faiman@eludom.DEC (Neil Faiman ZKO2-3/N30 381-2017) (04/24/84)
The problem:
S:AJ54
H:K73
D:AQ3
C:KQ5
S:T8732 S:9
H:86 H:QJT42
D:T6 D:KJ72
C:J873 C:AT4
S:KQ6
H:A95
D:9854
C:962
Contract:3N Lead:8H
Here is another solution to the double-dummy problem.
I think this is a little simpler than some of the others, since it
doesn't require setting up a diamond trick. The key is that eventually,
East can always be endplayed in one of the minors.
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We have four spades and two hearts, so we need three tricks in the minors.
Take the first trick (either hand) and run four spades, throwing a
diamond from hand. East will have to come down to eight cards.
A. East keeps four hearts and four cards in the minors.
1. D-K, C-AT4. Just knock out the C-A and take 2 diamonds and
one club.
2. D-KJx, C-A. Small club to the A, take 2 clubs and the D-A.
3. D-KJ, C-AT. Play the C-K.
a. East ducks. Play a small club to the A; take 2 clubs and
2 diamonds for an overtrick.
b. East takes the A and returns a heart (or a club to the Q).
Take the C-Q and the H-A, and exit with a heart. East will
have to return a diamond into the AQ after taking his hearts.
B. East keeps three hearts and five cards in the minors.
1. D-KJx, C-AT. Just like A.3.
2. D-KJ, C-ATx. Cash the H-A and exit with a heart. If East cashes
his last heart, you can safely discard a diamond from dummy. East
has to exit with a small club, keeping A over KQ. Now cash the D-A
and lead the D-Q to the A. East has to lead a club up to Qx.
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I haven't gone into the variations where East keeps only two hearts and six
cards in the minors, but they can all be reduced to one of the variations
given above.
Neil Faiman
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