Problema 119 by Terence Reese

Buenos Aires, 23 de Septiembre de 2015

For over 40 years the Argentine Bridge Association (ABA) edited a bimonthly magazine, with articles from the best bridge masters of the time: Charles Goren, Terence, Reese, Ian Wohlin, George S. Coffin, Pierre Albarrán among others.

Not to mention the articles of the Grand Masters from Argentina as: Ricardo Argerich, Carlos Cabanne, Egisto Rocchi, Marcelo Lerner, Carlos Herrera, Arturo Jacques, Eugenio Frias Bunge, Adolfo Madala and more!!!

March / April 1958 page 46, I extracted the following problem:

A 4  A Q J 7 4  7 6 2  6 5 2

K 10 5 2  8 2 A K 5  A K 8 4

South opened 1NT and after a heart transfer by North, he finished as a 3NT declarer.

Lead: 3

What is your plan for 9 tricks?

Follow the arrow to find the solution

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The declarer must win the lead!, to prevent the defense to attack clubs with a trick under their belt.

The declarer can afford losing four tricks, two diamonds and two hearts; his plan should be to ensure communication between the dummy and your hand.

If declarer after winning the diamond lead starts playing a heart to the Q, he risks East having  K 10 x x, plays low. East giving this trick condemns the contract since declarer only will make two heart tricks.

The solution to this communication problem is to play a small heart from both hands at trick two.

East wins the trick and plays a diamond, now if South holds up, he can win the fourth trick and play a heart to the Q ensuring three tricks of heart and making his 9 promised tricks.

The four hands were:

	A 4  A Q J 7 4  7 6 2  6 5 2
J 9 7  5 3  Q 10 8 3  Q 9 7 3		Q 8 6 3  K 10 9 6  J 9 4  J 10
	K 10 5 2  8 2 A K 5  A K 8 4

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