By Joel Hoersch
Editor, District 22 Forum
Last summer Terry Badger of Escondido, Calif., sent me a delightful book of double-dummy problems that he had compiled and published in 1996. Double-dummy problems, as most of you know, are bridge puzzles where all four hands are shown, and the reader is challenged to work out the best line of play (or defense) to make (or break) a specified contract. They are often a good way to learn technical plays and techniques that can be put to good use in the “real” world of the bridge table.
The hand below is from Terry’s book, and it is practical enough so that it could be posed as a straightforward “play or defend” problem. The specified contract is 4Í, and the specified opening lead is the ËK.
Given that information, would you rather be the declarer, or would you bet on the defenders to prevail?
Study the hand carefully and make your decision. It will help if ... when you Click Here to check your solution against the analysis ... you cover the text you find there with a sheet of paper or cardboard, and read the explanation one paragraph at a time, to see how well your solution will stand up. I should warn you, though, that the entire process is much like peeling an onion: it always seems that there’s another totally different layer beneath what you thought was the key to the matter ... and you may end up crying!
Í 1076
Ì AK
Ë 63
Ê KJ9843
Í 2
Ì Q106
Ë KQ10874
Ê A102
Í AKQ854
Ì 9852
Ë J95
Ê void