Oren's Double Dummy Challenge #25****

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.

Oren's Double Dummy Challenge - 25****

You are playing 6♥ West lead the ♦ Q. You must make your contract against any defense. Good luck!!!
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**** Difficulty level: evil.













Solution: 


Win the lead with the ♦K and play another diamond. If East ruffs it he will continue either a club or a spade. Ruff a club and a spade then play the ♦A and a heart to the ♥K. If East doesn't ruff, win the ♦A and play a 3rd diamond to West's hand, discarding a spade from dummy. Win any return from West, ruff a club and a spade and play a heart to the ♥K (or, if West returns a heart, win with the ♥K, ruff spade and ruff club). In short, no matter how opponents play you will adjust your play to reach this ending:



Continue with the ♥Q and East is squeezed: If he throws a spade: Play a low heart from hand, ruff spade, ruff club, ruff spade and spades are high. If he throws a club: Overtake the ♥Q with the ♥A, ruff club, ruff spade, ruff club and the clubs are high.

Well done to everyone who solved the problem!

Mother - there is only one!

Erik is one of the best players in the country. About 4 years ago, he sent his mother to learn bridge (a bit against her will...) at one of the best bridge teachers in the country, which happened to be (by chance or not...) his regular partner. Erik's mother got caught, as expected, in the game, and progressed nicely, with the help of her great teacher.

As an international bridge festival was taking place nearby, he managed to convince her to come play there.

"How could I compete with all the champions?" she protested.
"It will be fine and fun. Just take it easy, and remember you also have a lot to offer," Erik encouraged her. So, she was convinced.

Destiny wanted (by chance or not...) that Erik and her teacher would compete in the same tournament, in exactly the same section as she was.
She was on North-South, they were East-West, and as rounds were played they moved quickly, towards her table. One round before they would finallly arrive at her table, she was already too nervous and excited to focus.

"Calm down," said her partner. "Take a deep breath, go to the toilet, do what you have to do, but pull yourself together!"

"Hi mother, are you ready to compete with us," smiled Erik as he sat by her side:

Dealer East, all vulnerable:


She did not respond, just smiled.

She was brave enough to bid 4♠ by herself and got more nervous when her teacher, in West, doubled the contract.

He lead the ♥Q and continued with another heart in an attempt to shorten declarer. His plan was to duck the first spade when declarer would play the ♠K, win the 2nd spade with the ♠J or the ♠A, and continue with heart, forcing declarer to ruff in hand and get shorter again. Winning the next spade and playing another heart will force declarer to ruff again, and guarantee him another spade trick: 3 spades and a heart.

But as she was so nervous, she accidentally played the ♠8 from hand. Wining with the ♠J will not help West, as the 2nd trump in dummy protects declarer from getting shorter, if defenders continue with heart. So West played low (hoping that East holds a higher trump), and the ♠8 won the trick. The ♠K followed and declarer finally lost only 2 spades and 1 heart and made 4♠ doubled (!) after she discarded, later on, a club loser, on 1 of the diamonds.

"Bravo! You are a genius," shouted her partner and clapped her hands.
"It's only because you had a good teacher," smiled her teacher, complimenting himself.
"It's only because you have my genes," Erik complimented himself, adding a smile of his own.

Erik's mother didn't manage to score above average. But that's not what matters. She had a great time and a fun experience. Erik and his partner finished the tourney on 2nd place. Yes... That board messed up the 1st place for them. But what can you do? Mother - You have only one!

Oren's Double Dummy Challenge #24**

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.

Oren's Double Dummy Challenge - 24**

You are playing 6♠. West leads the ♣10. You covered with the ♣Q, East won with the ♣K and continued with the ♣3. You must make your contract against any defense. Good luck!
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** Difficulty level: medium.













Solution: 

You covered with the ♣Q and East took with the ♣K and continued with the ♣3. Ruff with the ♠10 , play spade to the ♠A, continue with the ♣8 and ruff East's ♣J. Play the ♠Q , diamond to the ♦K and continue with the ♣7. East will cover again with the ♣A . Ruff it with your last trump. Play another diamond to your ♦A. Cash East's last trump with your ♠K and play another spade (throw 2 diamonds from hand) to reach this ending:



When you play the ♣6 from dummy, West is squeezed in the red suits.

Well done to everyone who solved the problem!

Seeing through cards #11

Dealer South. North South Vulnerable. Difficulty level: Hard.

You are defending 4♥. West leads the ♠J and you win with the ♠A. This one is a real challenge! Let's see if you can set them!

1. How many points does partner have?
2. What is partner's shape?
3. How will you continue?

Solution: 

1. How many points does partner have?
   North has 14, and South at least 12 for his opening. You have 11. That gives partner maximum 3 points (maybe 4, if south opened light).



2. What is partner's shape?
   It is likely that with a 5-card fit in diamonds, no more than 1 heart and shapely hand, partner will sacrifice to 5♦ at any cost at this vulnerability. As N-S have at least 8 hearts together, partner cannot have more than a singleton. It is also possible that with a singleton club he would either try to lead it or bid 5♦ (with 2 singletons). So, it is likely to find partner with 2 clubs (no more than 2 as South supported with 3♣ ), 4 diamonds, 1 heart and 6 spades.



3. How will you continue?
   This is not an easy one, even with open cards. You have 3 sure tricks: 2 aces, and the ♥K. If partner has the ♣Q, it's a wasted honor card as it will drop doubleton or it will get finessed by declarer who will surely try to draw trumps first, and throw diamond losers on the good clubs later. You cannot expect to find partner with the ♠Q either, as he has lead the ♠J. If you could only put partner on lead to get a spade ruff... But you CAN!... If partner has ♦QJ or ♦Q9: Play a low diamond at trick 2. Partner will cover whatever South plays and N will win the trick with the ♦K.
   
   When declarer plays trumps, you will win with the K and play again a low diamond to you partner. A spade continuation from him will set the contract: 1 spade, spade ruff, 1 heart and 1 diamond for the defense.


Things to remember:

• West's 3♦ bid suggests a sac by E-W, given the favorable vulnerability. It cannot be a strong bid, as all other 3 players showed good hands, but it should be distributional. Notice that if N-S have a sure game here, 5♦ will be a good sacrifice, losing 1 heart, 1 diamond and 2 clubs for -300 (2 down) in an accurate play.
• You sacrificed your ♦A but you made sure your partner will get the lead for a spade ruff.
• Timing is everything here. If you would try to play passively, declarer will be able to draw your trumps and cash his high clubs, making 10 tricks (or 11 if you don't cash your diamond).