BRIDGE

 by  Malcolm Simpson

 

Answers to last month’s Christmas Quiz.

 

Question 1    Bidding

i.  (c) 2 Spades      ii.   (b) 1 No-Trump     iii.  (c) 2Clubs    iv.  (a) 2 Hearts    v.   (b) 3 Diamonds

 

Question 2.  Declarer Play

West is Declarer in Six spades and North leads the four of diamonds.

 

 

NORTH

S: 6  

H:106

D: J9843

C: 107532

 

WEST

S: AKQJ109

H: AK5

D: Q7

C: AK

 

EAST

S: 752

H: J8432

D: A105

C: 84

 

 

 

 

 

SOUTH

S: 843

H: Q97

D: K62
C: QJ96

 

 

 

 

In the hope that North has led away from the king, West should play the five of diamonds from dummy.  Not surprisingly, South wins with the king.  Now West must have the presence of mind to unblock the QUEEN of diamonds.  After drawing trumps, West can now finesse North for the jack of diamonds and discard his losing heart on the ace.

 

Question 3    Defence

 

North                             East

      (dummy)                       (you)

    S 872                             S K3

    H A843                          H Q752

    D 752                             D A4

   C AKJ                            C 87543

Against 3 no-trumps by South, West leads a  spade, which you take with the king (South plays the ten) and return the suit to South’s jack and partner’s ace.  Partner now plays a third spade, won by South’s queen. Which card do you discard?

Answer ACE OF DIAMONDS.

Partner has 2 top spades to cash, if only he can get in.  He now needs only Jxx or Qx  in diamonds to do so!         

 (Full deal available on request.)

 

Question 4    Cryptic Clues

 

i.                     LAND(lad)Y

ii.                     SENIOR

iii.                  ROB-SON

iv.                  BLACK-WOOD

v.                   F-LINT

vi.                  K-AM-BITES

vii.                CUL-BERT(S)-SON

viii.               (e-seer) REES-E

ix.                  MARK-US

x.                   JERONIMIDES   (anagram)

 

A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR READERS!