Novice/Intermediate Declarer Problem of the Month
July, 1999
This problem is inspired by a deal that arose during a bracketed knockout at last month's Regional in Cherry Hill, NJ.
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NORTH  Q J T 6 K 7 A 8 5 3 8 4 3 |
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SOUTH A K 8 5 3A 6 4K 4A Q 9 |
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| AUCTION | |||
| SOUTH | WEST | NORTH | EAST |
| 2N | Pass | 3 |
Pass |
| 3 |
Pass | 4N | Pass |
| 5 |
Pass | 5 |
Pass |
| 5 |
Pass | 6 |
Pass |
| Pass | Pass | ||
A word about the bidding: 2N promises a balanced 20-21 HCP that may include a 5-card major. 3
is puppet stayman, asking opener to bid a 5-card major directly, bid 3 with one or both 4-card
majors, or to bid 3N with no 5- or 4-card major. 3 shows a 5-card spade suit and
4N is 1430 RKC blackwood. 5 indicates opener has four keycards (which includes the trump king).
5 asks if opener has the K,
and 5 says no.
West leads the Q. Plan the play when
1) Trumps are 2-2 (Novice - Intermediate)
2) East has 3 trumps (Intermediate +)
3) Finally, just for fun, pretend the contract is 7;
see any chances? (Intermediate +)
Solution to Play Problem, Part 1