DOUBLE DUMMY PROBLEMS

DOUBLE DUMMY PROBLEMS PUZZLES AND RECREATIONAL MATH Dick Hess E-mail: rihess@cox.net Phone: 1-310-547-3637 4100 Palos Verdes Drive East Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275-6462 Mobile: 1-310-227-6061 BY DICK HESS Introduction: These double dummy problems are prepared for the Gathering for Gardner 12 held in Atlanta from 30 March to 3 April 2016. Each problem asks you to show how south as declarer can make the indicated number of tricks. The problems come from various sources including the Encyclopedia of Bridge, Vanity Fair's Problem Book, and Bridge Squeezes Complete, by C. Love. Happy puzzling from Dick Hess. A Take all 6 tricks. 106 KQ J9 432 Q85 KQ 42 107 SOLUTION A Alternate leading 's from south and 's from north, taking the trick as cheaply as possible each time to finesse your way to victory. 106 KQ J9 432 42 107 Q85 KQ B Take all 6 tricks. 65 QJ K J10 852 Q8 654 97432 SOLUTION B Alternate leading 's and 's, trumping the trick as cheaply as possible each time to cross ruff your way to victory. 65 QJ K J10 852 Q8 654 97432

C Take 2 of 3 tricks. J4 32 Q108 976 SOLUTION C Lead the 10 or the Q. If west (a) ducks the lead: north plays the 2. (b) covers the 10 with the J: north plays the K and leads the 2. South covers east's play. (c) takes the Q with the A: west is end played. J4 32 Q108 976 D Clubs are trumps. Take all 3 tricks. 3 Q7 K 10 97 SOLUTION D North leads the 7 and south trumps with the A. If west plays (a) the 3: south trumps a or in north's hand. (b) a or : south leads the promoted winner and north overruffs if west ruffs. 3 Q7 K 10 97 E Take all 4 tricks. 3 96 8 K10 7 10 10 J5 SOLUTION E South leads the 10; north discards the 9 and east has no convenient discard. 3 96 8 K10 7 10 10 J5 F East is on lead. Take 3 of 4 tricks. Q10 2 J2 10 7 43 8654 SOLUTION F East plays the 4 and south plays the 3 to produce the position shown. South leads the 5, guaranteeing two tricks in 's. Q10 J2 7 4 865

G Take all 4 tricks. Q10 J 2 AJ Q10 SOLUTION G South plays the A and west must play the A. North plays the 2 and east is squeezed in 3 suits. Q10 J 2 AJ Q10 H Take all 4 tricks. J5 9 K 2 J9 8 Q4 3 SOLUTION H North plays the K and south plays the 9 to produce the position shown. South leads the 5 to north's A to take a finesse for the last two tricks. J 9 2 J Q4 3 I Take 3 of 4 tricks. 7 109 76 QJ 3 Q10 J SOLUTION I South leads the A and the 3 to put east on lead with the Q to produce the position shown. Declarer will score two 's after east's lead. 7 QJ Q10 J Clubs are trumps. Take all 4 tricks. A4 9 6 5 2 J2 J5 3 8 SOLUTION J Lead the J. If west plays (a) a : north plays the A, leads a, south ruffs and north's hand is good. (b) a : north plays the 5. South leads the 2, north ruffs and south's hand is good. A4 9 6 5 2 J2 J5 3 8

K Take 3 of 4 tricks. J103 A 62 Q4 Q10 95 SOLUTION K Lead the A. If west plays (a) the 3: north plays the 2 and south plays the 4. (b) the J or 10: north leads the 6 or 8 and south covers with the Q only if east plays the 9. J103 A 62 Q4 Q10 95 L Take 3 of 4 tricks. Q4 Q AJ K7 4 4 SOLUTION L South leads the A. If west plays (a) a : north gets two tricks. (b) the Q: south leads the 7. (c) A: south cashes the K and leads a. Q4 Q AJ K7 4 4 M West leads the 10. Take 4 of 5 tricks. Q8 107 J102 10 943 Q9 765 Q9 SOLUTION M North plays the 10 on the first trick and south plays the Q to produce the position shown. South leads the 9 to finesse in 's and scores another. Q8 7 J102 943 76 Q9 N Take all 5 tricks. 875 2 2 5 963 QJ4 A SOLUTION N Lead the A. East must toss a red A (Shown for the A in the position at right). Whichever he does south leads low to north's K and north cashes the good red K, squeezing east for the remaining tricks. 875 2 963 QJ4

O Take all 5 tricks. 87 6 A108 9 6 J10 4 Q9 QJ J10 SOLUTION O Lead the J to produce the position shown. On the lead of the 10 north plays the 6 and east must toss the J. South leads the Q to squeeze west for the final tricks. 8 6 A10 9 6 10 4 Q9 Q J10 P Take 4 of 5 tricks. 1096 8 Q7 9 10 5 8 7 Q96 SOLUTION P Lead the 5. (a) If east wins, his best return is a to south's K. West discards a, north a. South plays the A; whichever suit west sheds, north keeps. (b) If north holds the first trick he leads the 8, producing the position at right. West's return squeezes east. 1096 Q7 10 8 Q9 Q Clubs are trumps. Take all 5 tricks. Q75 109 32 102 J8 1093 QJ SOLUTION Q South leads the A and east must toss a to produce the position shown. South leads the J. If west plays (a) the Q: north plays the K and south's hand is good. (b) a low : north ducks and south plays the 8 to north's K and south's hand is good. Q75 10 3 102 J8 109 QJ R Take all 5 tricks. J6 Q 3 AJ3 105 Q94 4 6 SOLUTION R South plays the A. If west plays (a) the 6: south leads to the K and finesses the 10 on the lead of the 3. (b) a : north plays the 3 and his hand is good. (c) the A: north plays the 3 and south leads the K to squeeze west. J6 Q 3 AJ3 105 Q94 4 6

S Take 4 of 6 tricks. Q 10 KJ10 7642 1097 8 Q 8 Q53 SOLUTION S North plays the A and then the 2. South plays the 9 to produce the position shown with east on lead. The defense gets only one more trick. Q KJ 7642 1097 8 Q5 T Take 5 of 6 tricks. Q7 Q6 864 J AJ10 Q 3 832 SOLUTION T Lead the A. If west plays (a) a : north plays the K. South leads a low and north/south get the rest. (b) a : north plays the J. South leads the 2, west takes a and north/south get the rest. Q7 Q6 864 J AJ10 Q 3 832 U Take 5 of 6 tricks. 854 J 5 J 32 5 7 83 Q 10942 J SOLUTION U Lead the 2 and ruff with the A. If west plays (a) the 4: declarer draws trumps and cashes winners in 's and 's. (b) the 5: north takes two tricks and leads the 3 to endplay west. 854 J 5 J 32 5 7 83 Q 10942 J V Take 5 of 6 tricks. 43 A85 Q8 1063 K96 J9 J1072 Q SOLUTION V North plays the Q and east must play a. South plays the 9 and west tosses a. North then plays the Q and 8 to produce the position shown with south on lead. South plays the J and whoever takes the trick is end-played. A85 1063 9 J J2

W Take all 6 tricks. QJ10 2 J6 9 4 Q AQJ 3 7 8 K543 SOLUTION W Lead the A and Q, to produce the position shown. South leads the 3 and west must play a or. East must discard the other suit. If east plays (a) a : north leads the 9, south trumps, and leads a to QJ J6 9 4 3 7 8 K5 north's good hand. (b) the 5: north plays the K, and south trumps if east covers. X Take all 6 tricks. 73 10 5 63 9 82 4 J106 62 743 SOLUTION X Lead the J and north plays the 8. Lead a, which north trumps, producing the position shown. North leads the 6 and east must toss a. South discards the Q, and west must toss the 7. North now leads the A and east is squeezed. 7 10 6 9 106 6 74 Y 3 7 964 3 A2 1032 754 2 6 8 85 KJ SOLUTION Y South leads the A; north throws the A. South then leads the 7 from the positon shown. If west plays (a) the K: north plays the A and leads the 2. Then south takes two tricks, forcing east to un-guard 's or 's. (b) the 3: north plays the 2, south then 3 7 964 A2 1032 754 6 8 85 K leads the 4, north ruffs with the A and leads the 2. South takes the 5 and east is squeezed. Z Take 6 of 7 tricks. J76 95 J 83 5 642 4 J Q76 6 10 K84 SOLUTION Z South leads the 6 and north trumps with the 5, leads the J and south plays the K. North leads a to finesse east's Q. South takes his second to produce the position shown. South leads the 4 to eventually give north the 8 and a third. J76 83 6 4 Q7 K8

AA Q43 J 75 103 A2 72 65 4 4 87 94 SOLUTION AA Lead the 4 and ruff with the K. Cash the A and lead the 3 to produce the position shown. Lead the 9. North plays the 2 and west must discard a and east a. South leads the J for the rest. Q4 J 10 2 72 6 8 9 BB 8 96 Q86 10 85 K2 98 4 107 107 J95 SOLUTION BB Lead the 9. East must un-guard either 's or 's. The case for 's is shown at right. South next leads the 8 and west must shed a, north throws the 2 and east plays the 9. The lead of AK squeezes east for the final tricks. 96 Q86-85 K2 8 4 107 107 J9 CC 2 98 7 J Q 108 Q 84 1032 43 63 7 65 SOLUTION CC Lead the Q and north plays the A. North then plays the 5. If east plays (a) the 3: west plays a. North's K is covered by south's A to produce the position shown. The 8 is lead and west is squeezed in 3 suits. (b) the 6: south plays the 8 and leads the 4 to squeeze west in 3 suits. 7 J 108 8 1032 4 6 65 DD 8765 5 J Q Q1095 J93 10 10 8764 SOLUTION DD South leads the 3 to north's Q. North plays the K and Q to produce the position shown. The 5 lead from north squeezes east. 8765 1095 J93 876

EE 75 J Q43 103 72 2 94 J65 4 94 87 SOLUTION EE Lead the 4. North plays the 10 and east discards the 4. North plays the A and the 3 to south's 5 to produce the position shown. South leads the 9 and north tosses the 2. If west plays (a) a : south leads the 6 for north to trump, promoting south's hand. (b) a : east sheds a. South J Q4 now leads the J and west is helpless. 72 9 J6 9 8 FF J10 10 QJ 5 A9 43 K 32 Q 106 Q 8765 SOLUTION FF South leads the K and north overtakes to produce the position shown. North plays the 9 and south plays a. J10 If west plays (a) the 10: 10 north plays the K and the QJ 5; west is squeezed in 's and 's. (b) the 10 or J: north plays the K and then 's or 's to squeeze west out of tricks. 5 43 K 32 Q 106 Q 876 GG Take 3 of 7 tricks. K92 9 A 6 J1072 4 108 2 10 Q754 97 SOLUTION GG South leads the 4 and north plays the A and 6, taken by east to produce the position shown. If east leads (a) the 9: south plays the 5. East leads the 4, south plays the K and leads the 8, assuring he wins the 10. (b) the 4: south plays K and leads the 5. East plays (b1) the 5: south plays the K9 9 J1072 108 Q754 9 8. West must take and lead a and south will score the 10. (b2) the 9: south plays the 8, west plays the J and leads a to let south score the 10. HH West leads the 5. Take all 12 tricks. 1097532 75 864 Q 43 KQ10732 84 AQ1085 96 5 J6 9762 Q10 J9 SOLUTION HH North plays the 3 and leads the K and then the 4, won by south's 8. The 5 from south and 's from north. If east ruffs then south over-ruffs, draws trumps and reaches a good north hand in 's. If east refuses to ruff we 1097 Q AQ10 97

II Take all 12 tricks. 107 1083 J1097 85 K7 K86542 86432 Q632 62 QJ9 AKJ1074 95 SOLUTION II North plays the K. If east plays (a) a : south overruffs, plays the A and takes a ruffing finesse in 's to kill west's K and a finesse for the rest. (b) a : south plays a, ruffs out the K as above, takes a finesse, plays his good 's, crosses to the A and ruffs a. The 9 to north's A ends with AKJ over east's Q63. (c) a : south plays the 9 and north leads the 8 to finesse east in 's. South plays the 5 to north's A and repeats the finesse in 's if necessary. South then plays all his 's, squeezing west in 3 suits. JJ West leads the 10. Take 10 of 13 tricks. 765432 AK KJ32 1098765432 1098 K 765432 Q54 QJ1098 QJ1098 76 SOLUTION JJ Allow east to win the 10 and north takes the next two tricks with the A and J to produce the position shown. North plays the 3. If east plays (a) a : south plays the Q and works on 's, using south's A entry first. (b) a : south wins with the A and works on 's, using north's K entry first.. 765432 AK K3 QJ1098 QJ1098 109876543 K 765432 Q KK Take all 10 tricks. J10 J10 8764 Q86 AQ86 6 93 3 5 QJ105 7542 7542 9 SOLUTION KK South plays the Q and east must play 's or 's (we will assume 's). North plays the 6. South now finesses 's to get two tricks by north to produce the position shown. North leads the 8 to squeeze west and he must discard a. South continues with the J and 10 and north J10 876 86 AQ86 3 5 J105 7 7542 9 plays his 's to squeeze east out of any tricks. LL West leads the J. Take 12 of 13 tricks. 432 J987 J10876 1032 10432 KQ92 765 AJ98654 543 SOLUTION LL Take the A and shed the Q from south. Draw three rounds of trumps, shedding the 2 and 2 from north. Lead the Q; east must duck to produce the position shown. Lead the 5 toward the 10. West must take or 103 1043 KQ9 J987 1087 1098 7 65 AJ9865 54

MM West leads the J. Take all 13 tricks. J10985 94 J J986 K A108 Q863 Q54 732 Q7652 107 Q64 3 1097542 K32 SOLUTION MM North takes the K and leads the 3. South cashes the A. The next 6 tricks have south finessing west in 's 3 times and north leading 's for south to trump high twice. North takes the A to give the position shown. North leads the Q and south plays the 10. If east plays (a) the 6: west must play the 9; then the Q from north spells the end. (b) the 3: north plays the 109 J9 5 for south to ruff and north's hand is good. Q5 73 7 10 Q6 K3 NN West leads the 2. Take 10 of 13 tricks. 62 72 9 Q109752 QJ8 8543 632 84 K1093 AQ 754 K6 754 J106 KJ10 J3 SOLUTION NN North wins the 8 and leads the 3 to finesse the Q. Two rounds of 's produces the position shown. North leads the 8. If east plays (a) a : north gets an eventual ruff. (b) a : south trumps with the A, cashes the A and leads the 9 to north, who leads a for south to trump with the K. South 6 7 9 Q1097 QJ 854 632 8 K109 A 754 75 J10 KJ10 leads the 10 to north, who cashes the 8. (c) a : whatever east returns south can set up his 4th.