[Walddk]

Scoring: Total Points

S: 4H
Lead: Spade Jack

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Bridge problems with all cards exposed are called "double dummy". Here is a deal from a teaching table the other day where you see all 52 cards. South arrived in a normal looking 4♥ after she opened a strong 2♣. Maybe she miscounted, but it's actually an excellent evaluation as the Kaplan & Rubens Hand Evaluator suggests that the hand is worth 22.15.

However, 4♥ has four losers, two in each minor (unless West cashes ♦A or beats thin air if a diamond is played toward dummy), whereas 3NT is a make even on a club lead because East has no entry. In fairness, it is very difficult to get to 3NT when you have a 5-4 fit in a major.

The student, understandably, went one down in 4♥ after West led the jack of spades. Could she have made it with all cards in view?

Please remember that this is the Beginner and Intermediate forum, so if your skill level is higher, you are kindly requested to refrain from answering (or at least use hidden text) until the B&I's have had a chance to get a closer look.

Roland

[vuroth]

Okay.

Spoiler

Draw trump, and concede a club. Win the return. Run a diamond to the queen, and cash out your 2 spade tricks and your ace of clubs.

At this point, 2 spades, 2 hearts, 1 diamond and 2 clubs have been played. You're in your hand.

Exit the 4 of spades, discarding your third club from dummy. West has to win, and has only spades and diamonds left. If he exits spades, you ruff-and-sluff a diamond loser away. If he exits a diamond, he either cashes the ace, promoting your king, or underleads the ace.

Note that you have to concede a club before cashing your second spade. If you don't, west can win and exit a spade, preventing you from endplaying him.

You lose 1 club, 1 diamond, and 1 spade

[Cyberyeti]

vuroth, on Aug 25 2010, 05:44 AM, said:

Okay.

Spoiler

Draw trump, and concede a club. Win the return. Run a diamond to the queen, and cash out your 2 spade tricks and your ace of clubs.

At this point, 2 spades, 2 hearts, 1 diamond and 2 clubs have been played. You're in your hand.

Exit the 4 of spades, discarding your third club from dummy. West has to win, and has only spades and diamonds left. If he exits spades, you ruff-and-sluff a diamond loser away. If he exits a diamond, he either cashes the ace, promoting your king, or underleads the ace.

Note that you have to concede a club before cashing your second spade. If you don't, west can win and exit a spade, preventing you from endplaying him.

You lose 1 club, 1 diamond, and 1 spade

I came up with a different solution (hidden follows):

Spoiler

Draw trumps, AK ruff a spade, duck a club.

Win club return and play D to the Q,
or
let D return run to the 8 and Q club to A trump back to dummy

in either case now play a D beating Es card cheaply. W can cash 2 diamonds but must allow you to ruff and discard your second club loser.

[Phil]

I think this is a very interesting single-dummy problem.