A puzzle is a problem or enigma that tests the ingenuity of the solver. In a basic puzzle, one is intended to put together pieces in a logical way in order to come up with the desired solution. Solutions to puzzles may require recognizing patterns and creating a particular order. Today Board #18 faced Alfredo Versace with a not trivial puzzle…most of us thought he was not going to be able to solve it…but Alfredo once again showed us all how wrong we were …
Board #18 Dealer East, N/S Vul
|
| West | North | East | South |
| Versace | Gower | Zaleski | Apeteker |
| Pass | 1 |
||
1 |
2 * |
3 |
4 |
| 4 |
Pass | Pass | Double |
| The End |
* forcing
Lead: K
( Apeteker/Gower play upside down carding).
Declarer lost the first trick (South played the 3) and ruffed the second heart round (North played the 10 and South the A) . He had two inevitable club losers…so he couldn’t afford to lose a diamonds or a spade. Alfredo needed more information…and went to look for it. He started playing a club, North won the trick with his 
J…The first moment of truth arrived very soon…Gower played back the 7 (hiding his 5) …As Apeteker was the board opener… and the double located with some certainty the king of spades in his hands, Versace decided to play the A…LINE!!! South played his K first problem solved…and now he went on looking for more information…he played another club. South won the trick with his K and played the 7 , Versace won the trick with the A, Gower played the 2. Alfredo continued playing a spade to the Q Apeteker pitch the 6, and returned to his hand ruffing a club, North played the Q.
What did North have for a forcing 2] bid?, he showed K, Q and Q, J? It seemed that he needed Q for his forcing overcall…if this was the position he needed a 2-6-2-3 distribution with originally Q x. So his next card was K … BINGO!!! and claimed 10 tricks.
I like to play bingo very often … but I never witnessed a person who earned line and bingo with the same cardboard…No doubt there is always a first time for everything…
In the other Room Sementa-Duboin for Italy bidded hearts to the 5 level and their opps chose to play 5…Sementa doubled…3 down…500 + 590= 14 IMPs…
PD: We sent this article to Alfredo and he added:
ok nice ty just to say that i have no comunication to ruff last club but if he had 2 6 1 4–he would have lead diamond after partner opened a diamond! ty again anight
TY to you Alfredo…