players will not find this switch)! The ♣2 from partner is discouraging. If he would have had a doubleton, he would have played a high club first. And what if he has a singleton club? He can’t! With a singleton club he would never pass your 3♣ bid.
2. How many clubs does partner have?
   Three. If partner passed your 3♣ bid it means that his clubs are longer than his diamonds, else he would have corrected the bidding to 3♦ (he needs to correct also when diamonds and clubs has the same length). Since he played a low club, he has 3 cards (he can’t have more since south followed suit).
3. How many diamonds does partner have?
   One . With 3 cards, East would have corrected the bidding to 3♦. With doubleton, he would have played a high card first (yes, to encourage you to continue – You might have a spade trick and then be able to continue a 3rd round of diamond to give him a ruff.)
4. Which card will you play at trick 3?
   The ♦10! If you continue with a club – South will ruff, draw trumps, play a high heart, establish his diamonds and finesse the hearts to make 10 tricks. If you play a low diamond, East will ruff and continue with clubs – the suit you bid and lead. He might think you have only 4 cards and will try to make you win the trick so that you will give him another diamond ruff. So you need to wake him up and play a high diamond – A suit preference for the higher suit where you have an entry. The ♦T asks for a heart back! Partner will know to switch to hearts and the defense will be able to cross ruff another 3 tricks for 2 down (club, diamond, 2 heart ruffs and 2 diamond ruffs for the defense).

Click the Next button in the diagram to follow the play.

Things to remember:

• At first sight you might think that your partner (East) is just a silent bidder who systematically discourages every suit you play. But it’s not so. Your partner’s bids and signals are very helpful, if you are able to read them.
• If your partner has bid 2 suits, and you are longer in his first suit (or they are of the same length), you must correct the bidding to his first suit, even with 0 points! In our example, East has passed your 2nd suit, meaning: my clubs are longer than my diamonds.
• Simple signaling can tell a lot. Discuss with your partner when to signal and what. Notice: Suit preference is given not only when discarding, but also when a switch is obvious or when you give your partner a ruff, telling him which suit to return in order to get another ruff.
• You may agree to play various conventions to show 2 suited hands when you overcall (like Unusual 2NT, Ghestem, Michael’s Cuebid, etc). If you do so, you need to agree if that type of bid is limited. Some play that such bids are used only with weak distributional hands (6-10 points), others play it as unlimited, and some play that it can be either weak or very strong (16+). Whatever you agree, just make sure you're on the same wavelength!