The magicians

Bob and Bernard are magicians. They call themselves The 2Bs. They are also world class Bridge players.

"No wonder they get first place every time. They are cards wizards," complained one of their opponents to the TD.
"They might do card tricks at their shows, but I can guarantee they are honest when they play Bridge," replied the TD.

Once, at a tournament, they got to prove their magic skills. After the tourney was over, while waiting for the results, most players remained indoors, eating and drinking. The following hand was given by one of they players as a double dummy problem:

Dealer East, All vulnerable


"With all cards in view, you need to bring 4♠ home," said the player. The lead is the ♥8.

Bernard was outside, talking on the phone, but Bob solved the hand quickly.

"Wow, are you a magician or what?" asked the man who gave the riddle. "How did you solve it so fast?"

"Well, it is easy, as I can see the whole deal. But I will challenge you for a little bet: My brother is outside, and didn't see this board yet. I bet a round of beer that he can solve it without seeing opponents cards. I'll construct a bidding sequence for him, and will also let him know that the ♥8 lead is a 2/4 lead (where 4th promises a honor, 2nd denies honor)," said Bob with a smile.

Brief silence followed, so Bob added:

"We'll give him 5 minutes to solve it... What say you? A bet or not?"

As they all concluded it is impossible to solve that hand with closed cards (after all, they didn't manage it with open cards), the bet was set for a round of drinks. It was also agreed that Bob will not be present when Bernard shows up (it is well known that magicians can communicate in a secret language).

Where is Bob?” asked Bernard when he came back.

"He is working on a new trick to make himself disappear, and since you don't see him – it seems to work. However, before he vanished, a bet was made and you are a part of it. You need to make that 4♠ doubled contract, and if you fail, you owe us a round of drinks".

The hand was given to him:

Dealer East, All vulnerable

Click NEXT in the diagram to see the opening lead

"You have 5 minutes, starting... NOW!"

Bernard was busy with the hand and after 5 minutes he heard: "Time is up! What is your solution?"

"I take the ♥A, ruff heart, play club to ♣Q, ruff heart, club to ♣A, ruff heart and cash ♦AKQ. This is the end position now:



"I play a spade now, giving the hand to West's top singleton honor. When he continues diamond or club I throw a club from dummy. East is forced to ruff with the ♠10 and play spade away from his remaining ♠AJ. My ♠Q is the 10th trick".

"Amazing! What a wizard! How did you know ♥'s were 4-4? And ♠'s 4-1? And that West had a stiff top honor? And that club finesse is working?" Questions fired from all sides, and then silence fell to hear Bernard's answer:

"The bidding and the lead helped:

The lead meant that the ♥KQ is with East. The first double suggested East has majors and about 10-11 points since he was a passed hand. The second double confirmed that spades are breaking bad. Since East has no opening, and since I placed the ♥KQ in his hand, he has no room for ♠AK in his hand = one of them, likely the ♠K, has to be with West, along with the ♣K, as Easy is already marked with ♠AJ and ♥KQ. First double also suggests that East has some ♦ tolerance. So... There it is. And now I can play the hand as if all cards are open. Did Bob make it?"

"He made it double dummy. And then he made up that bidding, saying you will solve it with closed hands," came the answer with a sigh of admiration.
"Yes, he was always the clever and inventive one," said Bernard with a smile...