Problem 1

North 63 4 AQJ53 Q7543   West AQJ872 75 987 86   East 104 863 K1064 J1092   South K95 AKQJ1092 2 AK

Dealer: West Vul: North-South W N E S 2¹ P 4² 5 P P P   ¹ Weak ² Preemptive Opening lead: 9

You are sitting South and East's non-vulnerable 4 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. 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?

Problem 2

North 74 AJ1092 J93 742     South K9653 K5 K5 AKQJ

Dealer: West Vul: North-South W N E S 2¹ P 3 3NT P P P   ¹ Weak Opening lead: 3

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?

Problem 3

North 8763 A734 72 AQ3   West 5 QJ953 Q1054 1087   East KQJ1092 10 J96 J96   South A4 K86 AK83 K542

Dealer: East Vul: Neither E S W N 2 DBL P 3 P 4 P 5 P P P             Opening lead: 5

3NT would have been a lot easier. But don't despair! South can still bring home the contract. How?

Problem 4

North 7632 KQ32 J54 53   West J10985 104 A9 9874   East KQ J987 Q862 KJ6   South A4 A65 K1073 AQ102

Dealer: East Vul: North-South E S W N 1NT¹ DBL 2 DBL P 2NT P 3NT P P     ¹ Weak, 12-14 HCP Opening lead: J

How can declarer make 3NT?

Problem 5

North AK6 QJ10973 97 53   West 9752 8642 2 J974   East Q83 K5 AQ1086 K108   South J104 A KJ543 AQ62

Dealer: East Vul: Neither E S W N 1 P P 2 P 3NT P P P P     Opening lead: 2

What should East's plan be?

Problem 6

North KQJ2 J4 AJ8 QJ73   West 97 5 Q4 AK1086542   East A8 KQ9762 K653 9   South 106543 A1083 10972 --

Dealer: North Vul: Both N E S W 1NT¹ P 2 4 DBL P 4 P P DBL P P P       ¹ 15-17 HCP

"Great!" moaned West. "I pushed the opponents into an unbeatable game."

"It's worse than that," pointed out a tactless kibitzer. "You could have beaten the contract."

How?

Problem 7

North K AQ AKQJ 986543           South AQJ10 J1098 752 A2

Dealer: East Vul: East-West E S W N P 1NT¹ P 6NT P P P   ¹ Weak, 12-14 HCP. Opening lead: 9

How should declarer play to make 6 no trump?

Problem 8

North AK K985 QJ10983 6   West 8643 1032 A7 9873   East 752 AQJ7 K2 J542   South QJ109 64 654 AKQ10

Dealer: South Vul: Both S W N E 1 P 1 P 1 P 2 P 2NT P 3NT P P P     Opening lead: 9

After the opening lead of the 9, with best play by both sides who will prevail, Declarer or Defense?

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