{"id":171,"date":"2023-09-14T20:39:43","date_gmt":"2023-09-15T00:39:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stephenrshalom.net\/?page_id=171"},"modified":"2023-09-24T19:38:05","modified_gmt":"2023-09-24T23:38:05","slug":"bridge-problems","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/stephenrshalom.net\/?page_id=171","title":{"rendered":"Bridge Problems"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Constructed by Stephen R. Shalom<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to my late father, Albert Shalom, for helpful comments.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Problem 1<\/a> | Problem 2<\/a> | Problem 3<\/a>
Problem 4<\/a> | Problem 5<\/a> | Problem 6<\/a>
Problem 7<\/a> | Problem 8<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n

 <\/p>\n<\/a>

Problem 1<\/h4>\n
\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

North
\u2660 63
\u2665 4
\u2666AQJ53
\u2663 Q7543<\/td>\n		\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

West
\u2660 AQJ872
\u2665 75
\u2666987
\u2663 86
<\/td>\n		\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

East
\u2660 104
\u2665 863
\u2666 K1064
\u2663 J1092
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

South
\u2660 K95
\u2665 AKQJ1092
\u26662
\u2663 AK
<\/td>\n		\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n

\n\n\n\n\n
Dealer: West
Vul: North-South<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
W<\/td>\nN<\/td>\nE<\/td>\nS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2\u2660¹<\/td>\nP<\/td>\n4\u2660²<\/td>\n5\u2665<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
P<\/td>\nP<\/td>\nP<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
¹ Weak<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
² Preemptive<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Opening lead: \u26669<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
\n\n
\n

You are sitting South and East’s non-vulnerable 4\u2660 bid gives you a problem. Since your hand has about 15 high card points more than your usual, you decide it’s better to declare than defend and you take a stab at 5\u2665. On any lead other than a diamond there are eleven top tricks. So naturally, West leads a diamond, removing your entry to dummy. How can the contract be made?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Answer<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/span>\n\n

 <\/p>\n<\/a>

Problem 2<\/h4>\n
\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
North
\u2660 74
\u2665 AJ1092
\u2666J93
\u2663 742<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

 <\/p>\n \n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

South
\u2660 K9653
\u2665 K5
\u2666K5
\u2663 AKQJ<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n		\n\n\n\n\n
Dealer: West
Vul: North-South<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
W<\/td>\nN<\/td>\nE<\/td>\nS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2\u2666¹<\/td>\nP<\/td>\n3\u2660<\/td>\n3NT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
P<\/td>\nP<\/td>\nP<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
¹ Weak<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Opening lead: \u2663 3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
\n\n
\n

From the bidding, South can place West with six diamonds to the ace and queen, and East with all the spades. The opening lead marks West with one, three, or four clubs. How can South guarantee the contract?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Answer<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/span>\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n<\/a>

Problem 3<\/h4>\n
\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

North
\u26608763
\u2665A734
\u266672
\u2663AQ3<\/td>\n		\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

West
\u26605
\u2665QJ953
\u2666Q1054
\u26631087
<\/td>\n		\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

East
\u2660KQJ1092
\u266510
\u2666J96
\u2663J96
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

South
\u2660A4
\u2665K86
\u2666AK83
\u2663K542
<\/td>\n		\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n

\n\n\n\n\n
Dealer: East
Vul: Neither<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
E<\/td>\nS<\/td>\nW<\/td>\nN<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2\u2660<\/td>\nDBL<\/td>\nP<\/td>\n3\u2665<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
P<\/td>\n4\u2663<\/td>\nP<\/td>\n5\u2663<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
P<\/td>\nP<\/td>\nP<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Opening lead: 5\u2660<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
\n\n
\n

3NT would have been a lot easier. But don’t despair! South can still bring home the contract. How?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Answer<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/span>\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n<\/a>

Problem 4<\/h4>\n
\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

North
\u26607632
\u2665KQ32
\u2666J54
\u266353<\/td>\n		\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

West
\u2660J10985
\u2665104
\u2666A9
\u26639874
<\/td>\n		\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

East
\u2660KQ
\u2665J987
\u2666Q862
\u2663KJ6
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

South
\u2660A4
\u2665A65
\u2666K1073
\u2663AQ102<\/td>\n		\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n

\n\n\n\n\n
Dealer: East
Vul: North-South<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
E<\/td>\nS<\/td>\nW<\/td>\nN<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1NT¹<\/td>\nDBL<\/td>\n2\u2660<\/td>\nDBL<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
P<\/td>\n2NT<\/td>\nP<\/td>\n3NT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
P<\/td>\nP<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
¹ Weak, 12-14 HCP<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Opening lead: \u2660J<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
\n\n
\n

How can declarer make 3NT?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Answer<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/span>\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n<\/a>

Problem 5<\/h4>\n
\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

North
\u2660AK6
\u2665QJ10973
\u266697
\u266353<\/td>\n		\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

West
\u26609752
\u26658642
\u26662
\u2663J974
<\/td>\n		\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

East
\u2660Q83
\u2665K5
\u2666AQ1086
\u2663K108
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

South
\u2660J104
\u2665A
\u2666KJ543
\u2663AQ62<\/td>\n		\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n

\n\n\n\n\n
Dealer: East
Vul: Neither<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
E<\/td>\nS<\/td>\nW<\/td>\nN<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1\u2666<\/td>\nP<\/td>\nP<\/td>\n2\u2665<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
P<\/td>\n3NT<\/td>\nP<\/td>\nP<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
P<\/td>\nP<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Opening lead: \u26662<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
\n\n
\n

What should East’s plan be?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Answer<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/span>\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n<\/a>

Problem 6<\/h4>\n
\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

North
\u2660KQJ2
\u2665J4
\u2666AJ8
\u2663QJ73<\/td>\n		\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

West
\u266097
\u26655
\u2666Q4
\u2663AK1086542
<\/td>\n		\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

East
\u2660A8
\u2665KQ9762
\u2666K653
\u26639
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

South
\u2660106543
\u2665A1083
\u266610972
\u2663—<\/td>\n		\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n

\n\n\n\n\n
Dealer: North
Vul: Both<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
N<\/td>\nE<\/td>\nS<\/td>\nW<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1NT¹<\/td>\nP<\/td>\n2\u2663<\/td>\n4\u2663<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
DBL<\/td>\nP<\/td>\n4\u2660<\/td>\nP<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
P<\/td>\nDBL<\/td>\nP<\/td>\nP<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
P<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
¹ 15-17 HCP<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
\n\n
\n

“Great!” moaned West. “I pushed the opponents into an unbeatable game.”<\/p>\n

“It’s worse than that,” pointed out a tactless kibitzer. “You could have beaten the contract.”<\/p>\n

How?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Answer<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/span>\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n<\/a>

Problem 7<\/h4>\n
\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

North
\u2660K
\u2665AQ
\u2666AKQJ
\u2663986543<\/td>\n		\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

 <\/td>\n\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

South
\u2660AQJ10
\u2665J1098
\u2666752
\u2663A2<\/td>\n		\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n

\n\n\n\n\n
Dealer: East
Vul: East-West<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
E<\/td>\nS<\/td>\nW<\/td>\nN<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
P<\/td>\n1NT¹<\/td>\nP<\/td>\n6NT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
P<\/td>\nP<\/td>\nP<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
¹ Weak, 12-14 HCP.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Opening lead: 9\u2660<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
\n\n
\n

How should declarer play to make 6 no trump?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Answer<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/span>\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n<\/a>

Problem 8<\/h4>\n
\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

North
\u2660AK
\u2665K985
\u2666QJ10983
\u26636<\/td>\n		\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

West
\u2660 8643
\u2665 1032
\u2666A7
\u2663 9873
<\/td>\n		\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

East
\u2660 752
\u2665 AQJ7
\u2666K2
\u2663 J542
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

South
\u2660 QJ109
\u2665 64
\u2666654
\u2663 AKQ10
<\/td>\n		\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n

\n\n\n\n\n
Dealer: South
Vul: Both<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
S<\/td>\nW<\/td>\nN<\/td>\nE<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1\u2663<\/td>\nP<\/td>\n1\u2666<\/td>\nP<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1\u2660<\/td>\nP<\/td>\n2\u2665<\/td>\nP<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2NT<\/td>\nP<\/td>\n3NT<\/td>\nP<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
P<\/td>\nP<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Opening lead: \u26639<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
\n\n
\n

After the opening lead of the \u26639, with best play by both sides who will prevail, Declarer or Defense?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Answer<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n\n<\/span>\n\n\n\n

Home<\/a> Articles<\/a> Puzzles<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Constructed by Stephen R. Shalom Thanks to my late father, Albert Shalom, for helpful comments. Problem 1 | Problem 2 | Problem 3Problem 4 | Problem 5 | Problem 6Problem 7 | Problem 8   Problem 1   North \u2660 63 \u2665 4 \u2666AQJ53 \u2663 Q7543   West \u2660 AQJ872 \u2665 75 \u2666987 \u2663 86   East \u2660 104 \u2665 863 \u2666 K1064 \u2663 J1092 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/stephenrshalom.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/171"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/stephenrshalom.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/stephenrshalom.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/stephenrshalom.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/stephenrshalom.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=171"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"http:\/\/stephenrshalom.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/171\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":459,"href":"http:\/\/stephenrshalom.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/171\/revisions\/459"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/stephenrshalom.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=171"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}