AN HONORS BOOK FROM MASTER POINT PRESS

Hugh Darwen

Double Dummy
Problems in the
21st Century
Bridge Problems from 2005 to 2022

Volume One: Difficulty Ratings 1-4

 Text © 2023 Hugh Darwen
Cover image: serg_dibrova/Shutterstock.com

All rights reserved.

Honors eBooks is an imprint of Master Point Press. All contents, editing and
design (excluding cover design) are the sole responsibility of the authors.

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ISBN: 978-1-77140-363-4

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23456 26 25 24
 Contents
Preface v
The Problems 7
DR1 Problems 8
DR2 Problems 10
DR3 Problems 16
DR4 Problems 30
Definitions 43
Solutions 51
DR1 Problems 51
DR2 Problems 57
DR3 Problems 85
DR4 Problems 155

iii
 Preface
This is the first of a two-volume sequel to my A Compendium
of Double Dummy Problems (2021, Master Point Press), also
available as an e-book. However, here I give full solutions to
the problems rather than mere hints as given in the
Compendium.
A double dummy problem is a puzzle in card play
where the rules follow those of bridge and its predecessor,
whist. You are shown all four hands and given a target in
terms of the number of tricks to be won by either the North-
South partnership (usually) or the East-West one, with either
the nominated suit as trumps or no trumps. You must assume
that each player can see all the hands, also that no player ever
misses an available winning play.
A double dummy problem should have only one
solution (barring insignificant variations in the order of play)
and that is the case for all the problems in this book.
The collection comprising these two volumes is derived
from problems set for competitive solving at my website,
Double Dummy Corner, between 2005 and 2022. The
volumes are split according to the perceived difficulties of the
problems. This volume presents the easier ones, rated 1 to 4.
In assigning a Difficulty Rating (DR)to each problem, on a
scale of 1 to 8, I am guided by suggestions given by
successful solvers.
Links
In this e-book links, shown underscored and in blue, like this,
are provided to make it easy to navigate from a problem to its
corresponding solution, and back again. In a problem setting,
click on its DR indicator. In a solution, click on the problem
number, repeated as Problem n at the end of the solution to
return to the relevant problem page.

v
vi Preface

Acknowledgements
Most of the composers of problems in this collection were still
active at the time of writing. Biographical information about
them is given at the aforementioned website. I have enjoyed
not only receiving their contributions over the years but also
their patience in working with me to draft the solutions (any
remaining errors are, of course, my own, and will be reported,
with corrections, at the website).
Hugh Darwen
 The Problems
As you will see, there are usually four problems on each page, each given
with an attribution (usually, the composer’s name) and the Difficulty
Rating (DR) that was assigned to it when the competition closed,
following suggestions from successful solvers. Footnotes give additional
comments where necessary.
Some of the problems are footnoted as being based on a previously
published original by a different composer. The original problem was in
most cases found to be unsound (“cooked”—having at least one
alternative solution to the one intended). If the footnote omits “unsound”,
then the new composer has found a better layout, perhaps making the
problem even more interesting than the original one. One composer in
particular, Paolo Treossi, has produced many such improvements based
on problems that first appeared in George Coffin’s books Sure Tricks
(1948) and Double Dummy Bridge (1966), both published by himself, or
in the UK monthly, Bridge Magazine, from 1951 onwards, where the
solving competitions were run by Ernest Pawle from 1948 to 1966,
thereafter by me (though my column switched to other UK magazines
until it ceased altogether in 2005). I have kept records of all previously
published problems that my computer found to be unsound and made
them available to other composers who might be interested in seeking
fixes.

7
8 The Problems

DR1 Problems

1. by Sebastian Nowacki, 2012 DR1 3. by Julian Pottage, 2014 DR1

♠ 54 ♠ 98765432
♥7 ♥ QJ1094
♦ 742 ♦ none
♣9 ♣ none
♠ 73 ♠8 ♠ none ♠ AKQJ10
♥ 86 ♥ none ♥ AK2 ♥ none
♦ 653 ♦ none ♦ 97532 ♦ AKQJ
♣ none ♣ 876542 ♣ 76543 ♣ KQJ10
♠ 92 ♠ none
♥ 9532 ♥ 87653
♦8 ♦ 10864
♣ none ♣ A982
South to lead at no-trumps. South to make one heart
North-South to win six tricks. against any lead and defence.

2. by Leigh Matheson, 2013 DR1 4. by Ian Budden, 2014 DR1

♠ K32 ♠ K32
♥ 432 ♥ AKQJ
♦ 8765432 ♦ none
♣ none ♣ 987654
♠ J109 ♠ 8765 ♠ Q7654 ♠ 1098
♥ J109 ♥ Q87 ♥ 32 ♥ 54
♦ none ♦ AKQJ ♦ 5432 ♦ 109876
♣ 8765432 ♣ KJ ♣ A2 ♣ QJ10
♠ AQ4 ♠ AJ
♥ AK63 ♥ 109876
♦ 109 ♦ AKQJ
♣ AQ109 ♣ K3
South to make three no-trumps. South to make six no-trumps.
West leads the ♠J. West leads the ♠5.
 DR1 Problems 9

5. by Paolo Treossi, 20161 DR1

♠ 987
♥ J10943
♦ K5432
♣ none
♠ 10 ♠ QJ
♥ 8765 ♥ AKQ2
♦ QJ10 ♦ 987
♣ AKQ32 ♣ 8765
♠ AK65432
♥ none
♦ A6
♣ J1094
South to make seven spades.
West leads the ♦Q.

1
based on an unsound original by
George Coffin, No. 96 in Sure Tricks
 DR2 Problems
6. by Steve Bloom, 2008 DR2 8. by Hugh Darwen, 2010 DR2

♠A ♠ 932
♥ K2 ♥ A97
♦ Q87654 ♦ K876
♣ K876 ♣ 1098
♠ K765 ♠ J10 ♠ K108 ♠7
♥ none ♥ Q109876543 ♥ KJ62 ♥ 543
♦ J10 ♦ K9 ♦ J10 ♦ AQ9432
♣ AQ9543 ♣ none ♣ AQ76 ♣ J32
♠ Q98432 ♠ AQJ654
♥ AJ ♥ Q108
♦ A32 ♦5
♣ J10 ♣ K54
South to make six diamonds. How do East-West defeat South’s
West leads the ♦J. contract of two spades?

7. by Vincent Labbé, 2008 DR2 9. by Ian Budden, 2011 DR2

♠ A982 ♠ 6543
♥ AJ8 ♥ AQ10
♦ A76 ♦ A32
♣ AQ9 ♣ J106
♠ 76 ♠ Q543 ♠Q ♠ KJ10982
♥ K109 ♥ 765432 ♥ K987654 ♥J
♦ KQJ109 ♦8 ♦ K765 ♦ J109
♣ K87 ♣ 106 ♣Q ♣ K87
♠ KJ10 ♠ A7
♥Q ♥ 32
♦ 5432 ♦ Q84
♣ J5432 ♣ A95432
South to make six no-trumps. South is to make five clubs.
West leads the ♦K. (a) West leads the ♠Q.
(b) North and East exchange the ♦2
and ♠2 and West leads the ♣Q.

10
 DR2 Problems 11

10. by Sebastian Nowacki, 2011 DR2 12. by “Con Vention”, 19402 DR2

♠2 ♠ 63
♥ A1042 ♥ K652
♦3 ♦ AQ3
♣ none ♣ A873
♠7 ♠ none ♠ AQ872 ♠ none
♥ J93 ♥ 65 ♥ 87 ♥ QJ109
♦8 ♦ 72 ♦ KJ862 ♦ 1097
♣6 ♣ J5 ♣2 ♣ QJ10965
♠ none ♠ KJ10954
♥ 87 ♥ A43
♦ J4 ♦ 54
♣ A7 ♣ K4
East is on lead at no-trumps. South to make four spades.
North-South to win five tricks. West leads the ♣2.

11. by Ian Budden, 2012 DR2 13. by Steve Bloom, 2013 DR2

♠ A8765 ♠ Q6
♥ 5432 ♥ AK9
♦ none ♦ 76
♣ A932 ♣ AK10432
♠9 ♠ KQ10 ♠ A107 ♠ K8
♥ K876 ♥ J109 ♥ QJ432 ♥ 8765
♦ AK32 ♦ 7654 ♦ none ♦ KQ5432
♣ KJ87 ♣ 654 ♣ 98765 ♣J
♠ J432 ♠ J95432
♥ AQ ♥ 10
♦ QJ1098 ♦ AJ1098
♣ Q10 ♣Q
What must West lead to allow South South to make four spades.
to make six spades? How is the West leads the ♥Q.
contract then made against best
subsequent defence?

2
i.e., Saul Cass. It was published in 2012.
12 The Problems

14. by Hugh Darwen, 2013 DR2 16. by Stefan Ralescu and

Hugh Darwen, 2014 DR2

♠ J106 ♠ 432
♥ Q542 ♥ K4
♦ AJ32 ♦ AQ84
♣ AJ ♣ A432
♠ KQ9 ♠ 87 ♠ K1087 ♠ J9
♥ 109 ♥ 876 ♥ Q65 ♥ 987
♦ K1097 ♦ 8654 ♦ 109 ♦ J765
♣ Q1098 ♣ 7654 ♣ 9876 ♣ QJ105
♠ A5432 ♠ AQ65
♥ AKJ3 ♥ AJ1032
♦Q ♦ K32
♣ K32 ♣K
South to make five no-trumps South to make six hearts.
against any defence. West leads the ♦10.

15. by Ian Budden, 2013 DR2 17. by Ian Budden, 2014 DR2

♠ 5432 ♠ A87
♥ 543 ♥ 432
♦ J43 ♦ 5432
♣ A107 ♣ A73
♠ 76 ♠ KQJ1098 ♠ J1092 ♠ Q65
♥ J10 ♥K ♥ AQ6 ♥ J10987
♦ KQ765 ♦ 1098 ♦ KQJ9 ♦ 10876
♣ J986 ♣ Q43 ♣ 65 ♣K
♠A ♠ K43
♥ AQ98762 ♥ K5
♦ A2 ♦A
♣ K52 ♣ QJ109842
(a) South to make six hearts. South to make five clubs.
West leads the ♠7. West leads the ♦K.
(b) Which lead defeats the contract?
 DR2 Problems 13

18. by Ian Budden, 2014 DR2 20. by Stefan Ralescu, 2014 DR2

♠ QJ7432 ♠ K32
♥ A106 ♥ K975
♦ Q32 ♦ 5432
♣6 ♣ 32
♠ 1098 ♠ AK65 ♠ 76 ♠ Q1098
♥ J98 ♥ Q7 ♥ 1043 ♥ Q2
♦ 10987 ♦ K65 ♦7 ♦ KJ1098
♣ 1098 ♣ AQJ7 ♣ KJ87654 ♣ 109
♠ none ♠ AJ54
♥ K5432 ♥ AJ86
♦ AJ4 ♦ AQ6
♣ K5432 ♣ AQ
South to make four hearts. South to make six hearts against any
West leads the ♦10. defence.

19. by George Coffin, 19803 DR2 21. by Hugh Darwen, 2014 DR2

♠ QJ ♠ QJ10
♥ J94 ♥ A32
♦ 10954 ♦ J432
♣ A1098 ♣ 432
♠ 832 ♠ K1076 ♠K ♠ 432
♥ 1087 ♥ Q65 ♥ QJ109 ♥ K8765
♦ KQJ876 ♦ none ♦ K10987 ♦ 65
♣K ♣ 765432 ♣ K87 ♣ J109
♠ A954 ♠ A98765
♥ AK32 ♥4
♦ A32 ♦ AQ
♣ QJ ♣ AQ65
South to make five no-trumps. South to make five spades.
West leads the ♦K. West leads the ♥Q.

3
published in 2014
14 The Problems

22. by Paolo Treossi, 20154 DR2 24. by Paolo Treossi, 20146 DR2

♠ K9 ♠ A107
♥ K3 ♥ 95
♦Q ♦ 42
♣ A6 ♣8
♠ Q7653 ♠J ♠ KQ5432 ♠9
♥ Q5 ♥ 92 ♥ Q7 ♥ J6
♦ none ♦ AJ ♦ none ♦ QJ9
♣ none ♣ K4 ♣ none ♣ J9
♠ 843 ♠ J86
♥8 ♥K
♦2 ♦ K3
♣ Q3 ♣ Q4
South to lead at no-trumps. South to lead at no-trumps.
North-South to make five tricks. North-South to make six tricks.

23. by Paolo Treossi, 20155 DR2 25. by Paolo Treossi, 20167 DR2

♠ AQ84 ♠ KJ103
♥2 ♥ AK82
♦ 5432 ♦ Q105
♣ AK102 ♣ K7
♠ K5 ♠ 107632 ♠ 987 ♠ Q654
♥ KQJ109 ♥8 ♥ QJ7 ♥ 6543
♦ 76 ♦ KJ10 ♦ J98432 ♦K
♣ 6543 ♣ J987 ♣A ♣ J1098
♠ J9 ♠ A2
♥ A76543 ♥ 109
♦ AQ98 ♦ A76
♣Q ♣ Q65432
South to make five no-trumps. South to make six no-trumps.
West leads the ♥K. West leads the ♦4.

4 6
based on an unsound original by based on another unsound original
Alfred P. Sheinwold by Alfred P. Sheinwold
5
inspired by N.Y. Wilson’s 7
based on an unsound original by
6-carder, #141 in Sure Tricks Jock Milton
 DR2 Problems 15

26. by Paolo Treossi, 2016 DR2 28. by Steve Bloom, 2017 DR2

♠ 32 ♠ AQ10
♥ QJ10432 ♥ A1087
♦ J2 ♦ Qx2
♣ AJ8 ♣ A102
♠ none ♠ KJ10987 ♠ KJ ♠ 987
♥ K9876 ♥5 ♥9 ♥ QJ65
♦ 109 ♦ K7654 ♦ 9x3 ♦ KJ10x
♣ Q76543 ♣9 ♣ 9876543 ♣ KQ
♠ AQ654 ♠ 65432
♥A ♥ K432
♦ AQ83 ♦ A87
♣ K102 ♣J
South to make six no-trumps. To six spades West leads the ♣9.
West leads the ♣4. The x’s represent the ♦4, ♦5, and ♦6.
(a) South is to make six spades when
North holds the ♦6.
(b) What happens in the other four
cases?
27. by Steve Bloom, 20168 DR2 29. by Ian Budden, 2017 DR2

♠ Q32 ♠K
♥ A32 ♥ 32
♦ 9432 ♦ AQ5432
♣ 432 ♣ AK43
♠K ♠ J109 ♠ 87 ♠ Q96
♥ QJ109 ♥ K8765 ♥ 8765 ♥ KJ104
♦ K8765 ♦ J10 ♦ 876 ♦ K109
♣ K87 ♣ J109 ♣ 8765 ♣ QJ10
♠ A87654 ♠ AJ105432
♥4 ♥ AQ9
♦ AQ ♦J
♣ AQ65 ♣ 92
South to make four spades. South to make six no-trumps.
West leads the ♥Q. West leads the ♥8.

8
An improvement of Problem 21.
 DR3 Problems
30. by Hugh Darwen, 2005 DR3 32. by J-M Maréchal, 2006 DR3

♠ AK432 ♠ 5432
♥ Q2 ♥ 102
♦ none ♦ A432
♣ QJ10987 ♣ AK2
♠6 ♠ J10987 ♠ KQJ ♠ 109876
♥ 8765 ♥ J109 ♥ AJ9876 ♥ K5
♦ 109654 ♦ AQ32 ♦ K87 ♦J
♣ A65 ♣K ♣6 ♣ J10987
♠ Q5 ♠A
♥ AK43 ♥ Q43
♦ KJ87 ♦ Q10965
♣ 432 ♣ Q543
West to lead and East-West to defeat South to make five diamonds.
South’s contract of three no-trumps. West leads the ♣6.

31. by Julian Pottage, 2005 DR3 33. by Ian Budden, 2007 DR3

♠ AQ3 ♠ AJ8
♥ 10765 ♥ A65
♦ KQ83 ♦ J832
♣ A3 ♣ K86
♠ KJ10987642 ♠5 ♠ K765 ♠ 1094
♥ J32 ♥9 ♥ K32 ♥ J10987
♦ 10 ♦ J96542 ♦ 10975 ♦ KQ6
♣ none ♣ KQ542 ♣ J10 ♣ A9
♠ none ♠ Q32
♥ AKQ84 ♥ Q4
♦ A7 ♦ A4
♣ J109876 ♣ Q75432
South to make six hearts. South to make five clubs.
West leads the ♦10. West leads the ♦10.

16
 DR3 Problems 17

34. by Hugh Darwen, 2007 DR3 36. by Vincent Labbé, 2007 DR3

♠ 432 ♠ 862
♥Q ♥ Q42
♦ J9543 ♦ AKJ832
♣ 5432 ♣7
♠ KQJ5 ♠ 10876 ♠ none ♠ 107543
♥ 432 ♥ J765 ♥ J1098 ♥ 653
♦ none ♦ A876 ♦ Q109 ♦ 7654
♣ KJ10987 ♣6 ♣ KQJ1098 ♣A
♠ A9 ♠ AKQJ9
♥ AK1098 ♥ AK7
♦ KQ102 ♦ none
♣ AQ ♣ 65432
What lead by West defeats four South to make five spades against
hearts? How does South make four any lead.
hearts against any other lead?

35. by Ian Budden, 2007 DR3 37. by Vincent Labbé, 2010 DR3
♠ 654 ♠ Q10
♥ AK432 ♥ 932
♦ Q92 ♦ Q432
♣ 32 ♣ J932
♠ AQ10987 ♠K ♠ A98 ♠ J76
♥ 1096 ♥ QJ5 ♥ A854 ♥ J106
♦K ♦ 876543 ♦ 1098765 ♦ none
♣ 1076 ♣ KQ9 ♣ none ♣ KQ108654
♠ J32 ♠ K5432
♥ 87 ♥ KQ7
♦ AJ10 ♦ AKJ
♣ AJ854 ♣ A7
West to lead and East-West to defeat South to make three no-trumps.
South’s contract of three no-trumps. West leads the ♦10.
18 The Problems

38. by Steve Bloom, 2011 DR3 40. by F.Y. Sing, 2012 DR3

♠ Q1042 ♠ AQ108
♥ 1032 ♥ A5
♦ J32 ♦Q
♣ A103 ♣ none
♠ J9 ♠ AK83 ♠ J97 ♠K
♥ KJ987 ♥ Q6 ♥ K4 ♥ QJ
♦8 ♦ Q964 ♦ J4 ♦ K6
♣ K9654 ♣ 872 ♣ none ♣ KJ
♠ 765 ♠ none
♥ A54 ♥ 32
♦ AK1075 ♦ A52
♣ QJ ♣ AQ
South to make three no-trumps. South to lead at no-trumps.
West leads a heart. North-South to make six tricks.

39. by Paolo Treossi, 2012 DR3 41. by Vincent Labbé, 2013 DR3

♠ AQ ♠ K654
♥ A432 ♥ AKQ8
♦ K9 ♦ AQ
♣ A10962 ♣ K43
♠ 86543 ♠ J109 ♠ AQ987 ♠J
♥ 96 ♥ KQJ105 ♥ J765 ♥ 9432
♦ 10 ♦ Q7654 ♦ K65 ♦ 10987
♣ QJ854 ♣ none ♣Q ♣ 9865
♠ K72 ♠ 1032
♥ 87 ♥ 10
♦ AJ832 ♦ J432
♣ K73 ♣ AJ1072
South to make five clubs. What is West’s best lead against
West leads the ♠4. South’s six no-trumps and how is the
contract made against that lead?
 DR3 Problems 19

42. by Leslie Cass, 2013 DR3 44. by Tim Bourke, 2013 DR3

♠A ♠ A432
♥ J52 ♥ AJ2
♦ A7 ♦ 76
♣ 32 ♣ AK43
♠3 ♠2 ♠ Q65 ♠ none
♥ 986 ♥ A73 ♥ KQ1097 ♥ 865
♦ K6 ♦ 54 ♦ AJ54 ♦ 1098
♣ K4 ♣ J6 ♣5 ♣ QJ109876
♠ none ♠ KJ10987
♥ Q10 ♥ 43
♦Q ♦ KQ32
♣ AQ1097 ♣2
With spades trumps and West to South to make six spades.
lead, East-West to take three tricks. West leads the ♣5.

43. by Julian Pottage, 2013 DR3 45. by Robert Lemaire, 20139 DR3

♠ KJ82 ♠ AKQ
♥ 9732 ♥ Q63
♦K ♦ K4
♣ A752 ♣ AQ753
♠ 10 ♠ AQ976543 ♠ 987 ♠6
♥ KJ105 ♥ 96 ♥ J872 ♥ K54
♦ 10987653 ♦ J42 ♦ QJ1065 ♦ 987
♣K ♣ none ♣8 ♣ J109642
♠ none ♠ J105432
♥ AQ4 ♥ A109
♦ AQ ♦ A32
♣ QJ1098643 ♣K
South to make six clubs against a South to make seven spades.
black suit lead. West leads the ♦Q.

9
posthumously published
20 The Problems

46. by Wim van der Zijden, 2013 DR3 48. by Stefan Ralescu and
Hugh Darwen, 2013 DR3
♠2
♥ J10982 (a) ♠ AQ76543
♦ K65 ♥3
♣ KQ103 ♦ AQ3
♠ KQJ108 ♠ 976 ♣ Q4
♥ none ♥ KQ3 ♠ J1098 ♠K
♦ 10987 ♦ AQ4 ♥ none ♥ 10987654
♣ J976 ♣ A854 ♦ J10987 ♦ 65
♠ A543 ♣ KJ109 ♣ 765
♥ A7654 ♠2
♦ J32 ♥ AKQJ2
♣2 ♦ K42
♣ A832
South to make four hearts.
West leads the ♠K. ♠ Q765432
(b)
♥3
47. by Stefan Ralescu and ♦ AQ3
Hugh Darwen, 2014 DR3 ♣ Q4
♠ J1098 ♠K
♠ K43 ♥ none ♥ 10987654
♥ 762 ♦ J10987 ♦ 65
♦ AK ♣ KJ109 ♣ 765
♣ QJ1098 ♠A
♠ Q65 ♠ J987
♥ AKQJ2
♥ KJ1098 ♥ Q54 ♦ K42
♦ J10987 ♦ 65 ♣ A832
♣ none ♣ K765
♠ A102 In each of the layouts (a) and (b)
♥ A3 above your task is the same:
♦ Q432 1. Show how East-West can defeat
♣ A432 South’s contract of six no-
trumps.
South to make six no-trumps. 2. Show how the contract is made
West leads the ♦J.
against any other defence.
 DR3 Problems 21

49. by Paolo Treossi, 2014 DR3 51. by Ian Budden, 2015 DR3

♠ 10762 ♠ 9543
♥ Q732 ♥ K8765432
♦ K2 ♦K
♣ A43 ♣ none
♠9 ♠ K43 ♠ KQJ86 ♠ 107
♥ J1098 ♥ K654 ♥Q ♥ AJ109
♦ QJ10987 ♦6 ♦ Q10864 ♦ J975
♣ K5 ♣ 109876 ♣ QJ ♣ 987
♠ AQJ85 ♠ A2
♥A ♥ none
♦ A543 ♦ A32
♣ QJ2 ♣ AK1065432
South to make six spades. South to make five no-trumps
West leads the ♦Q. against any defence.

50. by Hugh Darwen, 2014 DR3 52. by Stefan Ralescu, 2015 DR3

♠ A54 ♠ AK2
♥ AJ3 ♥ J3
♦ QJ8 ♦ 72
♣ Q654 ♣ AK10987
♠ KQ6 ♠ J10987 ♠ 10987 ♠ J6
♥ Q1054 ♥ 9876 ♥ 98765 ♥ Q102
♦ 109 ♦ K76 ♦8 ♦ A9543
♣ K1087 ♣A ♣ QJ6 ♣ 432
♠ 32 ♠ Q543
♥ K2 ♥ AK4
♦ A5432 ♦ KQJ106
♣ J932 ♣5
South to make five diamonds. South to make six no-trumps.
West leads the ♣7. West leads the ♣Q.
22 The Problems

53. by Paolo Treossi and 55. by Paolo Treossi, 201511 DR3

Hugh Darwen, 201510 DR3

♠ AJ86 ♠ K2
♥A ♥ KQJ108
♦ 7653 ♦ J5432
♣ KJ95 ♣6
♠ 109 ♠ Q7543 ♠ A98765 ♠ QJ
♥ K10987 ♥2 ♥ 76 ♥A
♦ J10 ♦ K98 ♦ AKQ ♦ 109876
♣ 10432 ♣ Q876 ♣ 87 ♣ KQJ109
♠ K2 ♠ 1043
♥ QJ6543 ♥ 95432
♦ AQ42 ♦ none
♣A ♣ A5432
South to make five no-trumps. South to make five hearts.
West leads the ♣2. West leads the ♥7.

54. by Steve Bloom, 2015 DR3 56. by Vincent Labbé, 2015 DR3

♠ AQ952 ♠ J102
♥ Q32 ♥ AQ6
♦ A87 ♦ AQ108
♣ A6 ♣ K54
♠ KJ1043 ♠ 76 ♠ none ♠ Q9765
♥J ♥ K8754 ♥ K54 ♥ 10987
♦ QJ10 ♦ 65432 ♦ J75432 ♦K
♣ Q987 ♣ 10 ♣ QJ109 ♣ 876
♠8 ♠ AK843
♥ A1096 ♥ J32
♦ K9 ♦ 96
♣ KJ5432 ♣ A32
South to make six no-trumps against South to make seven no-trumps.
any defence. West leads the ♣Q.

10 11
based on the same 6-carder by based on an unsound original by
N.Y. Wilson as Problem 23 Ernest Pawle
 DR3 Problems 23

57. by Tim Bouke and 59. by Paolo Treossi, 201613 DR3

Hugh Darwen, 2016 DR3

♠5 ♠ 654
♥ J106 ♥A
♦ AK432 ♦5
♣ AQ83 ♣ AQ1065
♠ QJ10 ♠ 9876 ♠ none ♠ J987
♥ 5432 ♥ K98 ♥ QJ9 ♥ 87
♦ QJ10 ♦ 9876 ♦ 43 ♦ 9876
♣ KJ4 ♣ 65 ♣ KJ987 ♣ none
♠ AK432 ♠ A3
♥ AQ7 ♥ K65
♦5 ♦ J2
♣ 10972 ♣ 432
South is declarer in six no-trumps. South to lead at no-trumps.
How is the contract made when North-South to make eight tricks
West chooses the wrong queen to
lead at trick one?
58. by Paolo Treossi, 201612 DR3 60. by Stefan Ralescu, 2016 DR3

♠ K32 ♠ A8
♥ KJ8 ♥ J10
♦ AJ876 ♦ AJ82
♣ A6 ♣ K9832
♠ 96 ♠ A1087 ♠ 972 ♠ K6
♥ 10 ♥ Q765 ♥ 9543 ♥ KQ8
♦ 109543 ♦Q ♦ Q76 ♦ K543
♣ J10987 ♣ KQ32 ♣ J104 ♣ A765
♠ QJ54 ♠ QJ10543
♥ A9432 ♥ A762
♦ K2 ♦ 109
♣ 54 ♣Q
South to make six hearts. East-West to defeat four spades.
West leads the ♥10. West leads the ♣J.

12 13
based on an unsound original by a tiny change to N.Y. Wilson’s
Ernest Pawle, 1958 No.175 in Sure Tricks
24 The Problems

61. by Paolo Treossi, 2017 DR3 63. by Stefan Ralescu, 2017 DR3

♠ Q2 ♠ K107
♥ AK3 ♥A
♦ Q63 ♦ J654
♣ 87654 ♣ AK876
♠ 987 ♠ K3 ♠ Q92 ♠ 6543
♥ 109876 ♥ Q54 ♥ Q1032 ♥ 54
♦ A754 ♦ J1098 ♦ 32 ♦ 10987
♣3 ♣ QJ109 ♣ 9543 ♣ QJ10
♠ AJ10654 ♠ AJ8
♥ J2 ♥ KJ9876
♦ K2 ♦ AKQ
♣ AK2 ♣2
South to make six no-trumps. South to make six no-trumps against
West leads the ♣3. any defence.

62. by Paolo Treossi and 64. by Ken Ballans, 198815 DR3

Hugh Darwen, 201614 DR3

♠J ♠ AK108
♥ AQJ82 ♥ A32
♦ A432 ♦ K432
♣ K32 ♣ J9
♠ 76543 ♠ K109 ♠ J9 ♠ Q765
♥ 106543 ♥K ♥ 10987 ♥K
♦Q ♦ J10987 ♦ 9876 ♦ QJ10
♣ A4 ♣ QJ109 ♣ 1043 ♣ K8765
♠ AQ82 ♠ 432
♥ 97 ♥ QJ654
♦ K65 ♦ A5
♣ 8765 ♣ AQ2
South to make five no-trumps. South to make six spades.
West leads the ♥4. West leads a spade.

14 15
based on an unsound original by published in 2017, based on an
David Solis-Cohen Jr. original by Adam Calmonson
 DR3 Problems 25

65. by F.Y. Sing, 2017 DR3 67. by Steve Bloom, 2017 DR3

♠ AQJ ♠ Q107
♥ AJ5 ♥ 10875
♦ 5432 ♦ A32
♣ Q32 ♣ 832
♠ K9 ♠ 876 ♠ 984 ♠ J65
♥ 109 ♥ Q876 ♥9 ♥ KJ4
♦ KJ ♦ Q1098 ♦ K10765 ♦ J98
♣ KJ109876 ♣ 54 ♣ KJ96 ♣ Q754
♠ 105432 ♠ AK32
♥ K432 ♥ AQ632
♦ A76 ♦ Q4
♣A ♣ A10
South to make five spades. South to make six hearts.
West leads the ♣6. West leads the ♠9.
How does the play change if South’s
♦A is exchanged with North’s ♦5?

66. by F.Y. Sing, 2017 DR3 68. by Hugh Darwen, 2017 DR3

♠ AQJ ♠ KQJ92
♥ AJ5 ♥ none
♦ A432 ♦ K8432
♣ Q32 ♣ 1098
♠ K109 ♠ 87 ♠ A754 ♠ none
♥ 109 ♥ Q876 ♥ 10432 ♥ K98765
♦K ♦ QJ1098 ♦ Q6 ♦ A97
♣ KJ109876 ♣ 54 ♣ 654 ♣ QJ32
♠ 65432 ♠ 10863
♥ K432 ♥ AQJ
♦ 765 ♦ J105
♣A ♣ AK7
South to make five spades. South to make five spades.
West leads the ♦K. West leads the ♠A, then the ♠4.
26 The Problems

69. by Hugh Darwen, 2018 DR3 71. by F.Y. Sing, 201816 DR3

♠ A2 ♠ none
♥ 65432 ♥ Q82
♦ QJ109 ♦ AQ9876
♣ 32 ♣ Q1032
♠ K43 ♠5 ♠ AQJ10987 ♠ 654
♥ 10987 ♥ AQJ ♥ AJ ♥ K107
♦ 32 ♦ AK8765 ♦ 32 ♦ K1054
♣ KQ76 ♣ 1084 ♣ 54 ♣ 876
♠ QJ109876 ♠ K32
♥K ♥ 96543
♦4 ♦J
♣ AJ95 ♣ AKJ9
South to make two spades against West to lead and East-West to defeat
any defence. South’s contract of four hearts.

70. by Tim Bourke and 72. by Hugh Darwen and

Hugh Darwen, 2018 DR3 Stefan Ralescu, 2018 DR3

♠ A765 ♠J
♥ A54 ♥ AQ432
♦ 543 ♦ 54
♣ A43 ♣ QJ982
♠ J1098 ♠ none ♠ Q43 ♠ 109876
♥ KQ ♥ J109876 ♥ K9765 ♥8
♦ KJ106 ♦ 97 ♦6 ♦ KQ987
♣ KQ2 ♣ 98765 ♣ 7654 ♣ K3
♠ KQ432 ♠ AK52
♥ 32 ♥ J10
♦ AQ82 ♦ AJ1032
♣ J10 ♣ A10
South to make three spades. South to make six no-trumps.
West leads the ♥K. West leads the ♦6.

16
based on an original by
J-M Maréchal, published in 1996
 DR3 Problems 27

73. by Steve Bloom, 2019 DR3 75. by Stefan Ralescu, 2019, DR3

♠ A32 ♠ AQ2
♥2 ♥ Q7543
♦ 92 ♦ 8732
♣ AQ107654 ♣2
♠ 7654 ♠ QJ109 ♠ K109 ♠ 8765
♥A ♥ KJ1098 ♥ J2 ♥ K96
♦ 87654 ♦ KJ10 ♦ QJ5 ♦ A96
♣ KJ3 ♣2 ♣ KQ1098 ♣ 543
♠ K8 ♠ J43
♥ Q76543 ♥ A108
♦ AQ3 ♦ K104
♣ 98 ♣ AJ76
South to make six no-trumps. South to make four hearts.
West leads the ♠7. West leads the ♣K.

74. by Hugh Darwen, 2019 DR3 76. by Hugh Darwen, 202017 DR3

♠ 75 ♠ A1084
♥ K4 ♥ J63
♦ Q105 ♦ Q32
♣ 1098765 ♣ QJ10
♠ 32 ♠ A4 ♠J ♠ K765
♥ QJ109 ♥ 8765 ♥ K1094 ♥ 87
♦ 9876 ♦ AJ43 ♦ A65 ♦ J10987
♣ AK2 ♣ Q43 ♣ 98765 ♣ K4
♠ KQJ10986 ♠ Q932
♥ A32 ♥ AQ52
♦ K2 ♦ K4
♣J ♣ A32
South to make four spades. South to make four spades.
West leads the ♣A. West leads the ♣9.

17
with an improvement suggested by
Ian Budden and Steve Bloom
28 The Problems

77. by Steve Bloom, 2019 DR3 79. by Steve Bloom, 2021 DR3

♠ QJ5 ♠2
♥Q ♥ AKQ5432
♦ KQ6432 ♦2
♣ A32 ♣ 7632
♠ 109 ♠ K32 ♠ AQ10 ♠ J987
♥ A654 ♥ J10987 ♥ 98 ♥ J107
♦ J1095 ♦7 ♦ J654 ♦ 1098
♣ K54 ♣ 10976 ♣ QJ109 ♣ K54
♠ A8764 ♠ K6543
♥ K32 ♥6
♦ A8 ♦ AKQ73
♣ QJ8 ♣ A8
(a) South to make six no-trumps. South to make six hearts.
West leads the ♦J. West leads the ♣Q.
(b) East to lead and East-West to
defeat six no-trumps by North.

78. by Hugh Darwen, 1970s18 DR3 80. by Wim van der Zijden, 2021 DR3
♠ QJ432 ♠ AKJ92
♥ J1083 ♥ 102
♦A ♦A
♣ AQ2 ♣ A8765
♠ 10987 ♠ K65 ♠ 10876 ♠ Q543
♥2 ♥ Q97654 ♥ J98 ♥ Q654
♦ K10876 ♦5 ♦ QJ10 ♦ 9876
♣ K98 ♣ 1076 ♣ Q43 ♣2
♠A ♠ none
♥ AK ♥ AK73
♦ QJ9432 ♦ K5432
♣ J543 ♣ KJ109
South to make five clubs. South to make six no-trumps.
West leads the ♥2 West leads the ♦Q.

18
published at doubledummy.net in
2021
 DR3 Problems 29

81. by Ian Budden, 2022 DR3

♠ A8
♥ J43
♦ 96543
♣ J107
♠ Q9 ♠ 107654
♥ A987 ♥ Q1065
♦ AJ87 ♦ Q10
♣ 965 ♣ K4
♠ KJ32
♥ K2
♦ K2
♣ AQ832
South to make three no-trumps.
West leads a club.

82. by Ian Budden, 2022 DR3

♠ Q3
♥ 108432
♦ AJ53
♣ Q10
♠ K10864 ♠ J975
♥ 97 ♥ KJ5
♦ 98 ♦ K764
♣ AK64 ♣ 82
♠ A2
♥ AQ6
♦ Q102
♣ J9753
South to make four no-trumps.
West leads the ♥9.
 DR4 Problems
83. by Eugenius Paprotny, 2005 DR4 85. by Leslie Cass, 2006 DR4

♠ AKJ4 ♠ AJ9
♥2 ♥ 1054
♦ A942 ♦ A94
♣ 10654 ♣ A1095
♠ Q1093 ♠ 87 ♠ 32 ♠ Q654
♥ 876 ♥ KQ1095 ♥ K8 ♥ J962
♦ KJ75 ♦3 ♦ QJ108 ♦ K765
♣ 97 ♣ KQJ83 ♣ QJ643 ♣2
♠ 652 ♠ K1087
♥ AJ43 ♥ AQ73
♦ Q1086 ♦ 32
♣ A2 ♣ K87
South to make three no-trumps. South to make five spades.
West leads the 8. West leads the ♠3.

84. by Julian Pottage DR4 86. by J-M Maréchal, 2006 DR4

♠ K543 ♠ K10
♥ K43 ♥ 10543
♦ 765432 ♦ 76543
♣ none ♣ J2
♠ none ♠ AQ2 ♠ J98765 ♠ 43
♥ QJ109876 ♥ A5 ♥ AQJ ♥ K9876
♦ K98 ♦ QJ10 ♦ 1098 ♦ KJ
♣ KQ9 ♣ A10876 ♣ 10 ♣ Q976
♠ J109876 ♠ AQ2
♥2 ♥2
♦A ♦ AQ2
♣ J5432 ♣ AK8543
South to make three spades. South to make three no-trumps
West leads the 6. against any defence.

30
 DR4 Problems 31

87. by Hugh Darwen, 2007 DR4 89. by Steve Bloom, 2008 DR4

♠ 432 ♠ Q10432
♥ 9862 ♥ 876
♦ K972 ♦Q
♣ 32 ♣ K832
♠ 76 ♠ QJ98 ♠ J98765 ♠ none
♥ KQ10 ♥ J7543 ♥J ♥ Q943
♦ Q83 ♦ A4 ♦ AKJ5 ♦ 10987
♣ Q10986 ♣ 75 ♣ 109 ♣ J7654
♠ AK105 ♠ AK
♥A ♥ AK1052
♦ J1065 ♦ 6432
♣ AKJ4 ♣ AQ
South to make five diamonds. South to make three no-trumps.
West leads the K. West leads the K.

88. by Steve Bloom, 2008 DR4 90. from Yong Hao Ng, 200919 DR4

♠ 76 ♠ Q7
♥ 432 ♥ A10832
♦ AJ432 ♦ 87
♣ 1032 ♣ KQ53
♠ KQ53 ♠ 108 ♠ 109854 ♠ K3
♥ AJ7 ♥ Q1098 ♥ KJ ♥ 9765
♦ K105 ♦ 9876 ♦ Q6 ♦ A5432
♣ A65 ♣ 987 ♣ A1094 ♣ 76
♠ AJ942 ♠ AJ62
♥ K65 ♥ Q4
♦Q ♦ KJ109
♣ KQJ4 ♣ J82
South to make two clubs. South to make three no-trumps.
West leads the A. West leads the 10.

19
from actual play, analysed by
Yong Hao Ng and solved by Jinzhou
Loo
32 The Problems

91. by Steve Bloom, 2010 DR4 93. by Steve Bloom, 2010 DR4

♠ KJ2 ♠ 9876
♥ Q108 ♥ QJ2
♦ K432 ♦ A1032
♣ AK3 ♣ 32
♠ 10 ♠ Q865 ♠ AJ ♠ 10543
♥ K9654 ♥J ♥ 8765 ♥K
♦ AQ ♦ J9876 ♦ 8765 ♦ QJ9
♣ QJ1094 ♣ 765 ♣ 976 ♣ AKQJ8
♠ A9743 ♠ KQ2
♥ A732 ♥ A10943
♦ 105 ♦ K4
♣ 82 ♣ 1054
South to make five spades. South to make four hearts against a
West leads (a) the ♣Q, (b) the ♦A. trump lead. What lead would have
defeated the contract?

92. by Ian Budden 2010 DR4 94. by Steve Bloom, 2011 DR4

♠ A102 ♠ 432
♥ 32 ♥ J932
♦ A65432 ♦ AK632
♣ A2 ♣8
♠ QJ98 ♠ 76543 ♠ KQ10765 ♠ 98
♥ QJ8 ♥ K109 ♥ none ♥ K108765
♦ K98 ♦J ♦ J8 ♦ Q754
♣ QJ10 ♣ 9654 ♣ Q9654 ♣A
♠K ♠ AJ
♥ A7654 ♥ AQ4
♦ Q107 ♦ 109
♣ K873 ♣ KJ10732
South to make five no-trumps. South to make two no-trumps
West leads the ♠Q. against any lead by West.
 DR4 Problems 33

95. by Steve Bloom, 2011 DR4 97. by Steve Bloom, 2011 DR4

♠ KQ2 ♠ AK2
♥ 632 ♥ KQ432
♦ AK32 ♦ 5432
♣ A104 ♣Q
♠ A107 ♠3 ♠Q ♠ J9876
♥ Q987 ♥ AJ ♥ J765 ♥ 1098
♦ 765 ♦ QJ1098 ♦ Q1098 ♦J
♣ KQJ ♣ 98765 ♣ 10987 ♣ A543
♠ J98654 ♠ 10543
♥ K1054 ♥A
♦4 ♦ AK76
♣ 32 ♣ KJ62
South to make four spades. South to make five no-trumps.
West leads the ♣K. West leads the ♥5.
How is the contract defeated on the How is the contract defeated if West
same lead if the ♠7 and ♠8 are leads (a) a club, or (b) a diamond?
swapped?

96. by Steve Bloom, 2011 DR4 98. by Ian Budden, 2011 DR4

♠ AQJ62 ♠ A2
♥ AJ754 ♥ J65432
♦6 ♦ AJ432
♣ 82 ♣ none
♠ 108 ♠ K7543 ♠K ♠ J543
♥ K1032 ♥9 ♥K ♥ Q10987
♦ 1098 ♦ KQ7 ♦ KQ76 ♦ 1098
♣ 7654 ♣ QJ109 ♣ A1098765 ♣Q
♠9 ♠ Q109876
♥ Q86 ♥A
♦ AJ5432 ♦5
♣ AK3 ♣ KJ432
South to make five no-trumps South to make four spades.
against any lead by West. West leads the ♦K.
34 The Problems

99. by Paolo Treossi, 201320 DR4 101. by Hugh Darwen, 2013 DR4

♠ A932 ♠ 65432
♥ AQ1093 ♥ none
♦ A76 ♦ A432
♣3 ♣ KQ65
♠ QJ107 ♠ 8654 ♠A ♠ KQJ109
♥ KJ ♥8 ♥ 108765 ♥ AKQ
♦ K109 ♦ 85432 ♦ QJ1098 ♦ 765
♣ Q854 ♣ J97 ♣ J10 ♣ 87
♠K ♠ 87
♥ 76542 ♥ J9432
♦ QJ ♦K
♣ AK1062 ♣ A9432
South to make six no-trumps against South to make five clubs against any
any lead. lead by West.

100. by Paolo Treossi, 2013 DR4 102. by Paolo Treossi, 201421 DR4

♠ K732 ♠ K104
♥ Q43 ♥ none
♦ AK ♦ AKQJ
♣ AK65 ♣ A98754
♠ none ♠ QJ1065 ♠Q ♠ AJ8765
♥ KJ5 ♥ 9876 ♥ J1092 ♥ 76543
♦ J9876 ♦5 ♦ 876 ♦ 102
♣ QJ872 ♣ 1093 ♣ QJ1063 ♣ none
♠ A984 ♠ 932
♥ A102 ♥ AKQ8
♦ Q10432 ♦ 9543
♣4 ♣ K2
South to make four no-trumps. South to make five no-trumps.
West leads the ♣Q. West leads the ♣Q.

20 21
based on an unsound original by based on an unsound original by
Robert Lattés and with a Ernest Pawle (in Bridge Magazine,
modification suggested by F.Y. Sing July, 1951)
 DR4 Problems 35

103. by Wim van der Zijden, 2014 DR4 105. by Paolo Treossi, 201323 DR4

♠ 32 ♠ J10873
♥ A32 ♥ A6
♦ Q432 ♦ 1082
♣ A832 ♣ Ax2
♠ KQJ987 ♠ 10 ♠ KQ654 ♠9
♥ none ♥ J1087654 ♥ 32 ♥ QJ954
♦K ♦ J1098 ♦9 ♦ KJ7654
♣ QJ9765 ♣ 10 ♣ KJ963 ♣Q
♠ A654 ♠ A2
♥ KQ9 ♥ K1087
♦ A765 ♦ AQ3
♣ K4 ♣ 1087y
South is in three no-trumps. West leads the ♥3 to South’s three
What lead defeats the contract and no-trumps.
how is it made against other leads? Show that the contract makes only if
x is the ♣5 and y the ♣4.

104. by Paolo Treossi, 201422 DR4 106. by Ian Budden, 2014 DR4

♠ AQ ♠ AJ2
♥ 98765 ♥ Q43
♦3 ♦ Q109
♣ A8654 ♣ AJ104
♠ KJ10 ♠ 8765 ♠ 1098 ♠ K76
♥ 432 ♥ KJ10 ♥ 109 ♥ AJ8765
♦ KJ1098 ♦ A2 ♦ K876 ♦ J54
♣ Q10 ♣ K732 ♣ Q765 ♣K
♠ 9432 ♠ Q543
♥ AQ ♥ K2
♦ Q7654 ♦ A32
♣ J9 ♣ 9832
South to make three hearts South to make three no-trumps.
West leads the ♦J. West leads the ♠10.

22 23
based on an unsound original by based on an unsound original by
Kurt Bendix (#61 in Sure Tricks) Åke Killstrom (#173 in Sure Tricks)
36 The Problems

107. by Hugh Darwen, 2014 DR4 109. by Wim van der Zijden, 2015 DR4
♠ 543 ♠ A92
♥ A43 ♥ A2
♦ 5432 ♦ Q9732
♣ A103 ♣ Q32
♠ 76 ♠ A8 ♠ K8 ♠ 1065
♥ Q65 ♥ K1087 ♥ KJ10 ♥ Q8765
♦ J1098 ♦ A76 ♦ J10865 ♦K
♣ 9876 ♣ KQ54 ♣ J109 ♣ AK76
♠ KQJ1092 ♠ QJ743
♥ J92 ♥ 943
♦ KQ ♦ A4
♣ J2 ♣ 854
South to make three spades. West leads the ♦J against South’s
West leads the ♣9. contract of four spades. How does
declarer take advantage of this gift?

108. by Ian Budden, 2015 DR4 110. by Paolo Treossi, 201624 DR4

♠ 932 ♠ KJ32
♥ A82 ♥ K105
♦ 432 ♦ 6543
♣ 10832 ♣ J10
♠ 876 ♠ KQJ105 ♠ 54 ♠ A109876
♥ K765 ♥J ♥ Q9876 ♥J
♦ 876 ♦ KQ109 ♦ 1098 ♦ K2
♣ 976 ♣ QJ5 ♣ K65 ♣ Q987
♠ A4 ♠Q
♥ Q10943 ♥ A432
♦ AJ5 ♦ AQJ7
♣ AK4 ♣ A432
South to make four hearts. South to make five diamonds.
West leads the ♠8. West leads a low heart.

24
based on an unsound original by
Ernest Pawle, Bridge Magazine, July
1966.
 DR4 Problems 37

111. by Stefan Ralescu, 2016 DR4 113. by Ian Budden, 2016 DR4

♠ K92 ♠ J109
♥Q ♥ A43
♦ AKQJ10 ♦ 104
♣ J1065 ♣ Q6543
♠ 10543 ♠ A876 ♠ none ♠ KQ65
♥ K105 ♥ J432 ♥ KQJ9 ♥ 10765
♦ 987 ♦ 65 ♦ 9876 ♦ KQJ5
♣ 987 ♣ AQ2 ♣ J10987 ♣K
♠ QJ ♠ A87432
♥ A9876 ♥ 82
♦ 432 ♦ A32
♣ K43 ♣ A2
West to lead and East-West to defeat South to make four spades.
South’s contract of three no-trumps. West leads the ♦9.

112. by Paolo Treossi, 201625 DR4 114. by Paolo Treossi, 201726 DR4

♠ Q32 ♠ A2
♥A ♥ Q43
♦ 987 ♦ AJ1032
♣ A107432 ♣ K103
♠9 ♠ KJ1087 ♠6 ♠ QJ10987
♥ J432 ♥ Q1096 ♥ 1098 ♥ K2
♦ 432 ♦ K65 ♦ K9876 ♦ Q5
♣ K9865 ♣J ♣ Q954 ♣ J76
♠ A654 ♠ K543
♥ K875 ♥ AJ765
♦ AQJ10 ♦4
♣Q ♣ A82
South to make five diamonds. South to make six hearts.
West leads the ♠9. West leads the ♠6.

25 26
based on an unsound original by based on an unsound original by
Norman J. Bonney (#91 in Sure David Solis-Cohen (#96 in Sure
Tricks) Tricks)
38 The Problems

115. by Ian Budden, 2017 DR4 117. by Steve Bloom, 2017 DR4

♠2 ♠ QJ10
♥ AQ32 ♥ AJ6543
♦ J432 ♦ A8
♣ KQ72 ♣ Q4
♠ 987 ♠ KJ654 ♠ 432 ♠K
♥ 987 ♥ J10654 ♥2 ♥ 10987
♦ A1098 ♦K ♦ 5432 ♦ KJ1096
♣ 654 ♣ A8 ♣ A8765 ♣ KJ10
♠ AQ103 ♠ A98765
♥K ♥ KQ
♦ Q765 ♦ Q7
♣ J1093 ♣ 932
South to make four no-trumps. (a) South to make five spades.
West leads the ♣6. West leads a diamond.
(b) How would the contract be
defeated if the ♦8 and ♦7 are
swapped?

116. by Steve Bloom and 118. by F.Y. Sing, 2017 DR4

Daniel Jackson, 2017 DR4

♠ KQJ10987 ♠ A73
♥ A2 ♥ A65
♦ 72 ♦ A432
♣ 32 ♣ Q32
♠ 54 ♠ 32 ♠ K8 ♠ 654
♥ Q1086 ♥ J975 ♥ J10 ♥ Q987
♦ AJ1093 ♦ Q654 ♦ K7 ♦ Q1098
♣ J6 ♣ K54 ♣ KJ109876 ♣ 54
♠ A6 ♠ QJ1092
♥ K43 ♥ K432
♦ K8 ♦ J65
♣ AQ10987 ♣A
South to make six no-trumps. South to make five spades
West leads a spade. West leads the ♣6.
 DR4 Problems 39

119. by Vincent Labbé, 2018 DR4 121. by Stefan Ralescu, 2018 DR4

♠ K10965 ♠ AK87
♥ none ♥ Q876
♦ 543 ♦ 5432
♣ A10432 ♣9
♠ none ♠ J87 ♠ Q2 ♠ 93
♥ J987654 ♥K ♥ AJ932 ♥ K54
♦ A6 ♦ QJ10987 ♦6 ♦ KQJ10987
♣ KJ98 ♣ 765 ♣ KJ732 ♣A
♠ AQ432 ♠ J10654
♥ AQ1032 ♥ 10
♦ K2 ♦A
♣Q ♣ Q108654
South to make six spades against any (a) South to make four spades.
defence. West leads the ♦6.
(b) Can the contract be defeated on a
different lead? Justify your answer.
120. by Stefan Ralescu, Barry Rigal, 122. by Hugh Darwen, 2018 DR4
and Hugh Darwen, 2018 DR4

♠ KQ2 ♠ AQ
♥ J4 ♥ K6543
♦ K1032 ♦ KJ7
♣ 8743 ♣ A102
♠6 ♠ AJ987 ♠ K65 ♠ J432
♥ K109876 ♥5 ♥ Q987 ♥ none
♦ J987 ♦ A65 ♦ 1065 ♦ AQ432
♣ 109 ♣ KJ65 ♣ K87 ♣ J654
♠ 10543 ♠ 10987
♥ AQ32 ♥ AJ102
♦ Q4 ♦ 98
♣ AQ2 ♣ Q93
South to make three no-trumps. Why is a low spade by West the only
West leads the ♥10. lead to defeat South in four hearts?27

27
Hint: North does best to lead a
high diamond at trick two.
40 The Problems

123. by Luigi Caroli, 2019 DR4 125. by Paolo Treossi, 201828 DR4

♠ KQJ32 ♠ A76
♥ 543 ♥ QJ10
♦ 832 ♦ K10732
♣ AK ♣ 65
♠ 7654 ♠ A1098 ♠ K982 ♠ none
♥ Q2 ♥ J1098 ♥ K8765432 ♥ A9
♦ A765 ♦ J10 ♦9 ♦ QJ54
♣ 1098 ♣ Q76 ♣ none ♣ AQJ10987
♠ none ♠ QJ10543
♥ AK76 ♥ none
♦ KQ94 ♦ A86
♣ J5432 ♣ K432
South to make three no-trumps. South to make four spades.
West leads the ♥Q. West leads the ♦9.
What lead would defeat the contract?

124. by Nick Smith, 2019 DR4 126. by Stefan Ralescu, 2019 DR4

♠K ♠ AQ87
♥ A2 ♥ KQ106
♦ J109876 ♦ 32
♣ K832 ♣ Q54
♠9 ♠ 1087654 ♠ J10432 ♠ K65
♥ J987 ♥ Q65 ♥ AJ5 ♥ 432
♦ Q5 ♦ K43 ♦ K7 ♦ A654
♣ AQJ765 ♣ 10 ♣ A102 ♣ K93
♠ AQJ32 ♠9
♥ K1043 ♥ 987
♦ A2 ♦ QJ1098
♣ 94 ♣ J876
South to make three no-trumps. West to lead and East-West to defeat
West leads the ♣Q. South in one diamond.

28
based on an original by Luigi
Caroli
 DR4 Problems 41

127. by Ian Budden, 2019 DR4 129. by Steve Bloom, 2020 DR4

♠J ♠ J84
♥ AQ843 ♥ 732
♦ K1065 ♦ AQ732
♣ A109 ♣ J9
♠ 7543 ♠ K10986 ♠ 976 ♠ K1032
♥ J5 ♥ K1076 ♥ AKQ98 ♥ J654
♦ Q98 ♦ J7 ♦ K654 ♦ J10
♣ Q654 ♣ 87 ♣ 10 ♣ Q87
♠ AQ2 ♠ AQ5
♥ 92 ♥ 10
♦ A432 ♦ 98
♣ KJ32 ♣ AK65432
(a) South to make five no-trumps. South to make six clubs against any
West leads the ♦8. defence.
(b) East-West to defeat North’s
contract of five no-trumps after the
lead of the ♣8 from East.
128. by Paolo Treossi, 2019 DR4 130. by Paolo Treossi, 202229 DR4

♠ A962 ♠ AK98
♥ A98 ♥ 93
♦ 765 ♦ 109
♣ J106 ♣ A6543
♠ K10 ♠ 8543 ♠ 10 ♠ QJ76
♥ QJ5432 ♥ 10 ♥ Q1087654 ♥2
♦2 ♦ AQJ1098 ♦ 85 ♦ KJ63
♣ Q943 ♣ K7 ♣ KQJ ♣ 10987
♠ QJ7 ♠ 5432
♥ K76 ♥ AKJ
♦ K43 ♦ AQ742
♣ A852 ♣2
South to make three no-trumps. South to make four no-trumps.
West leads the ♥2. West leads the ♣K.

29
based on an original by Ernest
Pawle
42 The Problems

131. by Franco Baseggio, 2022 DR4 133. by Nick Smith, 202230 DR5

♠ 654 ♠ A104
♥ AJ87 ♥ K6543
♦ K2 ♦ KQ
♣ K432 ♣ AK3
♠ KJ102 ♠ 987 ♠K ♠ QJ932
♥ K952 ♥ 10643 ♥ QJ1098 ♥7
♦ Q96 ♦ J8754 ♦J ♦ 10832
♣ A10 ♣Q ♣ QJ10986 ♣ 754
♠ AQ3 ♠ 8765
♥Q ♥ A2
♦ A103 ♦ A97654
♣ J98765 ♣2
South to make five no-trumps. South to make three no-trumps.
West leads the ♥K. West leads the ♠K.

132. by Nick Smith, 2022 DR4 134. by Barry Rigal, 200631 DR4
♠ A104 ♠ A8764
♥ K6543 ♥ KJ32
♦ KQ ♦ QJ
♣ AK3 ♣ 43
♠K ♠ QJ932 ♠ 109 ♠ QJ
♥ QJ1098 ♥7 ♥ 654 ♥ A10987
♦J ♦ 10832 ♦ 106543 ♦ K7
♣ QJ10986 ♣ 754 ♣ J75 ♣ KQ86
♠ 8765 ♠ K532
♥ A2 ♥Q
♦ A97654 ♦ A982
♣2 ♣ A1092
South to make five diamonds. South to make six spades.
West leads the ♣Q. West leads the ♣5.

30
Yes, the layout is identical to its
immediate predecessor!
31
with HD, based on a hand from
actual play
 Definitions
The reader is probably familiar with the widely used terminology
concerning endings and key plays, but I repeat here the definitions I gave
in the Compendium, hoping to avoid any possible confusion.
Most of the terminology I use in the solutions is defined in various
glossaries available on the web. Wikipedia seems to be a good source,
having a page titled “Glossary of Contract Bridge Terms”. Here is a list
of terms defined there (at the time of writing) which I use in the solutions:
avoidance play, cash, count (as in rectify the count and without the
count), coup (in particular, trump coup, devil’s coup), crossruff,
double squeeze, dummy reversal, elimination, exit card, finesse,
guard, guard squeeze, intermediate (card), isolate (a menace), major
tenace and minor tenace, menace, overruff, ruff and discard, ruff out,
seesaw squeeze, smother play, squeeze card, stepping-stone squeeze,
triple squeeze (including progressive squeeze), trump promotion,
unblock, underruff, unguard.
Here, also in alphabetical order, are my definitions for some other terms I
use in the solutions.
automatic squeeze: a squeeze that would work even if the opposing
hands were swapped; a one-way squeeze is one that is not automatic.
backwash squeeze: a squeeze in which a player is forced to choose
between underruffing or relinquishing a side-suit guard. Here is the
simplest position, famously found in play by Australia’s Tim Seres in
1966:

43
44 Definitions

♠ none
♥Q
♦Q
♣Q
♠K ♠ none
♥2 ♥K
♦2 ♦K
♣ none ♣2
♠ 32
♥ none
♦ none
♣J
With clubs as trumps North ruffs a spade. Géza Ottlik introduced this
term in a treatise on the subject in Adventures in Card Play (Victor
Gollancz Ltd., 1979). (In Wikipedia it is shown as a knockout squeeze.)
clash squeeze: one using a menace like South’s queen—a clash
menace— in this situation:
A2
K J10
Q
If West discards the king, North-South can get two tricks provided North
has an entry elsewhere.
compound squeeze: a progressive squeeze, starting with a triple squeeze
against one opponent such that when that opponent’s discard results in
isolating a guard in the opposite hand, a double squeeze ensues.
 Definitions 45
criss-cross squeeze: a simple squeeze where each of the menaces lies
opposite a singleton top card that serves as an entry to the other menace,
should it be needed:
♠A
♥ J2
♦ none
♣x
♠ 43 ♠ KQ
♥ 43 ♥ KQ
♦ none ♦ none
♣ none ♣ none
♠ J2
♥A
♦ none
♣x
A club is led from either hand and it doesn’t matter who wins it (so the
squeeze is automatic).
coup en passant: when a plain suit is led, usually at trick twelve and
second to play has a higher trump than the one held by the next hand. If
second to play has an additional trump, it must be lower than the one
sitting over it.
delayed jettison: discarding from suit A so as to be able to jettison a
winner from suit B when suit A is next led. The term is attributed to
Ernest Pawle, who used the idea in several of his compositions.
double ruffing squeeze: a squeeze involving a menace such as North’s
holding here:
KJ
Q3 A2
none
Assuming North has two entries and South holds the last remaining
trump, neither player can safely discard from this suit.
46 Definitions

gambit: a deliberate sacrifice of a winner aiming to gain two or more

extra tricks in compensation (e.g., leading the queen from AQ2 and
overtaking with the king from K43). You should be constantly on the
lookout for such plays in double dummy problems.
guard squeeze: one involving a guard that yields a finesse against the
opposite hand when it is relinquished. Guard squeezes appear frequently
in double dummy problems.
guard transfer: a situation like this:
A2
K3 J4
Q10
The lead of the queen forces West to cover such that East’s jack replaces
the king as the guard in that suit. The menace card remains in South, but
if the ten and two are swapped, then a menace transfer also ensues, from
South to North.
inverted squeeze: one in which the extended menace is held in the same
hand as the squeeze card, as here:
♠ K2
♥ 32
♦ none
♣ none
♠ QJ10
♥A
♦ none
♣ none
♠ A43
♥ none
♦A
♣ none
isolation (of a guard): what happens when a suit is guarded by both
partners but one relinquishes it, by discarding or by a guard transfer.
 Definitions 47
jettison squeeze: one where a relinquished guard allows a blocking top
card to be discarded as an unblocking play, involving a holding such as
this:
A
QJ
K10
key play: an important play that’s needed early on, often unusual and
often needed to secure an interesting endgame. A key play might be a
gambit (see above) of some kind, or an unblocking play, or one that keeps
the lead out of the danger hand (perhaps an avoidance play).
one-suit squeeze: one that arises when a player’s remaining cards are all
in the same suit and one of them has to be discarded, in a situation such as
this:
♠ 82
♥ 32
♦ none
♣ none
♠ KJ103 ♠9
♥ none ♥ KQJ
♦ none ♦ none
♣ none ♣ none
♠ AQ4
♥A
♦ none
♣ none
The ♥A is cashed. If the ♠3 is discarded West is thrown in with the ♠4,
but if the ♠J or ♠10 are discarded, then West is thrown in with the ♠Q
(North unblocking the ♠8).
pivot suit: in a double squeeze, the suit that is guarded by both
opponents.
rectifying the count: deliberately losing a trick to facilitate a squeeze by
reducing the number of remaining cards.
48 Definitions

repeated squeeze: a squeeze against three guards in in the same hand,

such that a second squeeze against that hand arises when the resulting
winner is cashed. Such a squeeze is therefore both triple and
progressive.
ruffing squeeze: see trump squeeze in Wikipedia.
ruff transfer: Suppose a trick is sought by ruffing but cannot be achieved
because an opponent is able to overruff. A ruff transfer can come to the
rescue if, instead of ruffing, the player discards from another suit to give
partner the chance of ruffing in that suit instead.
seesaw squeeze: I use this term (attributed to Terence Reese) in
preference to Wikipedia’s entry-shifting squeeze (attributed to Géza
Ottlik). The term applies to one-way squeezes where third in hand,
following suit to the squeeze card, plays high or low, depending on the
intervening hand’s discard. The situation can arise with holdings
analogous to either K2 opposite AQ on the lead of the 2, or KQ opposite
A2 on the lead of the K. Seesaw squeezes are multifarious, and their
many variations have been extensively studied by composers of double
dummy problems.
split tenace: one where the two cards constituting the tenace are in
opposite hands, such as A2 opposite Q3.
squeeze-throw-in (or squeeze and throw-in): a throw-in (q.v.) that is
necessarily preceded by a squeeze that forces the victim to relinquish a
safe exit card or one that would be an extra winner.
squeeze without the count: one in which at least one trick is lost after
the squeeze, often by setting up a winner in a now unguarded suit.
stepping-stone: a player, deliberately put on play, whose subsequent lead
gives access to an otherwise unreachable winner. When that winner
results from a squeeze, we have a stepping-stone squeeze.
suicide squeeze: one in which the victim is squeezed on a lead from the
opposite hand.
 Definitions 49
throw-in: a play that concedes the lead to an opponent whose every
choice of lead then concedes advantage (e.g., by leading into a tenace,
giving a ruff and discard, or initiating a smother play).
 Solutions
DR1 Problems
1.  54
7
 742
9
 73 8
 86  none
 653  none
 none  876542
 92
 9532
8
 none
South to lead at no-trumps. North-South to win six tricks.
South cashes the ♦8. If East discards a club, South follows with the ♠2 to East’s
♠8 and then the forced club to North’s ♣9, on which South jettisons the ♠9,
catches West in a repeated squeeze. If East instead discards the ♠8, South plays
♥9 and another heart so that West must either concede two spade tricks or let
North make two minor suit winners in addition to South’s ♠9.
Problem 1

51
52 Solutions

2.  K32
 432
 8765432
 none
 J109  8765
 J109  Q87
 none  AKQJ
 8765432  KJ
 AQ4
 AK65
 109
 AQ109
South to make three no-trumps. West leads the ♠J.
North plays the ♠K and South drops the ♠Q! An avoidance play in hearts
follows, South winning the second trick if and only if East rises with the ♥Q on
North’s lead. Assuming East plays low (best), West wins this trick. South wins
a spade and three heart tricks, then throws West back in with a spade to win four
tricks in clubs.
Problem 2

3.  98765432
♥ QJ1094
♦ none
♣ none
 none  AKQJ10
 AK2  none
 97532  AKQJ
 76543  KQJ10
 none
 87653
 10864
 A982
South to make one heart against any lead and defence.
 DR1 Problems 53
West does best to play three rounds of hearts. North and South both play high on
the first two. North plays the ♥4 on the third and South overtakes unless East
discards a third spade. If North is now on lead, then the spades can be set up
with two ruffs and declarer makes four overtricks. Otherwise East has discarded
two spades and either a diamond or club and declarer can establish a winner in
the minor suit from which East has discarded, yielding just the seven tricks
required.
Problem 3

4.  K32
♥ AKQJ
♦ none
♣ 987654
 Q7654  1098
 32  54
 5432  109876
 A2  QJ10
 AJ
 109876
 AKQJ
 K3

South to make six no-trumps. West leads the ♠5.

On the opening lead North plays low, and South wins with the ♠A. South then
cashes four rounds of diamonds, discarding the four heart honours from dummy,
and follows with four rounds of hearts, on which dummy sheds four clubs. With
four cards left, both defenders are reduced to two cards in spades and two in
clubs. South leads the last heart.
A. If West discards the ♣2, North discards a spade. South then leads the ♣3
to West’s (now) bare ♣A. West returns a spade to North’s ♠K and South
makes the last trick with the ♣K.
B. If West discards a spade, North discards a club. If East throws a spade,
North will make two spade tricks, so East, too, must discard a club.
Declarer then crosses to the ♠K and leads a club to the ♣Q, ♣K, and ♣A.
West must concede the last trick to the ♣3. Problem 4
54 Solutions

5.  987
♥ J10943
♦ K5432
♣ none
 10  QJ
 8765  AKQ2
 QJ10  987
 AKQ32  8765
 AK65432
 none
 A6
 J1094
South to make seven spades. West leads the ♦Q.
South wins with the ♦A and leads the ♣J, covered by West and ruffed by North,
who leads the ♥J, covered by East and ruffed by South, who leads the ♣10,
covered by West and ruffed by North, who leads the ♥10 … and this process
continues until this position is reached with South on lead:
♠ none
♥ 43
♦ K543
♣ none
 10  QJ
8 2
 J10  98
 32 8
 AK65
 none
6
4
South runs the remaining spades for a simultaneous double squeeze. On the last
spade West has to discard a diamond to keep a guard against North’s heart loser,
so North discard that loser and East is squeezed in the minor suits.
Here is the original problem by George Coffin
 DR1 Problems 55
 8754
♥ KJ752
♦ A532
♣ none
 none  K6
 10983  AQ64
 QJ109  864
 AQ1053  8642
 AQJ10932
 none
 K7
 KJ97
South to make seven spades. West leads the ♦Q.
Problem 5
DR2 Problems
6. A
♥ K2
♦ Q87654
♣ K876
 K765  J10
 none  Q109876543
 J10  K9
 AQ95432  none
 Q98432
 AJ
 A32
 J10

South to make six diamonds. West leads the ♦J.

South wins with the A, crosses to the A and leads the Q. If East wins,
South’s spades will easily be established, so it is better if East has unblocked the
K at trick one. South overtakes the K and leads the Q, covered by West
and ruffed by North, who exits on the 2. South gets an entry to the good
spades, either by scoring the J or by ruffing East’s heart return at the next trick.
Problem 6

57
58 Solutions

7.  A982
♥ AJ8
♦ A76
♣ AQ9
 76  Q543
 K109  765432
 KQJ109 8
 K87  106
 KJ10
Q
 5432
 J5432

South to make six no-trumps. West leads the ♦K.

North wins and leads a middle spade, South finessing. South leads the J so that
three rounds of clubs can be taken ending in North, who leads the other middle
spade for another spade finesse. The last two club winners force diamond
discards from West and North, hearts from East. The K now exerts a seesaw
squeeze on West.
A. If West discards a heart, North overtakes and throws East in with a spade
so that North takes the last three tricks in hearts.
B. If West discards a diamond, the K wins and West is thrown in with a
diamond (either immediately or after the Q).
Problem 7
 DR2 Problems 59
8,  932
♥ A97
♦ K876
♣ 1098
 K108 7
 KJ62  543
 J10  AQ9432
 AQ76  J32
 AQJ654
 Q108
5
 K54

How do East-West defeat South’s contract of two spades?

It is essential to attack North’s entries before West’s diamonds can be eliminated.
Accordingly, West leads the ♥K. Declarer’s only hope is to allow the ♥K to
hold, dropping the ♥Q (or ♥10) from hand. The next heart lead must come from
East to deny North two entries in the suit, so West switches to a diamond, East
overtaking. South plays the ♥8 on East’s heart return at trick 3, but West rises
with the ♥J.
Problem 8
60 Solutions

9.  6543
♥ AQ10
♦ A32
♣ J106
♠Q ♠ KJ10982
♥ K987654 ♥J
♦ K765 ♦ J109
♣Q ♣ K87
♠ A7
♥ 32
♦ Q84
♣ A95432
South is to make five clubs.
(a) West leads the ♠Q
(b) North and East exchange the ♦2 and ♠2 and West leads the ♣Q.
(a) South wins with the ♠A, leads the ♦4 to the ♦A, then leads the ♣J, which is
ducked to the ♣Q. If West returns:
A. a diamond, South wins with the ♦Q, leads a heart for a finesse of the ♥Q,
then draws the remaining trumps by leading the ♣10 from North,
eventually taking a second heart finesse and disposing of a loser on the
third heart.
B. a low heart, North wins with the ♥Q and declarer plays four more rounds
of trumps, leading the ♣10 from North. West discards three hearts and a
diamond as North and East each discard two spades. South then leads the
last club. If West throws a diamond, North throws a spade and declarer
leads a low diamond to West’s bare ♦K to set up the ♦Q. So, West does
better to throw another heart. North now throws a diamond, and declarer
continues by finessing the ♥10 and cashing the ♥A. East must retain a
spade and so is reduced to one diamond. South throws the ♠7. North
leads a diamond to the ♦Q and ♦K to set up the ♦8 for the eleventh trick.
Trap: If South leads a low club at trick 2, East overtakes West’s ♣Q to cash a
spade.
 DR2 Problems 61
(b) The layout is as follows:
♠ 65432
♥ AQ10
♦ A3
♣ J106
♠Q ♠ KJ1098
♥ K987654 ♥J
♦ K765 ♦ J1092
♣Q ♣ K87
♠ A7
♥ 32
♦ Q84
♣ A95432
On the ♣Q North unblocks the ♣J and South plays low. West switches to the ♠Q
(best). South wins, finesses ♥Q, and plays four more rounds of trumps, leading
the ♣10 from North. West discards three hearts and a diamond, and North and
East each discard two spades. South must not now cash the last club (as West
can spare another diamond), but finesses ♥10, East discarding a diamond, and
then cashes ♥A, throwing the ♠7 from hand (or a diamond if East throws a
spade). If East discards a spade, North leads a spade to set up the last spade with
the ♦A as an entry. If instead East discards a diamond, declarer cashes ♦A and
leads a diamond to the ♦Q and ♦K, making two more tricks with the last trump
and the ♦8.
Problem 9
62 Solutions

10. 2
♥ A1042
♦3
♣ none
♠7 ♠ none
♥ J93 ♥ 65
♦8 ♦ 72
♣6 ♣ J5
♠ none
♥ 87
♦ J4
♣ A7
East is on lead at no-trumps. North-South to win five tricks.
East leads the ♦2, taken by the ♦ J. South cashes the ♣A and leads the ♥8,
covered by the ♥9 and ♥10. North exits on the ♠2, triple-squeezing East. If East
discards a minor suit card, South discards from the other minor suit and wins the
last two tricks with the ♥7 and the established minor suit winner. If East instead
discards a heart, South does the same so that North’s ♥A4 tenace takes the last
two tricks.
Problem 10

11.  A8765
♥ 5432
♦ none
♣ A932
♠9 ♠ KQ10
♥ K876 ♥ J109
♦ AK32 ♦ 7654
♣ KJ87 ♣ 654
♠ J432
♥ AQ
♦ QJ1098
♣ Q10
What must West lead to allow South to make six spades? How is the contract
then made against best subsequent defence?
The only losing lead for the defence is the ♣J.
 DR2 Problems 63
South captures the ♣J with the ♣Q and leads the ♣10 which West ducks
(best). South cashes ♥A and continues with a diamond. West ducks and North
discards. South leads another diamond, which North ruffs, regardless of whether
West covers. North cashes the ♣A, on which South discards the ♥Q, then
declarer ruffs two hearts and two diamonds, ending in North. North then leads
the last side suit card in that hand and East is endplayed: on a low ruff South
overruffs, whereas on a high ruff South’s last diamond is thrown and East is
forced to lead into the split spade tenace.
Play follows similar lines if West covers the second club or one or both
diamond leads. The important point is that South must make only one natural
diamond trick and ruff another one.
Problem 11

12. ♠ 63
♥ K652
♦ AQ3
♣ A873
♠ AQ872 ♠ none
♥ 87 ♥ QJ109
♦ KJ862 ♦ 1097
♣2 ♣ QJ10965
♠ KJ10954
♥ A43
♦ 54
♣ K4
South to make four spades. West leads the ♣2.
Declarer aims to lose just three trump tricks, the run of the trumps eventually
squeezing East in clubs and hearts. As West will be able to attack hearts twice
and eliminate North’s entry in that suit, the ♣A must be preserved for the squeeze
to work. South therefore wins the opening lead with the ♣K but is now rather
short of entries to hand, needed for repeated trump leads.
To avoid having to use up an entry for the second round of trumps, at trick
two South leads a low spade! West wins with the ♠7 and leads a heart, but North
rises with the ♥K to lead a spade to South’s ♠9 and West’s ♠Q. West leads a
second heart to South’s ♥K and declarer continues spades. West wins with the
♠A and exits on a diamond. North makes the ♦Q and ♦A and then leads the
carefully preserved third diamond for South to ruff. The ♠KJ now draw West’s
64 Solutions

remaining trumps and squeeze East as planned at trick 11, South having the ♥4
and ♣4 opposite North’s ♣A8.
Trap: If South leads a high spade at trick 2, West ducks—of course!
Problem 12

13. ♠ Q6
♥ AK9
♦ 76
♣ AK10432
♠ A107 ♠ K8
♥ QJ432 ♥ 8765
♦ none ♦ KQ5432
♣ 98765 ♣J
♠ J95432
♥ 10
♦ AJ1098
♣Q
South to make four spades. West leads the ♥Q.
North wins the opening lead. A low club to the ♣Q is followed by the ♠J! The
defence is now helpless. If West’s third spade wins a trick, either by force or by
ruffing, then North will get the lead when East is out of trumps, having enough
winners to secure the contract. And if West tries to sacrifice a trump trick by
playing the ♠A followed by the ♠10 and refusing to ruff the diamond return, then
South simply underleads the ♠9.
Trap: If South leads a low spade at trick 2, West plays the ♠10. North
covers but East wins and leads a low diamond, ruffed by West’s ♠A! West has a
safe exit on the ♠7 and East is bound to make two more tricks.
Problem 13
 DR2 Problems 65
14. ♠ J106
♥ Q542
♦ AJ32
♣ AJ
♠ KQ9 ♠ 87
♥ 109 ♥ 876
♦ K1097 ♦ 8654
♣ Q1098 ♣ 7654
♠ A5432
♥ AKJ3
♦Q
♣ K32
South to make five no-trumps against any defence.
West’s best lead (by far) is the ♦K, which North must duck. West continues with
the ♦10, taken by North, South discarding a spade. The ♥4 to South’s ♥A is
followed by a club finesse, a second club, and the ♥5 to South’s ♥K, giving:
♠ J106
♥ Q2
♦ A3
♣ none
♠ KQ9 ♠ 87
♥ none ♥8
♦ 97 ♦ 86
♣ Q10 ♣ 76
♠ A543
♥ J3
♦ none
♣K
The ♥J now subjects West to a seesaw squeeze. If West discards
A. a spade, declarer gives up a spade and makes the rest.
B. a club, North plays low. South cashes the ♣K, North discarding a
diamond, and plays a heart to North. As a spade discard still allows the
suit to be set up, West is squeezed again and has to part with a diamond;
but this allows North to cash the ♦A and run the ♠J to West, who has to
lead into the split tenace at trick 12.
66 Solutions

C. a diamond, North overtakes, cashes the ♦A and leads the ♥2 to South’s ♥3

to squeeze West again. When West discards a club, South cashes the ♣K
and endplays West by leading a low spade.
Problem 14

15. ♠ 5432
♥ 543
♦ J43
♣ A107
♠ 76 ♠ KQJ1098
♥ J10 ♥K
♦ KQ765 ♦ 1098
♣ J986 ♣ Q43
♠A
♥ AQ98762
♦ A2
♣ K52
(a) South to make six hearts. West leads the ♠7
(b) Which opening lead defeats the contract?
(a) Winning the spade lead, declarer cashes ♥A and ♥Q, leads the ♥2 to the ♥5,
ruffs a spade, and cashes two more hearts, throwing a spade and the ♣7 from
dummy. The position is now:
♠5
♥ none
♦ J43
♣ A10
♠ none ♠K
♥ none ♥ none
♦ KQ7 ♦ 109
♣ J98 ♣ Q43
♠ none
♥7
♦ A2
♣ K52
South cashes the last trump. If West discards a diamond, North discards a spade
and declarer can play ♦A and another diamond to set up a second diamond trick
 DR2 Problems 67
in dummy. So West does better to discard the ♣8. North and East discard
diamonds. South then leads the ♦2, which West must win. If West returns:
A. a diamond to South’s ♦A, this squeezes East in the black suits.
B. the ♣9, covered by the ♣10, ♣Q, and ♣K, declarer takes the last three
tricks with the ♣A, ♦A, and the ♣5.
C. the ♣J to North’s ♣A, then the lead of the ♣10 pins the ♣9, again setting
up a trick for the ♣5, with the ♦A as entry if needed.
(b) West must lead the ♣J.
Problem 15

16. ♠ 432
♥ K4
♦ AQ84
♣ A432
♠ K1087 ♠ J9
♥ Q65 ♥ 987
♦ 109 ♦ J765
♣ 9876 ♣ QJ105
♠ AQ65
♥ AJ1032
♦ K32
♣K
South to make six hearts. West leads the ♦10.
Declarer plays the ♦4 from dummy and wins in hand with the ♦K, cashes the ♣K,
and leads the ♥J, followed by a second heart if West ducks. When North gets the
lead on the ♥K the ♣A is cashed, South discarding a spade, and South ruffs a
club. The remaining trumps are drawn.
A. If East’s last club is the ♣5, North wins a diamond and loses a club to
West, South discarding a spade. West then has to lead into South’s ♠AQ.
B. If East’s last club is an honour, then South cashes the last heart in this
ending:
68 Solutions

♠ 43
♥ none
♦ AQ8
♣4
♠ K1087 ♠ J9
♥ none ♥ none
♦9 ♦ J76
♣9 ♣Q
♠ AQ6
♥3
♦ 32
♣ none
North discards a spade on the ♥3. East cannot let go a diamond.
1. If East discards a spade, declarer cashes the ♠A, plays a diamond
to North, and throws East in on the club for a diamond lead into
♦A8.
2. If East discards a club, then North’s diamond winners are followed
by a club to West and South makes the ♠AQ.
Trap: If South makes the mistake of cashing the last heart in line A, then West
discards a diamond, East a spade. When declarer then crosses to North in
diamonds, West jettisons the club winner to avoid the throw-in. This defence is
an example of the delayed jettison, a favourite theme of double dummy’s most
prolific composer, Ernest Pawle.
Problem 16
 DR2 Problems 69
17. ♠ A87
♥ 432
♦ 5432
♣ A73
♠ J1092 ♠ Q65
♥ AQ6 ♥ J10987
♦ KQJ9 ♦ 10876
♣ 65 ♣K
♠ K43
♥ K5
♦A
♣ QJ109842
South to make five clubs. West leads the ♦K.
South wins with the ♦A, leads the ♣Q to the ♣A, ruffs a diamond high (West
unblocking an honour), leads the ♣4 to the ♣7, ruffs another diamond high (West
unblocking another honour), leads the ♣2 to the ♣3 (West discarding a high
spade), and ruffs the last diamond. South then cashes the last club in this
position:
♠ A87
♥ 432
♦ none
♣ none
♠ J102 ♠ Q65
♥ AQ6 ♥ J109
♦ none ♦ none
♣ none ♣ none
♠ K43
♥ K5
♦ none
♣8
A. If West discards a heart, North discards a spade. If East too discards a
heart, South exits with a heart, wins the spade return with the ♠K, and
exits with another heart, winning the last two tricks with the ♠A and the
long heart. So East discards a spade. Declarer now cashes ♠A and ♠K. If
West unblocks both remaining honours, South makes the ♠4; otherwise,
West is thrown in with the third spade and is forced to lead to the ♥K.
70 Solutions

B. If West discards a spade (an honour is best for the moment), North
discards a heart, as must East. South leads a low spade to the ♠A and
returns a spade from North. If West’s last spade is the ♠2, declarer makes
a third spade by finessing through East’s ♠Q, so West does better to retain
an honour. Now if East plays the ♠Q on the second spade, South wins,
crashing West’s honour, and makes a further trick with North’s ♠8; and if
instead East plays low, the trick is ducked to West. West must return a
heart and declarer will make both major suit kings.
Trap: If declarer leads a low trump to the ♣A and proceeds to ruff only two
diamonds, accurate defence will prevail. West continues to unblock in diamonds
and discards two spades and then a heart on the clubs, while East discards hearts
and retains the ♦10.
Problem 17

18. ♠ QJ7432
♥ A106
♦ Q32
♣6
♠ 1098 ♠ AK65
♥ J98 ♥ Q7
♦ 10987 ♦ K65
♣ 1098 ♣ AQJ7
♠ none
♥ K5432
♦ AJ4
♣ K5432
South to make four hearts. West leads the ♦10.
The ♦10 lead runs round to South’s ♦J. South leads the ♣K, won by East’s ♣A.
East’s best (or, at any rate, most dramatic) return is the ♥Q. Spurning this Greek
gift and the opportunity to pick up the trumps for no loser, declarer wins in North
with the ♥A and leads a top spade.
A. If East plays low, South discards the ♦4. Declarer can then continue with
a simple cross-ruff, playing a spade ruff, ♦A, club ruff, spade ruff, club
ruff, diamond ruff, and the ♥K will be the tenth trick.
 DR2 Problems 71
B. If East covers, South ruffs, ruffs a club, and leads a second top spade. If
East plays low, South discards the ♦4 and play continues as in A. If East
covers, South ruffs, ruffs another club, ruffs a low spade, cashes the ♥K,
and exits with a club to East, discarding low spades from North. If East
leads a diamond, declarer will take two tricks in the suit, so East does
better to lead a spade. South discards the ♦4. If West discards, declarer
will win the ♠7 and the ♦A; and if West ruffs, declarer will take the last
two tricks with the ♦A and the last club.
If East returns a club rather than a heart at the third trick, declarer ruffs in North,
and leads a top spade, the play reverting to the same line.
Trap: If South leads a low club at the second trick, East plays the ♣7,
letting West win the trick. West then continues with a diamond to defeat the
contract.
Problem 18

19. ♠ QJ
♥ J94
♦ 10954
♣ A1098
♠ 832 ♠ K1076
♥ 1087 ♥ Q65
♦ KQJ876 ♦ none
♣K ♣ 765432
♠ A954
♥ AK32
♦ A32
♣ QJ
South to make five no-trumps. West leads the ♦K.
South wins and leads another diamond. West does best to win and lead a spade,
East playing low. North leads the ♦10.
A. If West wins and leads (best) the ♣K, North wins and cashes the ♦9. East
discards clubs on all the diamonds and South now does likewise,
unblocking North’s clubs. The run of the clubs now squeezes East in the
major suits in front of South.
B. If West ducks, North plays ♣A and another club to South’s ♣Q. South
leads a low heart, North finessing the ♥9. East wins and leads the ♠K,
72 Solutions

taken by the ♠A, but declarer makes the rest as North has an entry in
hearts to score the remaining clubs, and another heart for the ♥AK to take
the last two tricks.
Problem 19

20. ♠ K32
♥ K975
♦ 5432
♣ 32
♠ 76 ♠ Q1098
♥ 1043 ♥ Q2
♦7 ♦ KJ1098
♣ KJ87654 ♣ 109
♠ AJ54
♥ AJ86
♦ AQ6
♣ AQ
South to make six hearts against any defence.
West is already endplayed. A club lead gives declarer two club tricks, two
diamonds, three spades, four hearts and a spade ruff for twelve tricks. Other
leads do not immediately concede a trick but do help declarer to take the spade
and diamond finesses while still retaining an entry to North for an end position
such as this, with South on lead:
 DR2 Problems 73
♠K
♥5
♦ 54
♣3
♠ none ♠ Q10
♥ none ♥ none
♦ none ♦ KJ
♣ KJ876 ♣ 10
♠ 54
♥J
♦6
♣Q
The ♣Q puts West in to lead another club, allowing South to discard a diamond
as North ruffs. East is squeezed! On a spade discard South has a good spade to
win the last trick after the ♠K and a diamond ruff. On a diamond discard, North
has a good diamond to win the last trick after a diamond ruff and a spade to the
♠K.
West’s best opening lead is a small heart, on which North must play the
♥7. South captures East’s ♥Q and leads a low heart for a finesse of the ♥9.
North’s two trump entries are used to take the spade and diamond finesses in
either order and South’s top cards are all cashed to leave the above position.
Problem 20

21. ♠ QJ10
♥ A32
♦ J432
♣ 432
♠K ♠ 432
♥ QJ109 ♥ K8765
♦ K10987 ♦ 65
♣ K87 ♣ J109
♠ A98765
♥4
♦ AQ
♣ AQ65
South to make five spades. West leads the ♥Q.
74 Solutions

After the ♥A at trick one South must immediately ruff a heart. The order of play
to the next four tricks is not precise but must involve two rounds of spades,
another heart ruff by South and a lead of the ♦Q. Assuming West wins with the
♦K and returns a diamond, the following ending is reached with South on lead:

♠Q
♥ none
♦ J4
♣ 432
♠ none ♠4
♥ none ♥ K8
♦ 1098 ♦ none
♣ K87 ♣ J109
♠ 98
♥ none
♦ none
♣ AQ65
A spade to the ♠Q wrings a diamond from West (if a club, then ♣A and another
establishes the suit), whereupon ♦J and another diamond throws that player in for
a lead away from the ♣K.
Problem 21

22. ♠ K9
♥ K3
♦Q
♣ A6
♠ Q7653 ♠J
♥ Q5 ♥ 92
♦ none ♦ AJ
♣ none ♣ K4
♠ 843
♥8
♦2
♣ Q3
South to lead at no-trumps. North-South to make five tricks.
South leads the ♥8 for an avoidance play against West’s ♥Q: North wins with the
♥K only if West plays the ♥5.
 DR2 Problems 75
A. If West rises with the ♥Q, winning the trick, the next two tricks are taken
by the ♠K and ♥K, South discarding the ♣Q! North now leads the ♠9, on
which East has to throw the ♦J.
1. If West wins, North discards the ♦Q on the spade return to South’s
♠8 and East is squeezed in the minor suits.
2. If West ducks the ♠9, North exits on the ♦Q and East has to lead a
club away from ♣K4 into North’s ♣A6.
B. If West plays the ♥5, North wins with the ♥K and can lose a heart to West
either immediately or after cashing the ♠K. In either case South discards
the ♣Q on the second heart and we have the same endings as in A.
Trap: If South discards the ♣3 instead of the ♣Q, line A.2 fails when the ♣Q
wins the penultimate trick and South’s last card is a spade loser.
This was based on a problem by Alfred P. Sheinwold, which appeared as
Problem 115 in George Coffin’s Sure Tricks (1948). North’s spades were ♠KJ.
The above solution was the intended one, but South could alternatively take the
spade finesse at the first trick, North winning and cashing the ♥K.
Problem 22

23. ♠ AQ84
♥2
♦ 5432
♣ AK102
♠ K5 ♠ 107632
♥ KQJ109 ♥8
♦ 76 ♦ KJ10
♣ 6543 ♣ J987
♠ J9
♥ A76543
♦ AQ98
♣Q
South to make five no-trumps. West leads the ♥K.
South wins with the ♥A, cashes the ♣Q, and leads the ♠J. West must cover to
prevent an easy throw-in on East—East makes two tricks in the minor suits but
then leads away from the ♠10 into North’s ♠Q8. So, North’s ♠A wins trick 3 and
76 Solutions

is followed by a top club, on which South discards the potentially blocking ♠9.
Three rounds of diamonds now put East on play in this position:
♠ Q84
♥ none
♦5
♣ A10
♠5 ♠ 10763
♥ QJ10 ♥ none
♦ none ♦ none
♣ 65 ♣ J9
♠ none
♥ 76543
♦9
♣ none
A. If East leads a spade, North wins two spade tricks and the ♦5, South
having discarded the ♦9. East, now down to a spade winner and ♣J9, is
thrown in on the spade.
B. If East leads a club, North wins two club tricks and the ♦5, South again
having discarded the ♦9. East is caught in a one-suit squeeze: if East
throws the ♠3 North exits with the ♠4. So East throws a middle spade, but
then North exits on the ♠8, pinning the ♠5. East wins with the ♠10 but has
to lead away from ♠63 into ♠Q4.
Wilson’s original 6-carder: ♠ AJ6
♥ none
♦ 76
♣ Q97
♠7 ♠ Q983
♥ K854 ♥ none
♦ none ♦Q
♣ 832 ♣ J54
♠K
♥ QJ976
♦ 98
♣ none
South to lead at no-trumps. North-South to make six tricks.
Problem 23
 DR2 Problems 77
24. ♠ A107
♥ 95
♦ 42
♣8
♠ KQ5432 ♠9
♥ Q7 ♥ J6
♦ none ♦ QJ9
♣ none ♣ J9
♠ J86
♥K
♦ K3
♣ Q4
South to lead at no-trumps. North-South to make six tricks.
South cashes the ♥K, West doing best to drop the ♥Q, and follows with the ♠8.
A. If West plays the ♠Q or ♠K, North ducks. West puts East in on the ♥J,
South discarding the ♠J. South wins the return with the ♦K or ♣Q and
leads the ♠6 for the finesse of the ♠10. North’s two spade tricks inflict a
minor suit squeeze on East.
B. If West plays low, North wins with the ♠10 and exits on a heart to East’s
♥J, South again discarding the ♠J. South wins the minor suit return and
leads the ♠6. West is allowed to win this trick and then North’s ♠A
squeezes East as before.
The play is essentially the same if West plays low on the ♥K, with South having
the option to cash a minor suit winner before playing the ♠8.
Trap: If South leads the ♠6 instead of the ♠8, West plays low. Line B now
fails when West plays low again on the second spade! South is thus left on lead
with two losers in the minor suits while North “goes to bed” with the ♠A.
This was based on another problem by Alfred P. Sheinwold, which
appeared as Problem 143 in George Coffin’s Sure Tricks (1948). West had ♥J7
opposite East’s ♥Q6 and the ♠J and ♠Q were switched. In that case West can
safely drop the ♥7 under the ♥K and line A fails when West wins the first spade
and returns a spade. A heart to East’s ♥Q is no good now as South has to discard
one of the minor suit menaces, and if North instead cashes the remaining spade
winner, East can safely discard the ♥Q. The solution published in Sure Tricks
assumes that West exits on the ♥J after winning the first spade.
Problem 24
78 Solutions

25. ♠ KJ103
♥ AK82
♦ Q105
♣ K7
♠ 987 ♠ Q654
♥ QJ7 ♥ 6543
♦ J98432 ♦K
♣A ♣ J1098
♠ A2
♥ 109
♦ A76
♣ Q65432
South to make six no-trumps. West leads the ♦4.
South wins with the ♦A and leads the ♥10, which West must cover. North wins
and leads the ♠J. Assume East ducks. Then South comes to hand on the ♠A and
leads the ♥9. Again, West must cover and North’s major suit winners are all
cashed, to arrive at this:
♠ 10
♥2
♦ Q10
♣ K7
♠ none ♠Q
♥ none ♥6
♦ J9843 ♦ none
♣A ♣ J1098
♠ none
♥ none
♦ 76
♣ Q654
North leads the ♣K and finesses on the diamond return to score two diamond
tricks and subject East to a squeeze that repeats on a major suit discard and
otherwise gives South two long club winners.
 DR2 Problems 79
Here is Jock Milton’s original problem, which appeared as #219 in Bridge
Magazine, September 1969.
♠ AKQ5
♥ AJ82
♦ KJ5
♣ K6
♠ 876 ♠ J1094
♥ K107 ♥ 6543
♦ Q87432 ♦9
♣A ♣ J1098
♠ 32
♥ Q9
♦ A106
♣ Q75432
South to make six no-trumps. West leads the ♦2.
From trick three there are many different orders of play leading to the triple
squeeze on East, which doesn’t need to be repeated if North leads the ♣6 early
on.
Problem 25

26. ♠ 32
♥ QJ10432
♦ J2
♣ AJ8
♠ none ♠ KJ10987
♥ K9876 ♥5
♦ 109 ♦ K7654
♣ Q76543 ♣9
♠ AQ654
♥A
♦ AQ83
♣ K102
South to make six no-trumps. West leads the ♣4.
This was based on a hand played by Italy’s famous expert, Pietro Forquet.
North wins the opening lead with the ♣J, South dropping the ♣10 (even
though this doesn’t give North two more entries in the suit against best defence).
80 Solutions

North leads the ♦J. Whether or not East allows this to win, declarer wins two
diamond tricks and the ♥A, then leads the ♣2. West tries to make things difficult
by rising with the ♣Q, but North wins with the ♣A and plays the ♥Q on which
South jettisons the ♣K, followed by the ♥J if the ♥Q wins.
A. If West plays the ♥K, North wins the return and plays any remaining
winners. East is squeezed before South in spades and diamonds.
B. If West lets the ♥Q and ♥J win, then North’s ♣8 squeezes East without the
count: a diamond discard gives South the spade finesse and two diamond
tricks, whereas a spade discard allows South to discard the diamond loser,
take the spade finesse and then give up a trick in the suit, taking the last
two tricks with the ♦8 and the established spade.
Problem 26

27. ♠ Q32
♥ A32
♦ 9432
♣ 432
♠K ♠ J109
♥ QJ109 ♥ K8765
♦ K8765 ♦ J10
♣ K87 ♣ J109
♠ A87654
♥4
♦ AQ
♣ AQ65
South to make four spades. West leads the ♥Q.
After the ♥A at trick one South must immediately ruff a heart and then lose a
spade to West’s ♠K. South ruffs the heart return, cashes the ♠A (optionally—this
can be done later) and advances the ♦Q. Assuming West wins with the ♦K and
returns a diamond, the following ending is reached with South on lead:
 DR2 Problems 81
♠Q
♥ none
♦ 94
♣ 432
♠ none ♠J
♥ 10 ♥ K8
♦ 87 ♦ none
♣ K87 ♣ J109
♠ 87
♥ none
♦ none
♣ AQ65
A spade to the ♠Q wrings the ♥10 from West (if a club, then ♣A and another
establishes the suit), whereupon ♦9 and another diamond throws that player in for
a lead away from the ♣K.
Problem 27

28. ♠ AQ10
♥ A1087
♦ Qx2
♣ A102
♠ KJ ♠ 987
♥9 ♥ QJ65
♦ 9x3 ♦ KJ10x
♣ 9876543 ♣ KQ
♠ 65432
♥ K432
♦ A87
♣J
To six spades West leads the ♣9.
The x’s represent the ♦4, ♦5, and ♦6.
(a) South is to make six spades when North holds the ♦6.
(b) What happens in the other four cases?
82 Solutions

(a) Assume this is the layout:

♠ AQ10
♥ A1087
♦ Q62
♣ A102
♠ KJ ♠ 987
♥9 ♥ QJ76
♦ 953 ♦ KJ104
♣ 9876543 ♣ KQ
♠ 65432
♥ K432
♦ A87
♣J
After the ♣A and the ♣2 ruffed, declarer finesses and draws trumps, then
discards a diamond, as does East, on the good ♣10. North now leads the ♥10,
covered by the ♥J and ♥K, then discards the ♥7 on South’s last spade. East is
squeezed. Discarding the ♥Q or ♦K is useless, so East throws a lower red card.
Declarer plays ace and another of the suited discarded. Again it is useless for
East to drop an honour under the ace (thanks to North’s ♦6!), so that player is
endplayed at trick 11. Declarer gets two tricks in the suit now led, plus the
established winner in the other red suit.
(b) If North has the ♦5 and West the ♦4, then the play in (a) still works.
However, the defence prevails in this layout:

♠ AQ10
♥ A1087
♦ Q52
♣ A102
♠ KJ ♠ 987
♥9 ♥ QJ76
♦ 963 ♦ KJ104
♣ 9876543 ♣ KQ
♠ 65432
♥ K432
♦ A87
♣J
 DR2 Problems 83
East discards the ♦10 on the ♣10, another diamond honour on the ♠6, and drops
the remaining honour under the ♦A. West then covers the ♦8 to complete the
defence. The same result arises in the two cases North has the ♦4.
Problem 28

29. ♠K
♥ 32
♦ AQ5432
♣ AK43
♠ 87 ♠ Q96
♥ 8765 ♥ KJ104
♦ 876 ♦ K109
♣ 8765 ♣ QJ10
♠ AJ105432
♥ AQ9
♦J
♣ 92
South to make six no-trumps. West leads the ♥8.
East plays an honour on the heart lead and South wins as cheaply as possible.
South leads the ♣2 to the ♣K, plays the ♠K from North, overtaking with the ♠A,
and then leads the ♠J, following with another spade if East ducks. North must
discard from the minor suits, being careful to retain a heart. On winning the ♠Q
East must return a club or a heart.
A. If East returns a club, North wins and leads a heart to South, who runs the
spades to squeeze East in the red suits.
B. If East returns a heart, South wins and runs the spades. With five cards
left the position is:
84 Solutions

♠ none
♥ none
♦ AQ5
♣ A4
♠ none ♠ none
♥ none ♥K
♦ 876 ♦ K10
♣ 87 ♣ QJ
♠ 32
♥9
♦J
♣9
South cashes the penultimate spade.
1. If West discards a club, North discards a diamond and East is
squeezed in three suits. South immediately gets an extra trick in
the suit East unguards.
2. If West discards a diamond, North and East discard clubs. On
the last spade North discards another club (so the ♣A has gone
now) and East is caught in a repeating squeeze. A diamond
discard yields two extra tricks immediately, whereas a heart or
club discard gives South a winner in that suit with which to
squeeze East again.
Trap: The contract fails if South plays on spades immediately at the second trick,
without cashing a top club. On winning the ♠Q, East must return a high heart to
South. Then on the run of the spades West retains three clubs, while East retains
control of the red suits, discarding a heart, a diamond, and a club. North comes
down to three clubs and two diamonds. On the last spade West discards another
red suit card. East discards from the same suit as North, and the squeeze fails.
Problem 29
DR3 Problems
30. ♠ AK432
♥ Q2
♦ none
♣ QJ10987
♠6 ♠ J10987
♥ 8765 ♥ J109
♦ 109654 ♦ AQ32
♣ A65 ♣K
♠ Q5
♥ AK43
♦ KJ87
♣ 432
West to lead and East-West to defeat South’s contract of three no-trumps.
West must lead 10, which East must duck. If South ducks too, West must
follow with a low diamond to East’s Q and South’s K, in which case South
gives up a club and East returns a low diamond to South’s J. If instead South
wins the first trick with J and gives up a club to East’s K, East must return
Q, which South ducks, and follow with a low diamond to South’s K. In both
cases we have had three rounds of diamonds, East retaining A, and one of
clubs. Now, if South leads:
A. a club, West wins with A and East discards A so that West can score
two diamond tricks to defeat the contract.
B. a diamond, East must return a heart, for a spade return would allow West
to be squeezed, with or without the count, by three or four rounds of
spades, South discarding a club on the third. West is forced to discard the
diamond winner, allowing North to set up a club trick with the ♥Q as
entry. The heart return removes either North’s entry to the club winner or
South’s to the heart menace.
C. Q and another spade, North playing low, East must again return a heart,
for much the same reason as in B.
If East had not deliberately blocked the diamonds by hanging on to A, declarer
would have been able to squeeze West by playing three rounds of spades. A club

85
86 Solutions

can be discarded on the second, but on the third West must either give the ninth
trick immediately by unguarding hearts (or clubs), or discard a diamond winner,
allowing the ninth trick to be established in clubs.
Problem 30

31. ♠ AQ3
♥ 10765
♦ KQ83
♣ A3
♠ KJ10987642 ♠5
♥ J32 ♥9
♦ 10 ♦ J96542
♣ none ♣ KQ542
♠ none
♥ AKQ84
♦ A7
♣ J109876
South to make six hearts. West leads the 10.
The diamond lead must be taken in North! South ruffs a spade and draws
trumps, East discarding diamonds. North is entered on the A to play A and
another spade. West has to win and return a spade, allowing North to dispose of
the club loser while South ruffs. East, now down to J96 and KQ, is caught in
a criss-cross ruffing squeeze on this trick. A club discard allows declarer to ruff
a club and return on the A to the good clubs, whereas a diamond discard allows
declarer to cash the A and cross to the good diamonds on a club ruff.
Problem 31
 DR3 Problems 87
32. ♠ 5432
♥ 102
♦ A432
♣ AK2
♠ KQJ ♠ 109876
♥ AJ9876 ♥ K5
♦ K87 ♦J
♣6 ♣ J10987
♠A
♥ Q43
♦ Q10965
♣ Q543
South to make five diamonds. West leads the ♣6.
North wins the opening lead and plays a spade to South’s A. Diamonds are led
from the top until West covers, when North wins and leads a spade for South to
ruff. Any remaining trumps are drawn and then South leads a low heart in this
position:
♠ 54
♥ 102
♦4
♣ A2
♠K ♠ 109
♥ AJ9876 ♥ K5
♦ none ♦ none
♣ none ♣ J109
♠ none
♥ Q43
♦6
♣ Q54
A. If West ducks, North’s 10 forces the K. North wins the club return
and South ruffs a spade before exiting to West on a heart. North ruffs the
next heart, which squeezes East in the black suits.
B. If West wins with the J, North plays low. South ruffs the spade
continuation and leads a club to North, whose last trump triple-squeezes
East before South. A black suit discard is immediately fatal, so East
88 Solutions

discards the K. South throws a club and now North’s 10 is good
enough to knock out the A and set up South’s Q.
Problem 32

33. ♠ AJ8
♥ A65
♦ J832
♣ K86
♠ K765 ♠ 1094
♥ K32 ♥ J10987
♦ 10975 ♦ KQ6
♣ J10 ♣ A9
♠ Q32
♥ Q4
♦ A4
♣ Q75432
South to make five clubs. West leads the ♦10.
On the ♦10, North plays low.
A. If East plays low, so does South. West continues with a trump (best), on which
North plays the ♣8, East the ♣9, and South the ♣Q. South cashes the ♦A and
leads a low club to the ♣K and ♣A. If East plays:
1. that hand’s last diamond, South ruffs and continues with the ♥Q to the ♥K
and ♥A, the ♦J (throwing a spade from hand), re-enters hand by leading
the ♣6 to the ♣7 and runs the rest of the trumps, throwing hearts from
North. The last trump squeezes East out of a spade, and South leads the
♠Q to set up three tricks in the suit.
2. a heart, this is covered by South and West and won by North. After a
diamond ruff, South leads the ♠Q to the ♠K and ♠A, cashes the ♦J, and
then runs the trumps for a simple major suit squeeze on East.
3. the ♠10, this is covered by South and West and won by North. After a
diamond ruff, South leads the ♥Q to the ♥K and ♥A, cashes the ♦J, and
then runs the trumps as in A.2.
B. If East plays high, South wins and leads another diamond. North covers West’s
card and East wins. East returns a heart, won by North’s ♥A. South then throws
the heart loser on the master diamond and forces out the ♣A (the play is not
 DR3 Problems 89
precise). East leads the ♠10, on which South must play low, and the ♠J wins. The
run of the trumps then squeezes West in spades and diamonds.
Problem 33

34. ♠ 432
♥Q
♦ J9543
♣ 5432
♠ KQJ5 ♠ 10876
♥ 432 ♥ J765
♦ none ♦ A876
♣ KJ10987 ♣6
♠ A9
♥ AK1098
♦ KQ102
♣ AQ
What lead by West defeats four hearts?
How does South make four hearts against any other lead?
To defeat the contract, West must lead the 5!
If West instead leads the K, South ducks, wins the spade continuation,
plays a heart to North, a club back to hand, and the AK, North discarding clubs.
The K and ♦Q must be allowed to hold, as must the third diamond, taken by
North, whereupon South ruffs a spade and exits with the Q. South’s last trump
wins a trick en passant.
If West leads a heart, North wins and leads a spade. To prevent the above
line, East must rise with the 10, forcing South’s A. South plays as above
anyway.
Problem 34
90 Solutions

35. ♠ 654
♥ AK432
♦ Q92
♣ 32
♠ AQ10987 ♠K
♥ 1096 ♥ QJ5
♦K ♦ 876543
♣ 1076 ♣ KQ9
♠ J32
♥ 87
♦ AJ10
♣ AJ854
West to lead and East-West to defeat South’s contract of three no-trumps.
The only lead to defeat the contract is the ♠A.
For the first three tricks West plays the ♠A, ♠Q, and another spade, and East
throws the ♣KQ. South wins the third trick with the ♠J and leads a heart. West
covers (otherwise declarer can duck in dummy and set up hearts), North wins,
and East unblocks an honour (otherwise a second heart can be ducked to East).
South comes back to a minor suit ace and leads a second heart. Again West
covers, North wins, and East unblocks.
South re-enters hand with the other minor suit ace, and then leads the ♦J.
West must throw a spade. (If West throws the ♥6, North overtakes and leads a
heart on which South sheds the ♦10, and East’s forced diamond return gives
declarer the rest). North plays low. South’s last hope is to lead a third diamond
to North’s ♦Q, but this time West sheds the ♥6. (If West discards another spade,
North exits with a heart and West will eventually have to lead into the club
tenace.) Declarer must now surrender.
Solvers tend to miss that last point, West’s discard of the ♥6. When the
problem was set in a solving competition, nobody mentioned the subtle point
about leading the second diamond from South with the intention of overtaking it
if and only if West discards the ♥6 prematurely.
Problem 35
 DR3 Problems 91
36. ♠ 862
♥ Q42
♦ AKJ832
♣7
♠ none ♠ 107543
♥ J1098 ♥ 653
♦ Q109 ♦ 7654
♣ KQJ1098 ♣A
♠ AKQJ9
♥ AK7
♦ none
♣ 65432
South to make five spades against any lead.
A club lead followed by a high (!) heart is best, South winning and North playing
the 4. South plays four rounds of spades. West does best to discard three
clubs and a heart and East does best to drop the 10 (otherwise two more rounds
of hearts and a spade to East give North the last four tricks in diamonds). North
discards a diamond. Now we have:
♠ none
♥ Q2
♦ AKJ83
♣ none
♠ none ♠7
♥ J10 ♥ 53
♦ Q109 ♦ 7654
♣ KQ ♣ none
♠9
♥ A7
♦ none
♣ 6543
The 9 triple-squeezes West out of a heart. A heart to the Q is followed by a
top diamond on which South jettisons the A. Now the carefully preserved ♥2
throws East in and North takes the last three tricks in diamonds.
The ending on which this problem is based was thought to be new at the
time of publication. The composer pointed out that it is a kind of jettison
squeeze, only here the jettison is made from the same hand as the squeeze card!
92 Solutions

Problem 36

37. ♠ Q10
♥ 932
♦ Q432
♣ J932
♠ A98 ♠ J76
♥ A854 ♥ J106
♦ 1098765 ♦ none
♣ none ♣ KQ108654
♠ K5432
♥ KQ7
♦ AKJ
♣ A7
South to make three no-trumps. West leads the ♦10.
Declarer appears to have nine tricks by establishing spades, but the diamonds are
blocked and repeated diamond leads from West must be avoided because they
would destroy any possibility of a favourable end position. Accordingly, care
must be taken to make sure East wins one of the spade tricks South must lose.
However, this must not be the first spade, because then West will duck the
second, forcing South to come to hand on a diamond to continue spades, which
allows West to set up two diamond tricks while still holding the ♥A.
South wins the first diamond with the ♦A and plays a spade to the ♠Q.
South ducks the second spade, allowing East to win with the ♠J and return the
♣K. South takes this with the ♣A and West does best to discard a heart! West
wins the next spade, North discarding a club, and exits on a diamond to South’s
♦K. South now cashes the spade winners, North discarding clubs.
A. If both defenders keep three hearts, the position is this:
 DR3 Problems 93
♠ none
♥ 932
♦ Q4
♣ none
♠ none ♠ none
♥ A85 ♥ J106
♦ 87 ♦ none
♣ none ♣ Q10
♠ none
♥ KQ7
♦J
♣7
North overtakes the ♦J and puts West in with the fourth diamond, at the
same time squeezing East in hearts and clubs. The menace cards are
North’s ♥9 and South’s ♣7.
B. If West instead keeps three diamonds and two hearts, we have this:
♠ none
♥ 932
♦ Q4
♣ none
♠ none ♠ none
♥ A8 ♥ J106
♦ 876 ♦ none
♣ none ♣ Q10
♠ none
♥ KQ7
♦J
♣7
South cashes the ♦J, forcing East to discard a club. East is put on play
with a club, North discarding a heart. The ♥J to ♥Q and ♥A leaves West
with the choice of letting North’s ♦Q win the ninth trick for declarer or
giving away two heart tricks.
Problem 37
94 Solutions

38. ♠ Q1042
♥ 1032
♦ J32
♣ A103
♠ J9 ♠ AK83
♥ KJ987 ♥ Q6
♦8 ♦ Q964
♣ K9654 ♣ 872
♠ 765
♥ A54
♦ AK1075
♣ QJ
South to make three no-trumps. West leads a heart.
A high heart would allow South to win the first trick and put East on play after
finesses and two rounds in each minor suit, so West leads a low heart, on which
North must play the ♥10. East wins with the ♥Q and continues the suit, South
winning with the ♥A. South’s ♣Q and ♣J are both allowed to hold (best),
whereupon South leads a spade to the ♠9, ♠10, and ♠K. East’s best return now is
a club to North’s ♣A, on which South takes care to discard a spade. Next comes
the ♦J and however East plays the second round of spades will guarantee that
South gets a second diamond finesse and the contract⎯East either leads the suit
and gives South four diamond tricks or lets North in on the ♠4.
Traps:
1. If North fails to play the ♥10 at trick one, then West stays on lead and
switches to spades.
2. If, in the above line, South discards a heart instead of a spade on the third
club, then East covers the ♦J and, on winning the second spade trick,
underleads the ♠8 to put South on play with nothing but diamonds. East
thus makes a diamond and the ♠8.
3. If South, after winning the first two club tricks in the above line, tries the
♦10 instead of a spade, it is allowed to hold! A spade comes next but East
wins and returns the ♦Q!
Problem 38
 DR3 Problems 95
39. ♠ AQ
♥ A432
♦ K9
♣ A10962
♠ 86543 ♠ J109
♥ 96 ♥ KQJ105
♦ 10 ♦ Q7654
♣ QJ854 ♣ none
♠ K72
♥ 87
♦ AJ832
♣ K73
South to make five clubs. West leads the ♠4.
Declarer appears to have eleven tricks so long as West can be confined to just
one trick in trumps. However, confining West to just one trick in trumps clearly
entails two trump leads from the South hand, which is a bit short of entries.
Using the first round of diamonds as an entry blocks the suit, especially if East
rises with the ♦Q, whereas overtaking the ♠Q gives up one of those eleven tricks.
However, in the latter case communications are a little more fluid and, as we
shall see, pressure can be brought to bear against East in the three side suits.
So, South wins the first trick with the ♠K and plays three rounds of
trumps: the ♣7 to the ♣J (best) and ♣A, back to the ♣K, then the ♣3 towards
North’s ♣1096. West might as well win the third. If West now leads a heart,
North simply ducks and whatever is next led an easy squeeze against East’s red
suits eventually ensues. On any other exit from West North wins, in some order,
the ♠A, ♦K and the ♣109. East cannot afford more than one diamond discard, so
the position is like this, with North about to lead the ♣9:
96 Solutions

♠ none
♥ A432
♦9
♣9
♠ 865 ♠J
♥ 96 ♥ K5
♦ none ♦ Q76
♣8 ♣ none
♠7
♥ 87
♦ AJ8
♣ none
A diamond discard is immediately fatal.
A. If East discards a heart, so does South. North cashes the ♥A and plays a
diamond to the ♦J, whereupon East is thrown in with a spade.
B. If East discards the ♠J, South comes to hand on the ♦J and leads a heart
for an avoidance play: if West plays low, so does North and now East
must either lead away from the ♦Q or give the rest to North in hearts. If
West instead rises with the ♥9, then North wins and, as East must keep the
♥K to beat South’s remaining heart, that hand is thrown in with a heart.
Problem 39

40. ♠ AQ108
♥ A5
♦Q
♣ none
♠ J97 ♠K
♥ K4 ♥ QJ
♦ J4 ♦ K6
♣ none ♣ KJ
♠ none
♥ 32
♦ A52
♣ AQ
South to lead at no-trumps. North-South to make six tricks.
 DR3 Problems 97
South cashes the ♣A and watches West’s discard, which obviously can’t be a
spade.
A. If West discards a diamond, North throws the ♠8 and is entered on the ♥A.
If West plays low, then that player is thrown in on a heart after the ♠A and
♦A have been cashed. If West instead drops the ♥K on this trick, then ♠A
and ♠Q subject East to a squeeze in three suits.
B. If West discards a heart, North must also discard a heart! Now the ♥A,
♠A and ♠Q are cashed, South discarding diamonds. East discards a
diamond on the ♠Q, coming down to three singletons, the ♥Q, ♦K and
♣K, while West has the master spade and ♦J4. West is thrown on the
spade as South watches East discard. If it is a heart or a club, South
discards a club or heart, respectively, and takes the last two tricks with the
♦A and the established heart or club winner. If instead East discards the
♦K, then South discards the ♦A and North takes the last two tricks with
the ♦Q and ♠10.
Trap: If North discards a spade in line B, then the given ending will fail when
East discards the ♦K, and if line A is followed instead, then West can drop the ♦J
so that East takes the last three tricks with the ♥Q, ♣K, and ♦6.
Problem 40

41. ♠ K654
♥ AKQ8
♦ AQ
♣ K43
♠ AQ987 ♠J
♥ J765 ♥ 9432
♦ K65 ♦ 10987
♣Q ♣ 9865
♠ 1032
♥ 10
♦ J432
♣ AJ1072
What is West’s best lead against South’s six no-trumps and how is the contract
made against that lead?
98 Solutions

It’s the passive ♣Q! Any other lead merely helps declarer to achieve the
following solution less precisely.
North plays the ♣K and South overtakes with the ♣A (!) to lead a low
spade. West must play low to avoid being subjected to an easy squeeze in spades
and diamonds, so North wins with the ♠K. South comes to hand on a club to the
♣8 and ♣10 and leads the ♥10, covered by West and North. North wins two
more heart tricks, South discarding either two spades or a spade and a diamond,
and then South plays the remaining clubs via a finesse of the ♣7. West must
keep two spades to prevent North from establishing the suit and so is forced to
discard a diamond. North wins two diamonds and at trick 12 East is thrown in on
the ♥9 to provide a stepping-stone to South’s now good ♦J.
On a low diamond lead the same ending can be reached by overtaking the
♣K at trick 2, but now South can lead either a heart or a spade. However,
South’s discards on the hearts must now be a spade and a diamond, the spade
being needed in case West keeps one spade and three diamonds at the end.
Problem 41

42. ♠A
♥ J52
♦ A7
♣ 32
♠3 ♠2
♥ 986 ♥ A73
♦ K6 ♦ 54
♣ K4 ♣ J6
♠ none
♥ Q10
♦Q
♣ AQ1097
With spades trumps and West to lead, East-West to take three tricks.
West must lead the ♦6! If South wins with the ♦Q and leads the ♥Q, West drops
the ♥8. East wins and returns a heart, West dropping the ♥9. If South wins and
cashes the ♣A, West drops the ♣K and East the ♣J! East ruffs the third round of
clubs, on which North is squeezed. Assuming North discards a red card, East
next leads that suit to force the ♠A and thus promote West’s ♠3.
If North overtakes the ♥10, the defence must come to a heart and a club.
 DR3 Problems 99
Trap: If West starts with a high heart to the ♥A and ♥Q and East returns a
diamond to the ♦Q, South cashes the ♣A and ♥10 in that order (otherwise West
unblocks in clubs as before), then throws West in on a club so that North takes
the last three tricks.
Problem 42

43. ♠ KJ82
♥ 9732
♦K
♣ A752
♠ 10 ♠ AQ976543
♥ KJ105 ♥ 96
♦ 10987653 ♦ J42
♣K ♣ none
♠ none
♥ AQ4
♦ AQ
♣ QJ1098643
South to make six clubs against a black suit lead.
A. If West leads the ♣K, North wins and leads the ♦K to South’s ♦A and then
ruffs the ♦Q! North leads a low spade and when East plays low South
discards the ♥4 to throw West in for either a ruff and discard or a heart
lead into the tenace.
B. If West leads the ♠10, South ruffs high and leads a high club to North’s
♣A. A second spade is ruffed high and North’s ♦K and a club are entries
for two further spade ruffs high. South then cashes the ♦A and leads a
club in this position:
100 Solutions

♠ none
♥ 873
♦ none
♣ 72
♠ none ♠ 76
♥ KJ105 ♥ 96
♦ 10 ♦J
♣ none ♣ none
♠ none
♥ AQ4
♦ none
♣ 64
(Alternatively, South could have ♣43 opposite North’s ♣52.) Now, if
West discards
1. the ♦10, then North plays low and wins the next club, on which
West is one-suit squeezed. West does best to discard a middle
heart but then the ♥8 is covered around the table and West has to
lead into a split tenace.
2. the ♥5, then an immediate exit on a low heart endplays West for a
heart lead or a ruff and discard.
3. the ♥10, then North overtakes the club and leads the ♥8, covered
around the table. Again, West is endplayed.
Problem 43
 DR3 Problems 101
44. ♠ A432
♥ AJ2
♦ 76
♣ AK43
♠ Q65 ♠ none
♥ KQ1097 ♥ 865
♦ AJ54 ♦ 1098
♣5 ♣ QJ109876
♠ KJ10987
♥ 43
♦ KQ32
♣2
South to make six spades. West leads the ♣5.
North wins the first trick and leads a low club for South to ruff with the ♠K.
South plays spades until West covers. When North captures the ♠Q South
immediately ruffs the remaining low club and draws West’s remaining trumps, if
any. North is entered on a heart to the ♥Q and ♥A to give the following ending:
♠4
♥ J2
♦ 76
♣A
♠ none ♠ none
♥ K10 ♥ 86
♦ AJ54 ♦ 1098
♣ none ♣Q
♠J
♥4
♦ KQ32
♣ none
South discards the ♥4 on North’s ♣A and West is squeezed out of a diamond. A
diamond to the ♦Q follows. West does best to play the ♦J on this trick but South
follows with the ♦K. West takes this trick but is fixed: a diamond return, ruffed
by North, gives South the last two with a heart ruff and the long diamond,
whereas a heart lead sets up North’s ♥J with a diamond ruff as entry if needed.
Problem 44
102 Solutions

45. ♠ AKQ
♥ Q63
♦ K4
♣ AQ753
♠ 987 ♠6
♥ J872 ♥ K54
♦ QJ1065 ♦ 987
♣8 ♣ J109642
♠ J105432
♥ A109
♦ A32
♣K
South to make seven spades. West leads the ♦Q.
South wins the first trick in hand with the ♦A and then in some appropriate order
come the ♣K, ♥A, ♠Q, club ruffed high, ♠K, club ruffed high, ♠A, ♣A and ♣Q.
On those last two tricks South discards the ♥9 and ♥10, while both opponents are
squeezed in the red suits, as follows.
If East bares the ♥K, South’s last spade ruffs the ♥6 and North’s ♦K and
♥Q take the last two tricks.
If West bares the ♥J, North leads the ♥Q and South ruffs the ♥K to leave
North with the ♦K and good ♥6.
If both defenders keep two hearts, then each has only one diamond, so the
♦K, heart ruff and ♦3 take the last three tricks.
The ending is usually called a double ruffing squeeze, though perhaps
ruffing double squeeze is more appropriate, seeing as only one ruff is taken after
the squeeze. The key play is to win the first trick in the South hand, keeping the
diamond entry to North that is needed for the squeeze.
Problem 45
 DR3 Problems 103
46. ♠2
♥ J10982
♦ K65
♣ KQ103
♠ KQJ108 ♠ 976
♥ none ♥ KQ3
♦ 10987 ♦ AQ4
♣ J976 ♣ A854
♠ A543
♥ A7654
♦ J32
♣2
South to make four hearts. West leads the ♠K.
Declarer wins with the ♠A and immediately finesses the ♣10, losing to East’s
♣A. To create any difficulty East must return a trump honour, taken by South’s
♥A as North plays high to preserve the ♥2. A spade is ruffed high and followed
by three rounds of clubs, South discarding two diamonds and ruffing the third, in
case West has kept the ♣7 and East, who must be kept off lead at this stage, the
♣8. The cards now lie like this, with South on lead having lost one trick:
♠ none
♥ J102
♦ K65
♣ none
♠ QJ ♠9
♥ none ♥ Q3
♦ 10987 ♦ AQ4
♣ none ♣ none
♠ 54
♥ 765
♦J
♣ none
The ♦J is run round to East’s ♦Q and East must play ♥Q and another heart to
prevent the cross-ruff. North plays high under the ♥Q and West, having already
perforce discarded two diamonds, is caught in a ruffing seesaw squeeze (also
known as an entry-shifting squeeze). If West discards a spade, North plays the
♥2 and ruffs a spade so that South’s diamond ruff and spade winner take the last
104 Solutions

two tricks. If West instead discards another diamond, North overtakes and leads
the ♦K to set up a trick for the ♦6 with a spade ruff as entry.
Problem 46

47. ♠ K43
♥ 762
♦ AK
♣ QJ1098
♠ Q65 ♠ J987
♥ KJ1098 ♥ Q54
♦ J10987 ♦ 65
♣ none ♣ K765
♠ A102
♥ A3
♦ Q432
♣ A432
South to make six no-trumps. West leads the ♦J.
North makes a diamond and three club tricks, East doing better to play low on
the clubs, on which West throws hearts. South wins the fourth club, West
discarding a diamond, and the ♥A (in either order) to give the following ending:

♠ K43
♥ 76
♦A
♣8
♠ Q65 ♠ J987
♥J ♥ Q5
♦ 1098 ♦6
♣ none ♣ none
♠ A102
♥3
♦ Q43
♣ none
(We assume West keeps a lower heart, rather than the ♥K, though as it happens
East cannot afford to overtake the ♥J anyway.) Declarer crosses to the ♦A to
cash the last club, discarding the ♥3. East has a spare spade at this stage, but
West is squeezed in three suits: a diamond discard gives two more diamond
 DR3 Problems 105
tricks, while the ♥J discard makes North’s ♥76 equals against the ♥Q5. So, West
discards a spade. North now exits on a heart. East must play low, so South
discards a diamond and West wins. West exits on a diamond—a spade from ♠Q6
doubleton would give declarer three spade tricks—but North discards a spade
and East is squeezed in the major suits.
Problem 47

48. (a) ♠ AQ76543

♥3
♦ AQ3
♣ Q4
♠ J1098 ♠K
♥ none ♥ 10987654
♦ J10987 ♦ 65
♣ KJ109 ♣ 765
♠2
♥ AKQJ2
♦ K42
♣ A832

(b) ♠ Q765432
♥3
♦ AQ3
♣ Q4
♠ J1098 ♠K
♥ none ♥ 10987654
♦ J10987 ♦ 65
♣ KJ109 ♣ 765
♠A
♥ AKQJ2
♦ K42
♣ A832
In each of the layouts (a) and (b) above your task is the same:
1. Show how East-West can defeat South’s contract of six no-trumps.
2. Show how the contract is made against any other defence.
106 Solutions

In (a):
A. West must lead the ♣K! If this is allowed to hold, West must switch to
spades to break up the threatened black suit squeeze. If instead South
wins with the ♣A, the best chance is to play a diamond to the ♦A followed
by four heart tricks. However, there is no squeeze so long as West
discards nothing but diamonds on the hearts and then a club on the ♦K.
B. Assume West leads a spade. Then North wins and cashes the ♦A (key
play) on which South plays the ♦2. Four rounds of hearts follow and
West again does best to discard diamonds, coming down to four clubs and
three spades. North discards spades. Now South leads the ♦K.
1. If West discards a spade, North plays the ♦3. Now a diamond to
the ♦Q is followed by the ♠Q and another spade to force a club
lead from West. The ♣Q becomes not only a winner but also an
entry to North’s good spade.
2. If West discards a club, North drops the ♦Q. South leads a low
club and regardless of whether West ducks or wins with the ♣K,
South’s heart loser goes on the ♠Q and the long club can be
established with the ♦4 as entry.
The only difference in layout (b) is that West must start with a low club! On the
lead of a spade or the ♣K, the diamond at trick two comes from South, of course.
On a spade lead the play is then exactly as in B.2 above. On the ♣K lead North
can win the first diamond with either the ♦A or the ♦Q. Then, because South, in
the ending, still has the ♠A and North the ♣Q, it doesn’t matter which hand wins
the second diamond trick, just so long as South leads the ♦K and North plays
high or low depending on West’s discard.
Problem 48
 DR3 Problems 107
49. ♠ 10762
♥ Q732
♦ K2
♣ A43
♠9 ♠ K43
♥ J1098 ♥ K654
♦ QJ10987 ♦6
♣ K5 ♣ 109876
♠ AQJ85
♥A
♦ A543
♣ QJ2
South to make six spades. West leads the ♦Q.
Declarer wins in hand with the ♦A, cashes the ♥A, then leads the ♣Q, covered by
the ♣K and ♣A. North leads the ♠10, which East does best to duck. South
unblocks the ♠8 so that North remains on lead when East then ducks the ♠7.
South now ruffs a heart, cashes the ♠A and ♣J, then exits to East on the third
club, giving this four-card ending with East on lead:
♠7
♥ Q7
♦K
♣ none
♠ none ♠ none
♥ J10 ♥ K6
♦ J10 ♦ none
♣ none ♣ 109
♠Q
♥ none
♦ 543
♣ none
A heart lead gives declarer a heart trick. A club lead is ruffed by North,
squeezing West: a diamond discard is followed by the ♦K, a heart ruff and a good
diamond, whereas a heart discard lets North establish the ♥7 by leading the ♥Q,
with the ♦K for re-entry.
Problem 49
108 Solutions

50. ♠ A54
♥ AJ3
♦ QJ8
♣ Q654
♠ KQ6 ♠ J10987
♥ Q1054 ♥ 9876
♦ 109 ♦ K76
♣ K1087 ♣A
♠ 32
♥ K2
♦ A5432
♣ J932
South to make five diamonds. West leads the ♣7.
A. If East returns a heart at trick 2, South plays low and North wins as
cheaply as possible. The ♦Q is led, followed by the ♦J if the ♦Q is
allowed to hold. Trumps are drawn, West discarding a high spade. East
does best to cover one of the trump honours, so North is on lead at trick
six. South comes to hand on a heart to give this position:
♠ A54
♥A
♦ none
♣ Q65
♠ K6 ♠ J10987
♥ Q10 ♥ 87
♦ none ♦ none
♣ K108 ♣ none
♠ 32
♥ none
♦ 54
♣ J93
South leads a diamond, on which North discards a low spade.
1. If West discards a spade, South follows with the last diamond.
West and North both discard spades but when North is entered on
the ♠A, West at last has to discard a heart to keep two club guards.
North cashes the ♥A and leads a club to South’s ♣J. If West ducks
a club towards the guarded ♣Q secures the eleventh trick;
 DR3 Problems 109
otherwise, West wins with the ♣A and has to lead away from ♣108
into the split tenace.
2. If West instead discards a heart, North makes the ♠A and ♥A,
South discarding a spade. South’s last trump then ruffs the ♠5 and
the lead of the ♣J has the same effect as in 1.
B. If East returns a spade at trick two, North wins and play follows line A.
When South leads the penultimate trump at trick seven, the ending is
similar to before except that North has the ♥J instead of the ♠A and West
has three hearts and a low spade. The ♥J replaces the ♠A as the entry to
North in A.1 and A.2.
Problem 50

51. ♠ 9543
♥ K8765432
♦K
♣ none
♠ KQJ86 ♠ 107
♥Q ♥ AJ109
♦ Q10864 ♦ J975
♣ QJ ♣ 987
♠ A2
♥ none
♦ A32
♣ AK1065432
South to make five no-trumps against any defence.
Declarer has eleven top tricks but will only be able to cash out if West leads a
minor suit, as this allows declarer to unblock the ♦K before coming back to the
South hand with the ♠A. West therefore does best to lead a major suit.
A. If West leads the ♥Q, North plays low and so must East. South discards a
low diamond. West must now switch to a spade.
1. If West leads the ♠K, it is allowed to hold the trick. South wins the
spade continuation and cashes seven rounds of clubs to reach this
three-card ending:
110 Solutions

♠9
♥K
♦K
♣ none
♠Q ♠ none
♥ none ♥A
♦ Q10 ♦ J9
♣ none ♣ none
♠ none
♥ none
♦ A3
♣2
South cashes the last club. If West discards the ♠Q, North discards
the ♥K and makes the last two tricks with the ♦K and ♠9. So West
throws a diamond. North discards the ♠9, and East is squeezed in
the red suits.
2. If West leads the ♠6, it is covered by the ♠9, ♠10 and ♠A. South
now starts running the clubs.
(a) If West at any stage discards down to just one spade, South
must immediately lead the ♦3 to the ♦K and throw West in
with a spade, forcing a lead to South’s remaining winners.
(b) If West retains two spades, South cashes seven clubs to
reach this four-card ending:

♠ 54
♥K
♦K
♣ none
♠ KQ ♠ none
♥ none ♥ AJ
♦ Q10 ♦ J9
♣ none ♣ none
♠2
♥ none
♦ A3
♣2
 DR3 Problems 111
South cashes the last club. To prevent the spade throw-in
(or, now, declarer’s alternative option of setting up a long
spade in North) West must discard a diamond. North
discards a spade. East must discard the ♥J. Declarer now
crosses to the ♦K, and throws East in with a heart to force a
lead to the ♦A.
3. If West leads the ♠8, North plays low. If East plays the ♠7, South
ducks, wins the spade continuation and play continues as in line
A.1. If East plays the ♠10, South wins and play continues as in
line A.2(b). There is no need to guard against West jettisoning
high spades as the ♠9 has been retained in dummy.
B. If West leads a spade, declarer ducks, regardless of who is to win the
trick. If West wins and continues with the ♥Q, which holds, then another
spade, South wins and play reverts to line A.1. If the defence lead another
spade to the second trick, South wins and runs the clubs, leading to a
throw-in on one or other defender on the lines of A.2.
Note: Declarer must take care on the play of the spades in line A. West will be
able to unblock in spades and so defeat the contract if:
• in 2, North plays low on the ♠6, allowing East to play the ♠7;
• in 2(a), South leads another club when West has come down to a single
spade, allowing West to throw the last high spade; or
• in 3, North covers the ♠8 with the ♠9.
This hand is based on a deal from Chien-Hwa Wang’s book Practical Bridge
Endings. In the original version the contract was just 3NT and declarer was able
to make it by means of the squeeze described in line A.1 (referred to by the
author as a ‘nosittej double squeeze’ i.e. the reverse of a jettison double squeeze)
when the defence, despite having no communication problems, failed to cash the
top tricks available to them.
Problem 51
112 Solutions

52. ♠ AK2
♥ J3
♦ 72
♣ AK10987
♠ 10987 ♠ J6
♥ 98765 ♥ Q102
♦8 ♦ A9543
♣ QJ6 ♣ 432
♠ Q543
♥ AK4
♦ KQJ106
♣5
South to make six no-trumps. West leads the ♣Q.
North wins with the ♣K and leads the ♥J to the ♥Q and ♥K. South leads the ♦K,
on which North unblocks the ♦7. East does best to let this win. North is entered
on a spade to lead the ♦2, South finessing the ♦6 as East plays low again.
Diamonds are continued until East plays the ♦A, North discarding low clubs.
East now does best to return a spade, which South must win in hand with the ♠Q.
Assuming East took the third round of diamonds, this is the position when South
plays the penultimate diamond:

♠A
♥3
♦ none
♣ A1098
♠ 109 ♠ none
♥ 98 ♥ 102
♦ none ♦ 95
♣ J6 ♣ 43
♠ 54
♥ A4
♦ J10
♣ none

West can discard a heart, but the last diamond completes the squeeze, of the kind
that is called a guard squeeze. A black suit discard gives declarer an extra
winner in that suit, whereas discarding another heart gives South a tenace with
 DR3 Problems 113
the ♥A4 over East’s ♥102. After North’s black suit aces the heart finesse brings
home the contract.
Problem 52

53. ♠ AJ86
♥A
♦ 7653
♣ KJ95
♠ 109 ♠ Q7543
♥ K10987 ♥2
♦ J10 ♦ K98
♣ 10432 ♣ Q876
♠ K2
♥ QJ6543
♦ AQ42
♣A
South to make five no-trumps. West leads the ♣2.
After the ♣A and a heart to the ♥A North leads the ♠J, covered by East and
South. A spade back to the ♠A is followed by three rounds of diamonds, North
taking care to preserve the ♦3 should West discard a heart on the third.
A. If East leads a spade, South discards the ♦4. North wins cheaply and
cashes the ♦3. If East discards a spade, North cashes the remaining spade
winner and leads the ♣J to make two of the last three tricks. If East
instead discards a club, North can establish a club trick with an entry in
spades.
B. If East leads a low club, that player can be thrown back in on the third
club.
C. If East leads the ♣Q, South discards a heart. North makes the ♣K and ♠8,
South discarding another heart, likewise West. South now comes to hand
on the ♦4 to lead the ♥Q, taken by West’s ♥K. Whatever West has kept,
the last two tricks are won by either South’s hearts or North’s clubs.
If East ducks the ♠J at trick 3, an analogous position is reached after the ♦Q, ♦A,
and ♠K. South again leads the ♦2, North again having preserved the ♦3.
Problem 53
114 Solutions

54. ♠ AQ952
♥ Q32
♦ A87
♣ A6
♠ KJ1043 ♠ 76
♥J ♥ K8754
♦ QJ10 ♦ 65432
♣ Q987 ♣ 10
♠8
♥ A1096
♦ K9
♣ KJ5432
South to make six no-trumps against any defence.
First, note that a club lead is immediately fatal, whereas if West leads the ♥J
declarer can play for four heart tricks by twice finessing against the ♥87, using
the ♣A and either the ♦A or a spade finesse as entries. The fourth heart then
squeezes West in three suits in, for example, this position:
♠ A952
♥ none
♦ A87
♣6
♠ KJ ♠7
♥ none ♥ 85
♦ QJ10 ♦ 65432
♣ Q98 ♣ none
♠ none
♥ 10
♦ K9
♣ KJ543
A spade discard concedes an overtrick and a club discard allows South to set up
three extra club tricks for the contract. So a diamond is best, but then West is
thrown in on a spade after three rounds of diamonds.
Now suppose West leads the ♠J. Then North wins with the ♠Q and leads
the ♥Q, covered by the ♥K and ♥A. Declarer now has to abandon the idea of
scoring all the hearts because that would take up both of North’s remaining
entries and no squeeze would arise—West can safely unguard spades. Instead,
declarer cashes the ♥10 and ♥9, squeezing West in this different position:
 DR3 Problems 115
♠ A952
♥3
♦ A87
♣ A6
♠ K104 ♠7
♥ none ♥ 875
♦ QJ10 ♦ 65432
♣ Q987 ♣ 10
♠ none
♥ 96
♦ K9
♣ KJ5432
If West discards
A. a club, after three rounds of clubs the rest are won by the top cards in
spades and diamonds together with three more club tricks.
B. a spade, North is entered on either minor suit ace to play ♠A and another
spade. On the diamond return North gets in on the other ace to play the
two established spades, squeezing West again in diamonds and clubs.
C. a diamond, three rounds of diamonds squeeze West again. A spade
discard lets North establish the suit for the contract, but if West discards a
club we have a neat endplay where North cashes the ♣A and advances the
♠9. West wins with the ♠10 but now has the choice of leading from ♠K4
into North’s ♠A5 giving three spade tricks to go with the ♣K, or a club
into South’s tenace to give four club tricks.
The play on the lead of a low spade is similar. North wins with the ♠9 and leads
the ♥Q. Plays proceeds as above but in line C, where West is thrown in with a
spade, North must lead the ♠Q in the case where West keeps ♠KJ4.
Finally, we have to consider a diamond opening lead. North must win this
with the ♦A and lead the ♥Q to ♥K and ♥A. Again the double heart finesse
doesn’t help, so South again cashes the ♥10 and ♥9 and West is subjected to
much the same repeating squeeze. In particular, if West unguards diamonds this
time, South cashes the ♦K and leads the ♠8 to the ♠10 (best) and ♠Q, whereupon
North’s diamond winner squeezes West for the second time as above.
Problem 54
116 Solutions

55. ♠ K2
♥ KQJ108
♦ J5432
♣6
♠ A98765 ♠ QJ
♥ 76 ♥A
♦ AKQ ♦ 109876
♣ 87 ♣ KQJ109
♠ 1043
♥ 95432
♦ none
♣ A5432
South to make five hearts. West leads the ♥7.
North plays high on the opening lead, and East does best to return a club. South
wins with the ♣A, plays a spade to the ♠K, ruffs a diamond, and exits on a
second spade to East (South’s ♠10 prevents West from taking this trick). North
ruffs high the club return and South ruffs another diamond. The ♠10, ruffed high
by North, gives following position with North on lead:
♠ none
♥ K8
♦ J54
♣ none
♠ 987 ♠ none
♥6 ♥ none
♦A ♦ 1098
♣ none ♣ J10
♠ none
♥ 95
♦ none
♣ 543
North leads the ♥8 to catch East in a criss-cross ruffing squeeze, South
overtaking if and only if East discards a club. Two tricks in the suit East discards
from are established by ruffing.
 DR3 Problems 117
Here is Ernest Pawle’s original, which was #31 in Bridge Magazine, May 1953
♠ 54
♥ KQJ96
♦ A65432
♣ none
♠ K107632 ♠ QJ
♥ 87 ♥A
♦ KQ ♦ J10987
♣ 984 ♣ KQ765
♠ A98
♥ 105432
♦ none
♣ AJ1032
South to make five hearts. West leads the ♥8.
The are many different orders of play to give rise to similar squeeze endings.
Problem 55

56. ♠ J102
♥ AQ6
♦ AQ108
♣ K54
♠ none ♠ Q9765
♥ K54 ♥ 10987
♦ J75432 ♦K
♣ QJ109 ♣ 876
♠ AK843
♥ J32
♦ 96
♣ A32
South to make seven no-trumps. West leads the ♣Q.
North wins with the ♣K and leads the ♠J, followed by the ♠10 when the ♠J holds.
East does best to cover the second spade so that South is forced to cross on a
diamond (the ♦6) to the ♦A for the finesse against East’s ♠9. We now have this
ending, with South on lead:
118 Solutions

♠ none
♥ AQ6
♦ Q108
♣ 54
♠ none ♠ 97
♥ K54 ♥ 10987
♦ J75 ♦ none
♣ J10 ♣ 87
♠ A4
♥ J32
♦9
♣ A3
The ♠A, on which North discards a club, triple-squeezes West.
A. If West discards a heart, three rounds of hearts squeeze West again. A
diamond discard gives North three diamond tricks to go with South’s ♣A,
whereas as club discard means that North two diamond winners (the ♦9
being overtaken by the ♦10) will squeeze East before South in the black
suits.
B. If West discards a diamond, North finesses and runs the diamonds, the
second of which triple-squeezes East, who has already thrown a heart on
the first one. A spade discard makes South’s ♠4 good for the thirteenth
trick and a heart discard allows declarer to come to hand on the ♣A to
make three heart tricks by leading the ♥J. So East has to unguard clubs,
but now declarer has a choice of further squeezes:
1. South can discard two hearts on the diamonds, forcing West to
discard a heart while East throws another club. Now a club to the
♣A forces East to unguard a major suit, completing a non-
simultaneous double squeeze.
2. Alternatively, South can discard a club and a heart. This gives
West a safe discard in clubs, but a club to the ♣A squeezes East in
the majors anyway because the pinning threat in hearts has been
retained.
C. Finally, if West unguards clubs at trick six (so declarer is still two tricks
short), South runs the ♦9. Retaining the lead, South now leads the ♥J to
isolate the guard of that suit in East when West covers. North’s ♦Q, on
which South throws a heart, now begins a repeated squeeze on East:
 DR3 Problems 119
whichever suit East unguards, the established winner in that suit squeezes
East again.
Note that line C fails if South carelessly leads the ♦9 at trick four.
Problem 56

57. ♠5
♥ J106
♦ AK432
♣ AQ83
♠ QJ10 ♠ 9876
♥ 5432 ♥ K98
♦ QJ10 ♦ 9876
♣ KJ4 ♣ 65
♠ AK432
♥ AQ7
♦5
♣ 10972
South is declarer in six no-trumps. How is the contract made when West chooses
the wrong queen to lead at trick one?
West wrongly chooses the ♠Q. South wins and leads the ♣10. West does best to
cover this and North wins, finessing. North leads the ♥J. East does best not to
cover this but South wins with the ♥Q anyway. South’s next lead is the ♣7.
West plays the ♣4 and North overtakes with the ♣8. The ♣A now starts a
progressive seesaw squeeze on East in this position:
♠ none
♥ 106
♦ AK432
♣ A3
♠ J10 ♠ 987
♥ 543 ♥ K9
♦ QJ10 ♦ 9876
♣K ♣ none
♠ A432
♥ A7
♦5
♣ 92
120 Solutions

A. If East discards a spade, South plays low and comes to hand on the ♣9 to
give up a spade. South’s heart loser goes on the second top diamond and
then declarer comes to hand on the ♥A to score the established spade
winners.
B. If East discards a diamond, South drops the ♣9 and North gives up a
diamond trick. After a heart return to South’s ♥A, North’s heart loser
goes on the top spade and the ♣3 affords entry to the good diamonds.
C. If East discards a heart, South again drops the ♣9 but now North cashes
the ♣3 to continue the squeeze.
1. A spade discard allows the spades to be established with ♥10 as
entry.
2. A diamond discard allows the diamonds to be established with the
♥A as entry.
3. Discarding the ♥K allows North to exert a second seesaw squeeze
by leading the ♥6, South playing the ♥7 if East throws a spade,
otherwise the ♥A.
Problem 57

58. ♠ K32
♥ KJ8
♦ AJ876
♣ A6
♠ 96 ♠ A1087
♥ 10 ♥ Q765
♦ 109543 ♦Q
♣ J10987 ♣ KQ32
♠ QJ54
♥ A9432
♦ K2
♣ 54
South to make six hearts. West leads the ♥10.
North covers the ♥10 with the ♥J, which wins (best defence), and leads a low
spade. East must play low, as otherwise there are twelve top tricks, so the ♠J
wins and North is entered on the ♥K for another low spade lead. Again East
 DR3 Problems 121
must play low, so the ♠Q wins. Now North overtakes the ♦K with the ♦A (!) and
leads a heart for South to finesse against the ♥Q. South draws trumps, North
discarding a club, and plays the last heart in this position:

♠K
♥ none
♦ J876
♣A
♠ none ♠ A10
♥ none ♥ none
♦ 10954 ♦ none
♣ J10 ♣ KQ32
♠ 54
♥4
♦2
♣ 54
On the ♥4 North discards the ♠K.
A. If West keeps three diamonds and two clubs, North’s diamonds can be
established via a lead through West’s ♦1095, with the ♣A as entry.
B. If instead West keeps four diamonds and one club and plays low (best) on
South’s diamond lead, North wins cheaply, cashes the ♣A, and leads a
low diamond to endplay West.
Here is Ernest Pawle’s original, as it appeared in Bridge Magazine, 1958.
♠ Q32
♥ AJ9
♦ AQ876
♣ AJ
♠ 96 ♠ A1087
♥8 ♥ Q763
♦ J9543 ♦ 10
♣ Q9875 ♣ K1062
♠ KJ5
♥ K10542
♦ K2
♣ 43
South to make six hearts. West leads the ♥8.
122 Solutions

North can play any card at trick one, and declarer has several options after that.
Problem 58

59. ♠ 654
♥A
♦5
♣ AQ1065
♠ none ♠ J987
♥ QJ9 ♥ 87
♦ 43 ♦ 9876
♣ KJ987 ♣ none
♠ A3
♥ K65
♦ J2
♣ 432
South to lead at no-trumps, North-South to make eight tricks
South leads a club for North to win as cheaply as possible. North cashes the ♥A
and leads a spade, South letting East hold the trick. West has to keep control of
hearts and cannot afford a club discard as that would allow declarer to give up a
club and then make three more tricks in the suit after a second finesse. So West
discards a diamond.
A. If East returns a spade to South’s ♠A, West has to discard another
diamond. South then plays the ♥K and another heart, North discarding
low clubs. With only clubs left, West has to lead one into North’s ♣AQ,
the second of which squeezes East in spades and diamonds.
B. If East returns a heart or a diamond, South lets East win a diamond trick,
leading to a squeeze on West in hearts and clubs.
In the original problem by N.Y. Wilson, the ♣7 and ♣5 were exchanged. The
weakening of West’s club holding gave rise to alternative solutions, typically
ending with West leading away from ♣K5 into North’s ♣A7.
Problem 59
 DR3 Problems 123
60. ♠ A8
♥ J10
♦ AJ82
♣ K9832
♠ 972 ♠ K6
♥ 9543 ♥ KQ8
♦ Q76 ♦ K543
♣ J104 ♣ A765
♠ QJ10543
♥ A762
♦ 109
♣Q
West leads the ♣J to South’s contract of four spades.
How is the contract defeated?
East wins with the ♣A and returns the ♦K! Declarer’s best try is to win with the
♦A, discard the diamond loser on the ♣K, and play on hearts. East wins the first
or second heart and in either case must now lead the ♠6!
Traps:
1. If East leads a low diamond at trick two, play follows as before but North
can win the trump return and play the ♦J, covered by East and ruffed by
South. Now after the ♥A and a heart ruff South’s remaining heart goes
away on North’s good diamond and the ♠K is the defence’s third and last
trick.
2. Suppose declarer wins the first heart and East the second, so we have:
♠ A8
♥ none
♦ J82
♣ 983
♠ 972 ♠ K6
♥ 95 ♥8
♦ Q7 ♦ 543
♣ 10 ♣ 76
♠ QJ10543
♥ 76
♦ none
♣ none
124 Solutions

If East exits on the ♥8 instead of the ♠6, North ruffs (with either trump
card) and South ruffs a diamond. The last heart is now ruffed.
Underruffing (or overruffing) by East destroys the possibility of
promoting West’s ♠9, so East discards. Now North leads from the suit
East has discarded. South ruffs low and leads a high spade to East’s ♠K.
As West follows suit on the minor suit return, South can ruff low and
draw trumps.
3. If South lets East’s ♥Q win the first heart and East then returns the ♥K
instead of the ♠6, then South wins with the ♥A and ruffs a heart, giving
the same situation as in Trap 2.
Problem 60

61. ♠ Q2
♥ AK3
♦ Q63
♣ 87654
♠ 987 ♠ K3
♥ 109876 ♥ Q54
♦ A754 ♦ J1098
♣3 ♣ QJ109
♠ AJ10654
♥ J2
♦ K2
♣ AK2
South to make six no-trumps. West leads the ♣3.
South wins, crosses on a heart and plays four rounds of spades to arrive at this
ending:
 DR3 Problems 125
♠ none
♥ A3
♦ Q63
♣ 87
♠ none ♠ none
♥ 10987 ♥ Q5
♦ A75 ♦ J109
♣ none ♣ QJ
♠ 54
♥J
♦ K2
♣ A2
On the next two spades West discards hearts, North clubs, and East is squeezed.
A. If East discards a heart and a diamond, the ♣A then squeezes West in
front of North. A heart discard gives North two heart tricks and a
diamond discard lets declarer establish two diamond tricks for North.
B. If East discards two diamonds, the ♣A, North discarding the ♥3, again
squeezes West. A diamond discard gives North two tricks as before,
whereas a heart discard allows North to score the ♥A and lead the ♦3 to
the ♦K and ♦A so that North’s ♦Q6 tenace takes the last two tricks.
C. If East discards two hearts, West and North both discard diamonds on the
♣A and South cashes the ♥J. Although the ♥A is stranded, the lead of the
♦K guarantees North an entry to make it—via a diamond to West if the
♦K holds.
Problem 61
126 Solutions

62. ♠J
♥ AQJ82
♦ A432
♣ K32
♠ 76543 ♠ K109
♥ 106543 ♥K
♦Q ♦ J10987
♣ A4 ♣ QJ109
♠ AQ82
♥ 97
♦ K65
♣ 8765
South to make five no-trumps. West leads the ♥4.
North wins with the ♥A and South drops the ♥9. Declarer comes to hand on the
♦K and leads a club. The next four tricks are won by the ♣A, ♣K, the ♠Q
overtaking the ♠J, and the ♥8 overtaking South’s ♥7, the order depending on
West’s play at trick three. North now plays out the hearts, the last one losing to
West. South keeps ♠A8, ♦6, ♣8 and wins the spade return with the ♠A. East has
been triple-squeezed, such that either North’s ♦A43 will all score or one of
South’s black suit 8s is a winner. In the latter case that winning 8 squeezes East
again.
The original problem by David Solis-Cohen Jr. was number 195 in George
Coffin’s Sure Tricks (1948):
♠ AQ92
♥ 106
♦ K75
♣ 8743
♠ K106 ♠ 87543
♥8 ♥ J9543
♦ J10843 ♦Q
♣ K965 ♣ J10
♠J
♥ AKQ72
♦ A962
♣ AQ2
South to make five no-trumps. West leads the ♦4.
 DR3 Problems 127
The published solution was ♦K, ♥10 to ♥J and ♥Q, then the ♥2 from South. It
was assumed that East would win this and return a club, but East can either
return a spade or let North’s ♥6 win. Both of these defences defeat the contract.
The layout has been rotated in our revision to make the heart lead realistic.
Problem 62

63. ♠ K107
♥A
♦ J654
♣ AK876
♠ Q92 ♠ 6543
♥ Q1032 ♥ 54
♦ 32 ♦ 10987
♣ 9543 ♣ QJ10
♠ AJ8
♥ KJ9876
♦ AKQ
♣2
South to make six no-trumps against any defence.
West does best to lead a club to North. Three diamond winners follow and West
does best to throw a spade—otherwise either the hearts or the clubs can be
established with an entry (though this needs a second squeeze when West
discards a heart, in which case North is entered on a club to cash the ♦J). North
is entered on the ♥A and then the ♦J, South throwing a heart, wrings another
spade from West. This allows South to overtake North’s ♠K, score the ♥K, then
lead the ♠8 to subject West to a seesaw squeeze in this position:
128 Solutions

♠ 107
♥ none
♦ none
♣ A87
♠ none ♠ 654
♥ Q10 ♥ none
♦ none ♦ none
♣ 954 ♣ QJ
♠ J8
♥ J98
♦ none
♣ none
A. If West discards a club North overtakes and has an entry in spades when
South jettisons the ♠J on the next club. North can play a low club next or
the ♣A and another to establish a club trick. East then has to give North
the lead on the ♠7.
B. If West discards a heart, North plays the ♠7 and South gives up a heart to
establish the suit with the ♠J as entry.
Similar endings can be obtained by a variety of plays against other opening leads.
Problem 63

64. ♠ AK108
♥ A32
♦ K432
♣ J9
♠ J9 ♠ Q765
♥ 10987 ♥K
♦ 9876 ♦ QJ10
♣ 1043 ♣ K8765
♠ 432
♥ QJ654
♦ A5
♣ AQ2
South to make six spades. West leads a spade.
A. If West leads the ♠J, North wins and leads the ♣J, covered by the ♣K and
♣A. The ♦A, ♦K, and another diamond follow, South ruffing the third.
 DR3 Problems 129
Next comes a spade on which North plays the ♠10. East does well to
duck this but North then follows with the ♠8! Either way, East is on play
at trick 7 or 8 with the ♠Q.
1. If East returns a club, South wins with the ♣Q and crosses to North
on the ♥A to play the remaining spade winner(s), squeezing West
in the red suits.
2. If East returns a heart, South discards both clubs (!) on the spades
and West is caught in a triple squeeze that either repeats (when the
♣9 or last diamond becomes a winner) or lets South run four more
tricks in hearts. This play can also be made on a spade return,
though the discard of the ♣Q is not now necessary.
B. If West leads the ♠9, this time North must play the ♠10!
1. If East ducks, twelve tricks are easily made—for example, by
ruffing the third diamond, drawing two more rounds of trumps, and
playing on hearts. North ruffs the fourth heart and if this holds
leads a club for the finesse. East can make only the ♠Q.
2. If East wins the first spade, on any return declarer can arrive at the
ending of line A.1.
Problem 64

65. ♠ AQJ
♥ AJ5
♦ 5432
♣ Q32
♠ K9 ♠ 876
♥ 109 ♥ Q876
♦ KJ ♦ Q1098
♣ KJ109876 ♣ 54
♠ 105432
♥ K432
♦ A76
♣A
South to make five spades. West leads the ♣6.
How does the play change if South’s ♦A is exchanged with North’s ♦5?
130 Solutions

South wins with the ♣A and enters North on a spade finesse for a diamond lead.
South wins with the ♦A if and only if East rises with the ♦Q. Assuming West
wins the first diamond and leads another, South wins with the ♦A and crosses to
North on a second trump to lead the ♥J, covered by the ♥Q and South’s ♥K.
West is then thrown in on a heart. The ending is now
♠Q
♥A
♦ 43
♣ Q3
♠ none ♠8
♥ none ♥ 87
♦ none ♦ Q10
♣ KJ10987 ♣5
♠ 1054
♥ 43
♦7
♣ none
A. If West leads a low club, North wins with the ♣Q and South discards the
diamond loser. Now several orders of play allow the contract to be made
by scoring the ♥A, a ruff in South, a heart ruff with the ♠Q, and South’s
remaining two trumps.
B. If West (better) leads the ♣K, South ruffs and plays a spade to North’s
♠Q. Now the good ♣Q catches East in a ruffing squeeze as South discards
the ♦7. A diamond discard lets South ruff a diamond and cross to the ♥A
to enjoy the diamond winner thus established, whereas a heart discard
allows North to cash the ♥A and enter South on a diamond ruff to enjoy
the established heart winner.
If the ♦A and ♦5 are exchanged, the avoidance play is needed against West
instead of East. Accordingly, South leads a diamond at trick two, North winning
with the ♦A if and only if West plays the ♦J. Assuming West wins with the ♦K
and leads another diamond, North wins with the ♦A and leads the ♥J, covered by
the ♥Q and South’s ♥K. After two rounds of spades, North finessing, West is
thrown in on a heart and we have the same ending.
Problem 65
 DR3 Problems 131
66. ♠ AQJ
♥ AJ5
♦ A432
♣ Q32
♠ K109 ♠ 87
♥ 109 ♥ Q876
♦K ♦ QJ1098
♣ KJ109876 ♣ 54
♠ 65432
♥ K432
♦ 765
♣A
South to make five spades. West leads the ♦K.
Problems 65 and 66 appeared, along with four others, in a single competition
titled “Variations On a Theme”. The Difficulty Ratings varied from 3 to 7. See
also Problem 118.
The ♦K is allowed to hold. Assuming West switches to a low club, South wins
and takes a trump finesse. North leads the ♥J, covered by the ♥Q and ♥K.
Trumps are drawn via another finesse and West is thrown in on a heart. The
ending, with West on lead, is now
♠ none
♥A
♦ A43
♣ Q3
♠ none ♠ none
♥ none ♥ 87
♦ none ♦ QJ109
♣ KJ10987 ♣ none
♠ 65
♥ 43
♦ 76
♣ none
(assuming East to have discarded a club on the third spade).
A. If West leads a low club, North wins as East and South throw diamonds.
Now declarer has the choice of ♥A and club ruff, when the last spade
132 Solutions

squeezes East in normal fashion, or immediate club ruff to give a ruffing

squeeze.
B. If West leads the ♣K, South ruffs and crosses to the ♦A. Now the good
♣Q gives the ruffing squeeze.
Problem 66

67. ♠ Q107
♥ 10875
♦ A32
♣ 832
♠ 984 ♠ J65
♥9 ♥ KJ4
♦ K10765 ♦ J98
♣ KJ96 ♣ Q754
♠ AK32
♥ AQ632
♦ Q4
♣ A10
South to make six hearts. West leads the ♠9.
North covers with the ♠10 to guarantee two entries in that suit for the trump
finesses. Assuming East covers with the ♠J, South wins and leads a second
spade, North finessing the ♠7. The ♥10 is covered by the ♥J and ♥Q, followed
by a third spade to North, then the ♥8 for the second trump finesse. When the ♥8
holds the ♥7 follows, unblocking so that South can score the ♥6 and stay on lead
in this position:
 DR3 Problems 133
♠ none
♥ none
♦ A32
♣ 832
♠ none ♠ none
♥ none ♥ none
♦ K107 ♦ J98
♣ KJ9 ♣ Q75
♠A
♥3
♦ Q4
♣ A10
The ♠A now squeezes both opponents, North discarding from the opposite suit to
West. Clearly the defenders cannot discard from the same suit as that would
allow a long card to be established in North by ducking a diamond or playing ♣A
and another club as appropriate.
A. If West throws a club and East a diamond, the play of ♣A and another
club either endplays West or, when East wins with the ♣Q, establishes
North’s ♣8.
B. If West throws a diamond, the ♥3 comes next, forcing a club from West.
North also discards a club and East is squeezed: a diamond discard allows
a trick to be established in that suit by ducking the first round, whereas
baring the ♣Q allows West to be thrown in by ♣A and another club.
Problem 67
134 Solutions

68. ♠ KQJ92
♥ none
♦ K8432
♣ 1098
♠ A754 ♠ none
♥ 10432 ♥ K98765
♦ Q6 ♦ A97
♣ 654 ♣ QJ32
♠ 10863
♥ AQJ
♦ J105
♣ AK7
South to make five spades. West leads the ♠A, then the ♠4.
North plays the ♠K, then the ♠2, South the ♠3 then the ♠6. North ruffs high the
♥J and leads a club, covered by East and South. North ruffs high the ♥Q and
leads another club, covered again by East and South. The ♠10 and ♠8 follow,
North discarding a club. East does best to discard two clubs, coming down to
♥K9 and ♦A97. The winning ♣7 at last wrings a heart from East, allowing South
to cash the ♥A and lead the ♦J for two tricks in that suit—if the ♦J is covered by
the ♦Q, ♦K, and ♦A, East then has to lead away from the ♦97 into the split tenace
(♦105 opposite ♦84).
Problem 68

69. ♠ A2
♥ 65432
♦ QJ109
♣ 32
♠ K43 ♠5
♥ 10987 ♥ AQJ
♦ 32 ♦ AK8765
♣ KQ76 ♣ 1084
♠ QJ109876
♥K
♦4
♣ AJ95
South to make two spades against any defence.
 DR3 Problems 135
Any club lead clearly concedes an overtrick. Against any other lead a club ruff
by North would make the contract but two early trump leads would foil that plan.
Suppose West leads a red suit and East cashes a winner in each before switching
to the ♠5. West plays low, of course, but North wins with the ♠A anyway and
advances a club for an avoidance play against East’s holding.
A. If East plays low, South wins with the ♣A and leads the ♣5. If West rises
with the ♣Q East’s ♣10 will later be pinned so that South gets a trick in
the suit instead of a ruff. Otherwise, the club runs to East’s ♣8 and the
club ruff cannot be prevented.
B. If East rises with the ♣8 (or ♣10), South plays the ♣5. If West plays low,
then North will get a club ruff, whereas if West overtakes South will again
be able to pin East’s holding and make two tricks in the suit.
The same play applies regardless of the number of red suit winners scored before
the trump lead.
Problem 69

70. ♠ A765
♥ A54
♦ 543
♣ A43
♠ J1098 ♠ none
♥ KQ ♥ J109876
♦ KJ106 ♦ 97
♣ KQ2 ♣ 98765
♠ KQ432
♥ 32
♦ AQ82
♣ J10
South to make three spades. West leads the ♥K.
The ♥K is allowed to hold and West does best to switch to a trump. Declarer
wins in hand and leads a club, letting West hold the trick.
A. If West leads another spade, South wins, leads a club to the ♣A, ruffs a
club, leads a heart to the ♥A and ruffs a heart. West must overruff and
lead a trump, to avoid being thrown in via the ♠A and another spade.
North wins and plays out the last trump. This subjects West to a one-suit
136 Solutions

squeeze in diamonds: West discards either the ♦2 and is endplayed by a

diamond ducked round, or the ♦10 and is endplayed when South just
covers East’s card, winning the last two tricks with the ♦AQ or ♦A8.
B. If West leads the ♣K, North wins with the ♣A and South ruffs a club.
After the ♠K, the ♥A and a heart ruff (or ♥A, heart ruffed and overruffed,
spade to the ♠K) the position is as in A.
C. If West leads the ♥Q, North wins with the ♥A and South ruffs a heart.
Again, West must overruff, but in some order the ♠K, ♣A, club ruff and a
spade to the ♠A give the same position as before.
Problem 70

71. ♠ none
♥ Q82
♦ AQ9876
♣ Q1032
♠ AQJ10987 ♠ 654
♥ AJ ♥ K107
♦ 32 ♦ K1054
♣ 54 ♣ 876
♠ K32
♥ 96543
♦J
♣ AKJ9
West to lead and East-West to defeat South’s contract of four hearts.
West must lead a club that South wins with the ♣K. Declarer’s best chance is to
set up North’s diamonds, so a diamond to the ♦A is followed by another, South
intending to ruff East’s ♦10. But East plays low, letting South discard a spade.
North does best now to lead a low trump but East plays the ♥7, West the ♥A!
West must return a club, South doing best to win with the ♣A and lead another
heart. North plays low but East overtakes West’s ♥J and leads a spade. North
has to ruff with the ♥Q, promoting East’s ♥10. North’s diamonds can now be
established via two ruffs, but the resulting winners cannot be reached, as East
ruffs the fourth club to give West a spade trick.
Trap: If East covers North’s diamond at trick three, South ruffs and leads
a trump. West wins with the ♥A and leads a second club, but declarer can win
this in either hand and lead a second trump. East wins with the ♥K as in the
 DR3 Problems 137
above solution but North can ruff the spade return with the ♥Q and lead a third
diamond, covered by East and ruffed by South. North is now entered on the third
round of clubs to play the diamond winners until East ruffs with the good ♥10.
South’s ♥9 ruffs the spade return and if that is at trick twelve, then South’s
remaining card is a club winner.
Here is J-M Maréchal’s original setting:
♠ none
♥ Q82
♦ AQ9876
♣ Q1032
♠ AQJ10987 ♠ 654
♥ AJ ♥ K107
♦ 432 ♦ K105
♣4 ♣ 8765
♠ K32
♥ 96543
♦J
♣ AKJ9
East-West to defeat South’s contract of four hearts. West leads the ♣4.
Sing’s improvement obviates the need to specify the opening lead.
Problem 71

72. ♠J
♥ AQ432
♦ 54
♣ QJ982
♠ Q43 ♠ 109876
♥ K9765 ♥8
♦6 ♦ KQ987
♣ 7654 ♣ K3
♠ AK52
♥ J10
♦ AJ1032
♣ A10
South to make six no-trumps. West leads the ♦6.
138 Solutions

South captures East’s ♦Q (best) with the ♦A and leads the ♥J, North overtaking
with the ♥Q if West ducks, otherwise winning with the ♥A. North leads the ♣Q,
which is allowed to hold, followed by the ♦5, which East must duck. Winning
with the ♦10, South cashes the ♣A and enters North on a heart. East can discard
a spade. North now runs the clubs to squeeze both opponents. East and South
both discard a spade and a diamond on the first two and West discards a heart,
leaving this:
♠J
♥ 432
♦ none
♣8
♠ Q43 ♠ 1098
♥ 97 ♥ none
♦ none ♦ K9
♣ none ♣ none
♠ AK5
♥ none
♦ J3
♣ none
On the last club, if East discards
A. a diamond, South and West both discard spades. South comes to hand on
a spade to give up a diamond and win the last two tricks.
B. a spade, South discards a diamond and West is squeezed out of a heart.
South’s last diamond goes on a heart lost to West, who either lets North in
on the ♠J to make the established heart winners or leads the ♠Q to let
South score the ♠K, ♠A, and ♠5.
Problem 72
 DR3 Problems 139
73. ♠ A32
♥2
♦ 92
♣ AQ107654
♠ 7654 ♠ QJ109
♥A ♥ KJ1098
♦ 87654 ♦ KJ10
♣ KJ3 ♣2
♠ K8
♥ Q76543
♦ AQ3
♣ 98
South to make six no-trumps. West leads the ♠7.
Declarer wins in hand with the ♠K, crosses to North on a club finesse to lead the
♦2 for a diamond finesse, then repeats the club finesse for North to win the trick
and run the suit. An intriguing squeeze without the count emerges, in which
South’s ♠8 and North’s ♦9 both act as clash menaces against East, and South’s
♥Q threatens to score if West discards the ♥A or East bares the ♥K.
South’s first four discards on the clubs are low hearts. When the last club
is played, East’s last four cards must include two hearts to prevent the
establishment of South’s ♥Q.
A. If East’s other two cards are a spade and a diamond, South discards the ♠8
and West cannot keep both spades and diamonds guarded as well as
hanging on to the ♥A, so is triple-squeezed.
B. If East keeps two spades and therefore no diamonds, South discards the
♠8.
1. If West unguards diamonds, North cashes the ♠A and South
overtakes the ♦9 to score two diamond tricks for the contract.
2. If West discards the ♥A, North leads a heart. One way or another
South’ ♥Q will score and North’s ♦9 is an entry to the ♠A if
needed.
3. If West keeps the ♥A, one spade, and two diamonds, North cashes
the ♠A and ♦9, then puts West in with a heart for South to make
the ♦A.
140 Solutions

4. Otherwise, West is out of spades, in which case North leads the ♦9

immediately to squeeze East again—either North gets two spade
tricks or a heart lead crashes the ♥K and ♥A so that South wins the
last two tricks.
C. If East keeps two diamonds and therefore no spades, South discards the
♦3.
1. If West unguards spades, declarer easily makes the ♦A and two
spade tricks.
2. If West discards the ♥A, North can lead a heart, with or without
cashing the ♠A. Declarer will make the ♥Q, ♦A, and a spade trick.
3. If West keeps the ♥A, one diamond, and two spades, South makes
the ♠8 and ♦A (in either order), then puts West in with a heart for
North to make the ♠A.
4. Otherwise, West is out of diamonds, in which case South makes
the ♠8 and exits to West with a heart. North’s ♠A and South’s ♦A
score the last two tricks.
Traps: In B.4 and C.4 declarer’s play must be exactly as shown. West must not
be given the chance to jettison the ♥A on the ♠A or ♦A, allowing East to take the
last two tricks.
Problem 73

74. ♠ 75
♥ K4
♦ Q105
♣ 1098765
♠ 32 ♠ A4
♥ QJ109 ♥ 8765
♦ 9876 ♦ AJ43
♣ AK2 ♣ Q43
♠ KQJ10986
♥ A32
♦ K2
♣J
South to make four spades. West leads the ♣A.
 DR3 Problems 141
Too late, West switches to a trump at trick two and East plays two rounds to
prevent the heart ruff that would otherwise be declarer’s tenth trick. South
unblocks so that North can win the second round with the ♠7 and lead the ♦10, on
which East must clearly play the ♦J. Winning with the ♦K, South runs the
trumps, discarding clubs from North on the next two. Here is the position at trick
seven, where North is going to discard another club on the next spade:

♠ none
♥ K4
♦ Q5
♣ 1098
♠ none ♠ none
♥ QJ10 ♥ 876
♦ 98 ♦ A4
♣ K2 ♣ Q4
♠ J109
♥ A32
♦2
♣ none
Note that a diamond discard from either defender lets North establish a trick in
the suit with the ♥K as entry.
A. Suppose both defenders discard a club. Then on the penultimate spade:
1. If West discards the ♣K, North can discard either a club or a heart
and East does best to discard a heart. A heart to the ♥K followed
by a club ruff squeezes West. As a heart discard gives South two
tricks immediately with the ♥A and ♥3, West throws a diamond;
but East’s last two cards are the ♦A4, so a diamond to North’s ♦Q
guarantees a trick in the suit.
2. If West discards a heart, then North discards a club and East must
let the ♣Q go to keep both red suits guarded. When South now
leads the last spade North’s last club can go so that East is
squeezed in the red suits.
B. Suppose West discards a club, East a heart. Then West must discard the
♣K on the next spade. This time North must discard the ♥4. Now a heart
to the ♥K is followed by a club, South ruffing East’s ♣Q. If West
discards
142 Solutions

1. a heart declarer makes the ♥A and ♥3.

2. a diamond, South abandons the ♥A, leading a diamond to the ♦Q
and ♦A such that North wins the last two tricks with the ♦5 and ♣9.
C. A heart discard from West replicates line A.2.
Problem 74

75. ♠ AQ2
♥ Q7543
♦ 8732
♣2
♠ K109 ♠ 8765
♥ J2 ♥ K96
♦ QJ5 ♦ A96
♣ KQ1098 ♣ 543
♠ J43
♥ A108
♦ K104
♣ AJ76
South to make four hearts. West leads the ♣K.
Declarer aims to set up North’s long diamond and to throw West in when that
player has only black cards left and is forced to concede a trick to one of South’s
jacks. To that end, declarer must win the first trick and immediately advance the
♦10!
A. If West wins with the ♦Q or ♦J, the only safe return is another diamond.
If East ducks, South wins with the ♦K and returns the suit. When East
gets in with the ♦A and returns (best) a club, North ruffs and leads the ♥Q.
East does best to cover, but now the ♥A and another heart puts West on
play with the ♥J, thus achieving the stated aim.
B. If West plays low and East wins with the ♦A, declarer has additional
options, such as throwing West in on the third diamond for a damaging
lead in any of the other three suits.
C. So best is for East to overtake West’s ♦J or ♦Q and return a club, ruffed
by North, whose ♦87 now become important. One of those cards is led
for an avoidance play against East, who must not be permitted to lead
 DR3 Problems 143
another club. If East covers, South wins and West has no safe return on
winning the third diamond. Better, then, is for East to play low, forcing
South to do the same (otherwise West drops the remaining honour under
the ♦K so that East’s ♦9 wins the third round). Winning the second
diamond, West now has a safe exit in that suit but is soon back in again
when North is entered on a spade finesse to lead the ♥Q as in line A.
Problem 75

76. ♠ A1084
♥ J63
♦ Q32
♣ QJ10
♠J ♠ K765
♥ K1094 ♥ 87
♦ A65 ♦ J10987
♣ 98765 ♣ K4
♠ Q932
♥ AQ52
♦ K4
♣ A32
South to make four spades. West leads the ♣9.
Declarer easily has three tricks in spades, two in hearts, one in diamonds, and
three in clubs, making nine. A diamond ruff in hand could provide the tenth but
the defenders can prevent that, as follows.
Whoever wins the first trick, the second will be a diamond, West
capturing South’s ♦K with the ♦A to lead a second club, threatening to give East
a ruff in that suit. Suppose declarer now cashes the ♦Q, ruffs a diamond, and
runs the ♠Q round to East. In that case East ducks and South can do no better
than lead a second spade, North playing low. East wins with the ♠K and leads a
diamond. Declarer’s cause is now lost, whichever hand ruffs this. If South ruffs
it, North cannot get the lead in time to draw trumps, whereas if North ruffs it
East’s fourth trump is bound to score.
Instead, declarer must aim to draw trumps and obtain the extra trick in the
end game. Careful timing and exploiting the significant pips in the major suits
are the key to success.
The first few tricks depend on East’s play at trick one:
144 Solutions

A. If East plays low, North wins and leads a diamond to the ♦K and ♦A.
South wins the club continuation and leads the ♠Q, North and East (best)
playing low.
B. If East covers, South wins with the ♣A and leads the ♦K. West does best
to win with the ♦A and return a club to North, who plays a low spade to
South’s ♠Q.
In either case the position is now, with South on lead,
♠ A108
♥ J63
♦ Q3
♣Q
♠ none ♠ K76
♥ K1094 ♥ 87
♦ 65 ♦ J1098
♣ 8765 ♣ none
♠ 932
♥ AQ52
♦4
♣3
South plays a low spade to North’s ♠10. East does best to win with the ♠K. Now
South will get a diamond ruff safely unless East leads a third trump. North wins
with the ♠A and leads the ♠8 to South’s ♠9. West does best to discard clubs,
leaving this:
♠ none
♥ J63
♦ Q3
♣Q
♠ none ♠ none
♥ K1094 ♥ 87
♦ 65 ♦ J1098
♣ none ♣ none
♠ none
♥ AQ52
♦4
♣3
 DR3 Problems 145
South leads the ♥2. North wins with the ♥J and cashes the ♣Q. If West discards
a heart, South can duck a round to set up two more heart tricks while North still
has diamond control, whereas a diamond discard lets North cash the ♦Q and
leads the ♥6. If West has parted with the ♥4, South plays low and wins the last
two tricks with the ♥A and ♥Q; otherwise South plays the ♥Q and either this
wins or West has to lead into the ♥A5 tenace.
Trap: If declarer leads a spade (from either hand) at trick two, East wins
with the ♠K and leads a club and will get a ruff in that suit if West gets the lead
before trumps are drawn. So, trumps must be drawn, but West keeps at least two
clubs and has two entries with which to establish the suit and cash a winner in it.
In my original heart layout there was no need for North to make that
unblocking play of the ♥6. Ian Budden and Steve Bloom both suggested the
improvement, independently.
Problem 76

77. ♠ QJ5
♥Q
♦ KQ6432
♣ A32
♠ 109 ♠ K32
♥ A654 ♥ J10987
♦ J1095 ♦7
♣ K54 ♣ 10976
♠ A8764
♥ K32
♦ A8
♣ QJ8
(a) South to make six no-trumps. West leads the ♦J.
(b) East to lead and East-West to defeat six no-trumps by North.
(a) South wins in hand and leads the ♦8, covered by the ♦9 and won by North,
who then leads the ♠Q, followed by the ♠J when it holds. Assuming East ducks
both honours, North now leads the ♥Q (if East covers either of the spade
honours, South can win and play a low heart immediately or after the second
spade, and the play is as described below).
A. If West ducks, South plays the remaining spades, North discarding low
diamonds unless West unguards that suit. In the five-card ending West
must keep two diamonds and two clubs, thus baring the ♥A. The ♣Q
146 Solutions

from South must be covered, after which it is a simple matter to throw

West in with a heart after two rounds of clubs. North’s ♦K6 diamond
tenace takes the last two tricks.
B. If West plays the ♥A and (best) returns the suit, South wins with the ♥K
and plays the remaining spades, North discarding low diamonds unless
West unguards that suit. West is forced to come down to two of each
minor suit while East keeps three clubs and a heart. Now comes the ♣Q.
West has to cover to keep declarer’s club tricks to two, but that sets up an
entry back to South for East to be squeezed when North now advances the
♦K.
Trap: If South plays a low heart at trick 2, then West plays low, letting North’s
singleton ♥Q win the trick. East then lets the ♠Q and ♠J both hold, preventing
South from being on lead to play the ♦8 through West while still being able to
return to hand on a spade. When the spades are played out West safely comes
down to singleton ♥A, two clubs and three diamonds, having a safe exit on a high
diamond.
(b) East must lead the ♦7.
C. If South wins with the ♦A, as in (a), then line A. above fails because
North has no tenace in diamonds—West can either win the first heart and
return a diamond or duck it and later safely bare the ♥A. Moreover, the
trap mentioned in (a) still applies, should South try a low heart at trick
two.
D. So, declarer (North) tries a different tack, letting the trick run round to the
♦9 and ♦Q. The best try now is to play two rounds of spades followed by
a heart, but East takes care to duck the ♠Q and ♠J (in case South plays a
middle card on the first round so that North’s ♠5 would provide a re-entry
card if East covers). North continues with the ♥Q as in (a) but now West
can sink the contract by winning and returning the ♣K. North’s diamonds
are stranded and South must lose a heart trick. Note: This defence fails if
East covers the ♠Q or ♠J because North’s ♠5 then provides an entry to
score the remaining diamond winner.
Problem 77
 DR3 Problems 147
78. ♠ QJ432
♥ J1083
♦A
♣ AQ2
♠ 10987 ♠ K65
♥2 ♥ Q97654
♦ K10876 ♦5
♣ K98 ♣ 1076
♠A
♥ AK
♦ QJ9432
♣ J543
South to make five clubs. West leads the ♥2
The problem originally appeared in Victor Mollo’s column in the London
Evening Standard, some time in the 1970s.
South makes the ♥A, North playing the ♥3, and the ♠A. The ♦A and a
trump finesse are used in either order as entries to take the ruffing finesse in
spades and cash the resulting spade winner, South discarding a low diamond.
Now a further spade is ruffed (or over-ruffed, though East does better to discard),
leaving this position:
♠4
♥ J108
♦ none
♣ A2
♠ none ♠ none
♥ none ♥ Q976
♦ K1087 ♦ none
♣ K9 ♣ 107
♠ none
♥A
♦ QJ94
♣J
South leads the ♣J and North plays the ♣A regardless of West’s play. The ♣2
now endplays whichever defender wins the trick. If West is to win it, South
discards a diamond and will make two diamond tricks as well as the ♥A. If East
wins it, South discards the ♥A and North will make two heart tricks and the ♠4.
148 Solutions

Problem 78

79. ♠2
♥ AKQ5432
♦2
♣ 7632
♠ AQ10 ♠ J987
♥ 98 ♥ J107
♦ J654 ♦ 1098
♣ QJ109 ♣ K54
♠ K6543
♥6
♦ AKQ73
♣ A8
South to make six hearts. West leads the ♣Q.
Winning with the ♣A as North plays low, declarer runs North’s trumps,
discarding three spades and the ♦3, leading to this, with West still to discard on
the fifth trump:
♠2
♥ 32
♦2
♣ 763
♠ AQ ♠ J9
♥ none ♥ none
♦ J654 ♦ 1098
♣ J10 ♣ K5
♠ K6
♥ none
♦ AKQ7
♣8
A. If West discards the ♠Q, then the next trump, on which West will have to
throw a club, starts the squeeze on East. If East discards
1. a club, North’s clubs can be established by losing one after the
spade loser has been discarded on a top diamond.
2. a spade, South throws the ♣8, cashes two top diamonds, North
discarding the ♠2, then ruffs the ♠6 to establish the ♠K and exits on
 DR3 Problems 149
a club. East can rise with the ♣K to prevent West from having to
concede the last two to the ♦Q and ♠K, but that is to no avail as
North is left with two club winners.
3. a diamond, North plays the last trump, on which South reduces to
♦AKQ7 and the ♠K, West, perforce, to ♦J654 and the ♠A. South
cashes two top diamonds and throws West in on a spade for a lead
into the ♦A7.
B. If West discards a club, then East can discard a spade on the next trump.
In that case, South discards the ♣8. If West discards
1. the ♠Q, play reverts to A.2.
2. another club, then this time South must cash all three diamond
winners before ruffing a spade. North’s ♣76 are now equals
against East’s ♣K5.
Problem 79

80. ♠ AKJ92
♥ 102
♦A
♣ A8765
♠ 10876 ♠ Q543
♥ J98 ♥ Q654
♦ QJ10 ♦ 9876
♣ Q43 ♣2
♠ none
♥ AK73
♦ K5432
♣ KJ109
South to make six no-trumps. West leads the ♦Q.
At trick two North leads the ♠J on which South discards the ♣9! East wins with
the ♠Q and the next three tricks are won in some order by South’s three kings.
On the ♦K North discards the ♠2 and on the ♥K North drops the ♥10. Next
comes the ♣J, covered by West’s ♣Q and taken by North’s ♣A. South discards
the remaining blocking club on a top spade. North now runs the clubs to squeeze
both opponents. The five-card ending is something like this:
150 Solutions

♠ K9
♥2
♦ none
♣ 76
♠ 108 ♠5
♥ J9 ♥ Q6
♦J ♦ 98
♣ none ♣ none
♠ none
♥ A73
♦ 54
♣ none
West has done best to retain guards in all three suits. On the next club, West is
squeezed. A spade discard is immediately fatal and a diamond discard gives rise
to a non-simultaneous double squeeze with pivot suit hearts as North cashes the
♠K and the remaining club in either order. So West discards a heart, but is then
squeezed again in this position with West still to play:
♠ K9
♥2
♦ none
♣ none
♠ 108 ♠ none
♥J ♥ Q6
♦J ♦9
♣ none ♣ none
♠ none
♥ A7
♦5
♣ none
If West discards the ♥J South’s diamond loser goes on the ♠K and the finesse of
the ♥7 wins the last two tricks. If the ♦J is discarded instead, then the ♠K
squeezes East before South.
The first known appearance of that unblocking play in hearts, to prepare
for a guard squeeze, was in a miniature problem by W.H. Whitfeld, some time
earlier than 1906. The composition earned fame as “The Whitfeld Six” and
appears at my web site as the first problem in Ernest Bergholt’s collection.
Problem 80
 DR3 Problems 151
81. ♠ A8
♥ J43
♦ 96543
♣ J107
♠ Q9 ♠ 107654
♥ A987 ♥ Q1065
♦ AJ87 ♦ Q10
♣ 965 ♣ K4
♠ KJ32
♥ K2
♦ K2
♣ AQ832
South to make three no-trumps. West leads a club.
North covers the club lead. East plays the ♣4 (best) but declarer overtakes to win
as cheaply as possible in the South hand. South continues with a low spade.
If West plays the ♠9, North wins with the ♠A. Declarer now has several
options, the simplest being to draw two more clubs and throw West in with a
spade for a red suit lead. So West does best to play the ♠Q, which is allowed to
hold the trick. West exits with a second club to the ♣J, ♣K and ♣A. Declarer
crosses to the ♠A, re-enters hand with a club, and cashes the remaining spade and
club winners. With five cards left the position is:
♠ none
♥ J4
♦ 965
♣ none
♠ none ♠ 10
♥ A9 or A98 ♥ Q10
♦ AJ8 or AJ ♦ Q10
♣ none ♣ none
♠ none
♥ K2
♦ K2
♣2
The last club is declarer’s eighth trick. If West bares one of the red suit aces,
declarer exits with a low card in that suit, forcing West to lead the other suit
(conceding an overtrick). So, West comes down to two cards in each red suit, as
does North. East is now squeezed in three suits.
152 Solutions

A. If East bares the ♥Q, South exits with the ♥K, pinning the ♥Q and setting
up the ♥J.
B. If East bares the ♦Q, South exits with the ♦K to West’s ♦A. West can take
two more red suit winners but will have to concede the last trick to the
♥K.
C. If East discards the master spade, declarer can exit with either diamond.
The defence can take two diamonds but will eventually have to concede a
heart trick as the suit is “frozen” (no hand can lead it safely).
If East plays the ♣K on the first trick, South wins with the ♣A. Play follows the
above lines but declarer does not have to take such care to avoid the blockage in
the club suit.
Problem 81

82. ♠ Q3
♥ 108432
♦ AJ53
♣ Q10
♠ K10864 ♠ J975
♥ 97 ♥ KJ5
♦ 98 ♦ K764
♣ AK64 ♣ 82
♠ A2
♥ AQ6
♦ Q102
♣ J9753
South to make four no-trumps. West leads the ♥9.
The heart lead is covered by North and East and South wins as cheaply as
possible. South leads the ♣5, which is won by West’s ♣A, North unblocking the
♣Q.
A. If West leads the ♦9 (best), North wins with the ♦A and South unblocks
the ♦Q. Declarer continues with North’s top heart to take two more tricks
in the suit with the aid of the finesse, ending in South.
 DR3 Problems 153
1. If West discards a spade, South leads the ♣J, which West ducks
(best), followed by another high club which West wins. North
throws a red suit card. If West returns:
(a) another club, North throws a red card, retaining two
diamonds and a heart. South wins and leads the ♦2,
playing low from North. If West wins the trick, the
enforced spade return will give North an entry for the
remaining hearts. And if East overtakes with the ♦K and
returns a spade, South wins and cashes the last club before
crossing to the ♦J for the winning heart.
(b) the ♦8, North plays low. If East plays low, South wins
and exits with the (carefully preserved) ♣3 to West,
forcing a spade return. If East rises with the king, and
returns a spade, the ♦J will provide an entry to North, as
in line (a).
2. If West discards a diamond, South leads the ♣J.
(a) If West allows this to hold, South leads another high club to
West’s ♣K, North throwing a diamond. West wins and
must lead another club, but North throws another diamond
and South ducks. West must then lead a spade to concede
the rest.
(b) If instead West beats the ♣J with the ♣K and returns a club,
South wins and throws West in with a club, play reverting
to line (a).
3. If West discards a club, South leads the ♣J (followed by another
club if West ducks), and play reverts to line A.1 or A.2.
B. If West cashes the second top club (to avoid the minor suit throw-in), and
follows with:
1. another club, South wins and now has the tempo to set up a third
diamond, leading a top diamond from hand, followed by another if
East ducks. Declarer then makes a spade, two clubs, three
diamonds, and two hearts with the aid of the finesse, leading the
top heart when in dummy with the ace of diamonds.
154 Solutions

2. a diamond, North plays low. If East wins and returns a spade,

declarer wins with the ♠A and can cash the remainder, so East
ducks the trick to South. Play then reverts to line B.1.
Problem 82
DR4 Problems
83. ♠ AKJ4
♥2
♦ A942
♣ 10654
♠ Q1093 ♠ 87
♥ 876 ♥ KQ1095
♦ KJ75 ♦3
♣ 97 ♣ KQJ83
♠ 652
♥ AJ43
♦ Q1086
♣ A2
South to make three no-trumps. West leads the 8.
South lets East hold the first trick and the second, in clubs. The A wins the
third, and South advances the 8 (or 10).
A. If West ducks, four rounds of spades follow, South discarding a heart.
West’s forced red suit return concedes the eighth trick. If it is a heart,
South wins two hearts and easily makes two of the last three tricks in
diamonds. If it is a diamond, three rounds of diamond endplay West
again.
B. If West covers, North wins and leads a second diamond (optionally
cashing a top spade first), South playing the middle card.
1. If West wins and returns the 7, North plays the 9 and South
overtakes. South leads the 6, North finessing the J. A top
spade is cashed if it wasn’t cashed at trick five, South playing the
5 on it in either case. South comes to hand on the fourth
diamond. Now, if West still has the 3, South cashes the A and
makes two spade tricks by finessing the 4; otherwise, two rounds
of spades throw West in for a heart lead into South’s AJ.
2. If West ducks, South leads the 6 to North’s J and North cashes
a top spade. If West still has the 3, North’s next card is the 9;
otherwise it is the 4. In the first case, either West ducks again, in

155
156 Solutions

which case North cashes the other top spade and throws West in as
a stepping-stone to South’s hearts, or West wins and lets South get
in with the last diamond to score the A and finesse the 4. In the
second case, South plays the Q, forcing West to win and return
the suit. But again North plays A and the last spade to make
West a stepping-stone to the hearts.
Problem 83

84. ♠ K543
♥ K43
♦ 765432
♣ none
♠ none ♠ AQ2
♥ QJ109876 ♥ A5
♦ K98 ♦ QJ10
♣ KQ9 ♣ A10876
♠ J109876
♥2
♦A
♣ J5432
South to make three spades. West leads the 6.
North plays low but East overtakes to lead the ♠A followed by the ♠2. North
overtakes to win the second spade, cash the K and lead the 4, ruffed by
South. The A is followed by a minor suit cross-ruff for the next four tricks. If
West’s last club is the 9 South throws East in with a trump; otherwise South
exits on the 5 and one of the black jacks must win a trick.
Problem 84
 DR4 Problems 157
85. ♠ AJ9
♥ 1054
♦ A94
♣ A1095
♠ 32 ♠ Q654
♥ K8 ♥ J962
♦ QJ108 ♦ K765
♣ QJ643 ♣2
♠ K1087
♥ AQ73
♦ 32
♣ K87
South to make five spades. West leads the 3.
North wins with the J and declarer comes to hand on the 10 to play a low
heart towards North’s 10. Suppose West wins with the K—it makes little
difference if East wins it—and leads a diamond. North wins and leads the 10
to J and Q. North is re-entered on a spade so that South can finesse the 7.
North discards the 9 and 10 on South’s A and K, which force West to
come down to three clubs and a diamond. South leads the 7, followed by
another club if the 7 wins. Upon winning the A, North exits with the 4. If
East plays the K, North’s 9 is the eleventh trick, otherwise West has to
concede the last trick or tricks to South in clubs.
Problem 85
158 Solutions

86. ♠ K10
♥ 10543
♦ 76543
♣ J2
♠ J98765 ♠ 43
♥ AQJ ♥ K9876
♦ 1098 ♦ KJ
♣ 10 ♣ Q976
♠ AQ2
♥2
♦ AQ2
♣ AK8543
South to make three no-trumps against any defence.
West does best to start with two top hearts. On the second, South must discard
the A! If West now switches to spades, North will have two entries and the
diamond suit can be brought in. West therefore cashes a third heart and leads a
spade to North’s 10. South finesses the Q, cashes the minor suit aces and
exits on a third diamond to West, who now has only spades left. North makes
the K and the two long diamonds, squeezing East between hearts and clubs.
Problem 86

87. ♠ 432
♥ 9862
♦ K972
♣ 32
♠ 76 ♠ QJ98
♥ KQ10 ♥ J7543
♦ Q83 ♦ A4
♣ Q10986 ♣ 75
♠ AK105
♥A
♦ J1065
♣ AKJ4
South to make five diamonds. West leads the K.
At trick 2, South leads a low diamond, North playing the 7 unless a higher card
is needed to beat West’s card. East does best to win and lead the 5, taken by
 DR4 Problems 159
South, who leads the other low diamond, North again winning as cheaply as
possible. West preserves the Q as otherwise North gets two club ruffs. A
spade to the J and K is followed by a third trump, a spade finesse and two
more rounds of spades, North ruffing. West must keep three clubs, so cannot
have more than one heart (the 10). North now leads the 9, on which East
must play the J, either to prevent West from being endplayed immediately or, if
West has no more hearts, to prevent the 9 from winning. South ruffs and exits
with the 4. If West plays the 6, East is endplayed, otherwise West is.
If East returns a heart at trick 3, South has a choice between ruffing high
and discarding a club. In the former case a club is given up at some stage in the
proceedings and in either case play ends in a major suit squeeze against East.
Problem 87

88. ♠ 76
♥ 432
♦ AJ432
♣ 1032
♠ KQ53 ♠ 108
♥ AJ7 ♥ Q1098
♦ K105 ♦ 9876
♣ A65 ♣ 987
♠ AJ942
♥ K65
♦Q
♣ KQJ4
South to make two clubs. West leads the A.
South drops an honour and West does best to continue clubs. South wins in hand
and leads the Q.
A. If the Q holds, South follows with a high club. West wins and returns a
club to North’s 10. South finesses the 9 to endplay West. Say West
wins and returns the 7 (as good as anything). Then South wins with the
K and, most importantly, cashes the A before exiting on a heart. West
wins with the A and leads the J to East’s Q, but East’s fourth heart is
allowed to hold so that North makes two diamond tricks.
160 Solutions

B. If West covers the Q, North wins and, resisting the temptation to cash
the J, leads a spade, South finessing the 9. West can do no better than
win and play A and another club to North’s 10. South discards a heart
on the J and then plays a spade to the J. West has a safe exit this time
on a diamond, but South ruffs and plays A and another spade. West is
endplayed and South scores the K as well as the long spade. (Had North
cashed the J at trick 3, West would have had an easy exit on the 10 at
trick 5.)
Problem 88

89. ♠ Q10432
♥ 876
♦Q
♣ K832
♠ J98765 ♠ none
♥J ♥ Q943
♦ AKJ5 ♦ 10987
♣ 109 ♣ J7654
♠ AK
♥ AK1052
♦ 6432
♣ AQ
South to make three no-trumps. West leads the K.
West does best to switch to a club. South wins the A, AK, A, then exits
with a low diamond, carefully preserving the 6; North discards a club. West
wins and leads another club. North rises with the K and cashes the Q,
squeezing East out of a diamond. A heart to the 9 and 10 is followed by the
4, North discarding a heart if West plays low (in which case South will make
two more heart tricks), otherwise a club (in which case either the 10 or 6 will
make a trick in addition to the K).
Problem 89
 DR4 Problems 161
90. ♠ Q7
♥ A10832
♦ 87
♣ KQ53
♠ 109854 ♠ K3
♥ KJ ♥ 9765
♦ Q6 ♦ A5432
♣ A1094 ♣ 76
♠ AJ62
♥ Q4
♦ KJ109
♣ J82
South to make three no-trumps. West leads the 10.
This hand, with very minor modifications to make the play 100% precise, arose
in tournament play in Singapore. It was analysed by Yong Hao Ng and solved in
ten minutes by Jinzhou Loo.
North covers the 10 with the Q and South’s A captures the K.
Declarer leads the 8 to 9 and Q, followed by the 3 to South’s J, which is
allowed to hold (best). A third club puts West on play, East discarding a
diamond. West does best now to continue spades, but South lets the 9 hold.
A. If West leads a third spade, South wins as cheaply as possible, North
discarding a heart, East another diamond. A heart is ducked to West, who
does best now to lead a second heart, won by North’s A. North cashes
the K, squeezing East out of yet another diamond. Now a diamond to
the K is followed by another diamond, forcing a heart lead from East at
trick 12 into North’s 108 tenace.
Trap: In the above line declarer must not cash the master spade at
trick 11, as that would allow East to discard the A!
B. If West puts North in with a club, South discards a diamond. A diamond
to the K followed by another diamond puts West back on play. The J
is obviously fatal and a spade into South’s tenace squeezes East out of a
heart, allowing a heart to be ducked to establish North’s holding. West
therefore leads the K, but North wins and now the Q followed by a
diamond puts East in for a heart lead to North. (In this line South can
optionally cash the J at trick 11.)
162 Solutions

Variations:
If West wins the third club and immediately leads a fourth, South discards a
diamond. Now North has the option of leading a diamond or running the 7. In
either case the play is similar to the main line.
If East overtakes the Q in line B and leads a heart, North wins with the
A and throws West in with a heart for a spade into South’s J6 tenace. If East
returns a diamond instead of a heart, declarer can choose which major suit to
endplay West with.
Problem 90

91. ♠ KJ2
♥ Q108
♦ K432
♣ AK3
♠ 10 ♠ Q865
♥ K9654 ♥J
♦ AQ ♦ J9876
♣ QJ1094 ♣ 765
♠ A9743
♥ A732
♦ 105
♣ 82
South to make five spades. West leads (a) the ♣Q, (b) the ♦A.
(a) West leads the ♣Q.
North wins and plays trumps by leading the ♠J, then winning the second with the
♠K and taking a second finesse against East. Having drawn trumps, South leads
a heart to North’s ♥Q. West must not have discarded more than one heart on the
trump tricks.
A. If West has kept a diamond, the ♣A and a club ruff are followed by a
diamond to West. West’s other remaining minor suit card wins the next
trick and then the forced heart lead away from the ♥K gives declarer the
rest of the tricks.
B. If West has discarded both diamonds, then North can discard either a
club or a diamond on the fourth trump. North now leads a diamond
 DR4 Problems 163
towards the ♦10. East wins with the ♦J and returns a club, but North’s
♥10 affords an entry to allow both the ♦10 and ♦K to score.
(b) West leads the ♦A
C. If West follows with the ♦Q, North wins the second and draws trumps as
in (a), optionally cashing one top club. North discards a diamond on the
fourth spade, leaving this position:
♠ none
♥ Q108
♦4
♣ K3
♠ none ♠ none
♥ K965 ♥J
♦ none ♦ J98
♣ Q4 ♣ 76
♠4
♥ A732
♦ none
♣8
South plays a heart to the ♥Q and ruffs the diamond. If West discards a
heart, South gives up a heart and wins the last three tricks with the ♣K
and ♥A7. If West discards the ♣4, South leads a club and North allows
the ♣Q to hold. If West discards the ♣Q, South can either cash the ♣8 or
lead a low heart immediately.
D. If West switches to clubs, North wins and trumps are drawn as before.
The ♦K can be played at any time when North has the lead, but if it is not
played West will discard the ♦Q. North makes the ♥Q, and the ♦K if it is
still held, and play reverts to line C.
Problem 91
164 Solutions

92. ♠ A102
♥ 32
♦ A65432
♣ A2
♠ QJ98 ♠ 76543
♥ QJ8 ♥ K109
♦ K98 ♦J
♣ QJ10 ♣ 9654
♠K
♥ A7654
♦ Q107
♣ K873
South to make five no-trumps. West leads the ♠Q.
South wins the spade lead and continues with the ♦Q. If West plays the ♦K, it is
allowed to win. If West ducks, South leads another diamond. West covers and is
allowed to hold the trick. If West returns:
A. a club, declarer wins with dummy’s ♣A and runs the remaining diamonds,
throwing hearts from hand. Before the play of the last diamond the
position is as follows:
♠ A10
♥ 32
♦4
♣2
♠ J9 ♠ none
♥ QJ ♥ K109
♦ none ♦ none
♣ J10 ♣ 965
♠ none
♥ A76
♦ none
♣ K87
On the last diamond East and South throw hearts. Now if West throws a
heart, South cashes the ♥A and ♣K and throws West in with a club to lead
into North’s spade tenace. If instead West throws a club, South cashes
North’s ♠A, throwing another heart from hand, followed by a club to the
 DR4 Problems 165
king and another club. However East discards, South will make another
club.
B. a heart, declarer ducks. The defence switch to a club, won by the ace.
Declarer cashes the ace of hearts (important) and runs the diamonds to
execute a guard squeeze. After the fifth diamond the position is:
♠ A10
♥ none
♦4
♣2
♠ J9 ♠ none
♥Q ♥K
♦ none ♦ none
♣Q ♣ 965
♠ none
♥7
♦ none
♣ K87
On the last diamond South discards a club. If East discards:
1. a heart, if West throws a major suit card, declarer will make
another trick in that suit, while if West throws a club, declarer will
cash the ace of spades and then take a club finesse through East.
2. a club, to avoid line 1, West discards a heart, but now the ace of
spades squeezes East in hearts and clubs.
It is important for declarer to lose the first or second diamond. If three rounds
are played, losing the third to West, the defence continue with a heart, ducked,
then switch to a club. The squeeze can now be defended, as West can throw
hearts.
Problem 92
166 Solutions

93. ♠ 9876
♥ QJ2
♦ A1032
♣ 32
♠ AJ ♠ 10543
♥ 8765 ♥K
♦ 8765 ♦ QJ9
♣ 976 ♣ AKQJ8
♠ KQ2
♥ A10943
♦ K4
♣ 1054
South to make four hearts against a trump lead.
What lead would have defeated the contract?
South wins with the ♥A, North playing the ♥2, and leads a low club.
A. If West rises with the ♣9 to lead another trump, North wins and exits on a
second club. East returns a spade to the ♠Q and ♠A and West leads a third
trump. South comes to hand on the ♦K and the remaining trumps subject
East to a repeated squeeze. Note that North must be careful to discard
spades on the last two trumps so that when East unguards spades, South’s
♠K and ♠2 squeeze East again.
B. If East wins the first club in order to attack spades and establish the ♠10,
South wins the second spade and plays three rounds of diamonds, ruffing
the third. North is entered on a heart and South’s spade loser goes on the
♦10. Now North can either exit in clubs such that the remaining trumps
will score separately, or lead a spade for South to ruff. In the latter case,
if West keeps two trumps and therefore only one club, South exits on the
♣10.
The only lead to defeat the contract is the ♠J, after which the defence can always
negotiate a spade ruff if declarer tries for a club ruff in North. Note that even if
North is declarer and East leads a spade, West must duck.
Problem 93
 DR4 Problems 167
94. ♠ 432
♥ J932
♦ AK632
♣8
♠ KQ10765 ♠ 98
♥ none ♥ K108765
♦ J8 ♦ Q754
♣ Q9654 ♣A
♠ AJ
♥ AQ4
♦ 109
♣ KJ10732
South to make two no-trumps against any lead by West.
A. If West leads a diamond, North wins and knocks out the ♣A. East does
best to switch to spades but on winning the first spade West switches back
to diamonds, North winning. South now wins two heart tricks, finessing
the ♥Q, forcing West to part with two spades. South cashes the ♠A and
advances the ♣J, followed by a low club if this holds. West can make
only one club trick in addition to the two spade winners.
B. If West leads the ♠K and continues the suit, South knocks out the ♣A. If
East now returns a heart, South wins with the ♥A! Now the ♣K followed
by three rounds of diamonds fixes East. Best, perhaps, is to exit with a
low heart, but North wins with the ♥9 and leads a fourth diamond, South
discarding the ♥Q. Now North will make the ♥J and the fifth diamond.
Other variations in the defence lead to one or other of the above lines of play.
Traps:
If, in A, North plays low at trick one, East wins with the ♦Q and returns the suit.
If, in B, South wins the first heart with the ♥Q instead of the ♥A, aiming to
discard the ♥A on the fourth diamond, East can safely exit with the ♥K after
winning the third diamond.
Problem 94
168 Solutions

95. ♠ KQ2
♥ 632
♦ AK32
♣ A104
♠ A107 ♠3
♥ Q987 ♥ AJ
♦ 765 ♦ QJ1098
♣ KQJ ♣ 98765
♠ J98654
♥ K1054
♦4
♣ 32
South to make four spades. West leads the ♣K.
How is the contract defeated on the same lead if the ♠7 and ♠8 are swapped?
North wins and cashes the top diamonds, South discarding a club. South ruffs a
club and exits on a low heart!
A. If East wins with the ♥J and leads a minor suit, South ruffs and leads a
trump. If West ducks, North wins and gives South a ruff in the other
minor suit. A heart is now lost to East and South ruffs the return with the
♠J. West can make no more than the ♠A. So West rises with the ♠A and
crosses to East with a heart for another diamond lead, but South ruffs with
the ♠J to catch West in a peculiar kind of squeeze in this position:
♠ KQ
♥6
♦3
♣ 10
♠ 107 ♠ none
♥ Q9 ♥ none
♦ none ♦ QJ
♣Q ♣ 987
♠ J98
♥ K10
♦ none
♣ none

If West underruffs, the major suit kings and a cross-ruff take the rest. If
West discards a club, North draws trumps and scores the ♣10; and if West
 DR4 Problems 169
discards a heart, South has the choice of ruffing the losing club or
discarding it on the good ♥10.

B. If East wins with the ♥A (!) in order to return the suit, South wins with the
♥K and exits on a third heart. Noting East’s ♠3 over North’s ♠2, West
tries the effect of a fourth heart, but North ruffs high and South comes to
hand on a minor suit ruff to advance the ♠9. West can make only the ♠A.
Trap: If South leads a trump instead of a low heart at trick 5, West rises with the
♠A and leads another diamond, which South ruffs to give this position:
♠ KQ
♥ 632
♦3
♣ 10
♠ 107 ♠ none
♥ Q987 ♥ AJ
♦ none ♦ QJ
♣Q ♣ 987
♠ J98
♥ K1054
♦ none
♣ none

If South now leads a heart, East wins with the ♥J and leads a fourth diamond.
South ruffs with the ♠J but West discards the ♣Q!
If South instead crosses to North on a trump for a heart lead towards the
♥K, East takes care to discard a club, not a diamond. Now if East is allowed to
get in twice on hearts, repeated diamond leads eventually promote West’s ♠10.
Note that if East discards a diamond instead of a club, North must lead a
heart. East does best to win with the ♥J (not the ♥A) and lead a diamond, which
South ruffs high. If West now discards the ♣Q, the last trump is drawn and
North leads a heart to East, who has to give a trick to the ♣10. If West instead
discards a heart, South exits on a low heart to the ♥A, ruffs the club return, and
cashes the ♥K. North’s remaining trump takes the last trick.
This trap obviously applies equally well when the ♠7 and ♠8 are swapped.
Additionally, line B now fails when West covers the ♠9, so East must win the
first heart with the ♥A, not the ♥J!
Problem 95
170 Solutions

96. ♠ AQJ62
♥ AJ754
♦6
♣ 82
♠ 108 ♠ K7543
♥ K1032 ♥9
♦ 1098 ♦ KQ7
♣ 7654 ♣ QJ109
♠9
♥ Q86
♦ AJ5432
♣ AK3
South to make five no-trumps against any lead by West.
Best defence is for West to lead the ♠10 to ♠J and ♠K, for East to return the ♦K to
South’s ♦A, and then for West to duck both the ♥Q and ♥8 that follow. Still on
lead, South must now make the key play of cashing a top club before taking a
third heart finesse. East is squeezed on the last heart in the following position:
♠ Q62
♥7
♦ none
♣8
♠ none ♠ 75
♥ none ♥ none
♦ 109 ♦ Q7
♣ 765 ♣Q
♠ none
♥ none
♦ J54
♣ A3
(North has optionally cashed the ♠A for simplicity.) A spade discard is
immediately fatal. On a diamond discard South comes to hand on the ♣A to
throw East in with a diamond. On a club discard North advances the now good
♣8 to squeeze East again. If East unguards spades, North keeps the lead to cash
spades. If East discards a low diamond, then South overtakes to throw East in on
the ♦Q. Finally, if East jettisons the ♦Q, then the ♣8 holds and North plays ♠Q
and another spade on which South discards a diamond and the ♣A, taking the last
trick with the ♦J.
 DR4 Problems 171
On a minor suit opening lead South wins and immediately plays on hearts.
As soon as North gets the lead the ♠Q is led, taken by the ♠K. If East now
switches to the other minor suit the above ending can be reached. On the other
hand, if East leads a second club, then the throw-in is easier after North’s hearts
force East down to three spades and ♦KQ.
Problem 96

97. ♠ AK2
♥ KQ432
♦ 5432
♣Q
♠Q ♠ J9876
♥ J765 ♥ 1098
♦ Q1098 ♦J
♣ 10987 ♣ A543
♠ 10543
♥A
♦ AK76
♣ KJ62
South to make five no-trumps. West leads the ♥5.
How is the contract defeated if West leads (a) a club, or (b) a diamond?
After the ♥A South plays a spade to the ♠A and North leads the ♠2. East takes
this with the ♠J and for now West can spare a diamond. However, the next spade
will cause West to surrender. For example, South wins the diamond switch and
plays a spade right away (a club to the ♣Q also works). A red suit discard is
immediately fatal so West discards a club. Now South discards the diamond
losers on North’s top hearts and, when the ♣Q holds, comes to hand on a
diamond to knock out the ♣A. As East’s remaining cards are now all black,
South’s ♠10 and remaining club(s) take three of the last four tricks.
Trap: If South leads a club at trick 2, East wins and leads another heart.
On winning the ♠J, East leads a third heart. South has to discard twice, ruining
the squeeze.
If West begins with a club, East must win with the ♣A and return a spade,
spoiling the above line because North’s remaining spade entry can be attacked
while the hearts are still blocked.
If West begins with a diamond, South’s best try is to score the two red
aces and play ♠A and another spade, but this time East ducks! South’s ♠10
172 Solutions

therefore takes the trick and the spotlight turns on West, who must take care to
throw a club. This time the ♣6 cannot be established because the ♣Q is allowed
to hold and the ♠10 entry that South relied on before has been knocked out
prematurely. This defence doesn’t apply on a heart lead because South has an
extra diamond entry to compensate.
Problem 97

98. ♠ A2
♥ J65432
♦ AJ432
♣ none
♠K ♠ J543
♥K ♥ Q10987
♦ KQ76 ♦ 1098
♣ A1098765 ♣Q
♠ Q109876
♥A
♦5
♣ KJ432
South to make four spades. West leads the ♦K.
Declarer wins the lead with the ♦A, ruffs a diamond, ruffs a low club, ruffs a
diamond, and then leads the ♣K (or the ♣J).
A. If West plays low, North discards a heart and East ruffs (best). [If East
discards, declarer can just play off the top tricks, for example ♥A, ♠A,
diamond ruff, ♠Q, and duck a spade, and East will eventually have to
concede a trick to the ♥J.]
Declarer wins the next three tricks with the ♥A, ♠A, and a diamond
ruff, ending in hand (the order depending on East’s return at trick 6), then
cashes the ♠Q, throwing a heart from North. If East plays low, South
exits with a spade, throwing another heart from North, and East will have
to concede two tricks to North’s jack of hearts and long diamond. If
instead East unblocks the ♠J under the ♠Q, South cashes the ♠10, and exits
with a low club, eventually scoring the ♣J.
B. If West plays the ♣A, North ruffs with the ♠A. South then ruffs a
diamond, cashes the ♥A, and exits with a spade to the ♠K. West must
lead a club. If East discards, South will win and exit with a low club,
 DR4 Problems 173
eventually scoring both remaining trumps. So East does better to ruff and
lead the ♥Q, but South can either ruff this or duck it and still make three
of the last four tricks.
Trap: If South leads the ♣K at trick 3, West ducks!
Problem 98

99. ♠ A932
♥ AQ1093
♦ A76
♣3
♠ QJ107 ♠ 8654
♥ KJ ♥8
♦ K109 ♦ 85432
♣ Q854 ♣ J97
♠K
♥ 76542
♦ QJ
♣ AK1062
South to make six no-trumps against any lead.
In the problem as published, North had the ♣9, East the ♣3, greatly simplifying
the play on any lead but the ♦K. F.Y. Sing’s suggestion made the play precise
and interesting on a spade lead too.
Against a heart lead North can play from any suit except diamonds at trick
two. Against a low diamond lead, South can similarly win and play from any
suit except diamonds. A lead of the ♣Q allows South to win or duck at trick one.
A low club lead forces declarer to play all the hearts, squeezing West, but after
the first two it doesn’t matter which hand wins the next three. It remains for us
to consider diamond and spade leads.
A. If West leads the ♦K, North wins and crosses to the ♠K for the heart
finesse. Three rounds of hearts, South preserving the ♥2, force West to
discard a diamond. South comes to hand on the ♦Q to lead the ♥2 in this
position:
174 Solutions

♠ A93
♥ 93
♦7
♣3
♠ QJ10 ♠ 865
♥ none ♥ none
♦ none ♦8
♣ Q854 ♣ J97
♠ none
♥ 42
♦ none
♣ AK1062
West is caught in a classic seesaw squeeze (also known as an entry-
shifting squeeze). A spade discard allows North to win with the ♥3 and
set up a spade trick with ♥9 as entry. A club discard allows North to win
with the ♥9 and duck a club to West (South winning and continuing the
suit if East rises with the ♣J), setting up the clubs with the ♥4 as entry.
B. If West leads a spade, declarer must immediately play five rounds of
hearts, ending in North.
1. If West, to keep the black suits fully guarded, discards all three
diamonds, South plays the ♦Q and ♦J. West discards a spade on
the first of those winners but has to discard a club on the second as
a second spade discard lets North overtake and cash spade winners.
Now whichever defender wins the third round of clubs has to let
North’s remaining two aces win the last two tricks!
2. If West instead keeps three spades, two diamonds, and two clubs,
then the play depends on what East keeps.
(a) If East keeps one spade and three of each minor suit, then
North cashes the ♠A and South plays three rounds of clubs,
winning the last three tricks with two diamonds and a club.
(b) If East instead keeps two spades, two diamonds, and three
clubs, then South comes to hand on a club to lead a
diamond, covered by the ♦K and ♦A, then comes back on a
diamond to play the ♣A and another club. East has to put
North in on the ♠A to score the good diamond.
 DR4 Problems 175
Here is the original by Robert Lattés, which appeared in Bridge Magazine, 1955:
♠ KJ82
♥ AQ1093
♦ A72
♣2
♠ Q1073 ♠ 9654
♥ KJ ♥6
♦ K9 ♦ 1086543
♣ QJ1087 ♣ 43
♠A
♥ 87542
♦ QJ
♣ AK965
South to make six no-trumps. West leads the ♣Q.
The play is too imprecise. At trick two South can lead any card but a club,
including the ♥2, which was supposed to be relevant.
Problem 99

100. ♠ K732
♥ Q43
♦ AK
♣ AK65
♠ none ♠ QJ1065
♥ KJ5 ♥ 9876
♦ J9876 ♦5
♣ QJ872 ♣ 1093
♠ A984
♥ A102
♦ Q10432
♣4
South to make four no-trumps. West leads the ♣Q.
We have eight top tricks and the ♥Q makes nine. Surely West can be thrown in
to lead a diamond into South’s ♦Q10? So, we try ducking the first club, winning
the second and playing ♥A and another heart. But West wins with the ♥K and
returns a heart. Now we have to cash the ♦AK, ♠A, ♠K and ♣K before throwing
West in with a club, but West doggedly hangs on to two club winners, baring the
176 Solutions

♦J when South no longer has an entry. We try various orders of play but they all
come to the same thing. Eventually the spade intermediates come to our
attention: perhaps East can be thrown in after a spade to ♠10 and ♠A and, when
North and East are down to three spades each, a spade ducked. To achieve that
we have somehow to eliminate East’s hearts, and that can only be done by an
immaterial squeeze.
North ducks the opening lead and wins the club continuation, South
discarding a middle spade. After cashing the ♦AK, North leads a low spade to
the ♠10 and ♠A. East discards a low spade on the second diamond, West a
diamond on the ♠A. Now comes a low heart from South in this position:

♠ K73
♥ Q43
♦ none
♣ K6
♠ none ♠ QJ6
♥ KJ5 ♥ 9876
♦ J9 ♦ none
♣ J87 ♣ 10
♠ 94
♥ A102
♦ Q104
♣ none
West does best to rise with the ♥K and lead another club to North (a heart would
give South two entries to establish diamonds). South discards a diamond and
comes to hand on a heart to cash the ♦Q. East cannot afford another spade
discard, for that would let North establish a spade, so East has to part with a
heart. A heart to the ♥Q now leaves the 3-card ending we sought: North leads a
low spade and South plays the ♠9 on this trick so that North’s ♠K7 take the last
two tricks.
Problem 100
 DR4 Problems 177
101. ♠ 65432
♥ none
♦ A432
♣ KQ65
♠A ♠ KQJ109
♥ 108765 ♥ AKQ
♦ QJ1098 ♦ 765
♣ J10 ♣ 87
♠ 87
♥ J9432
♦K
♣ A9432
South to make five clubs against any lead by West.
Unless the ♠A is cashed at trick one the contract can be made by throwing West
in on that card. For example, on a club lead, North wins and leads a low
diamond to the ♦K. There follows a red suit cross-ruff for the next six tricks,
including South’s ruff of the ♦A! The ♣A draws the remaining trumps and West
is put in on a spade. West has a long diamond to cash but must then lead into
South’s ♥J9 tenace.
So, West cashes the ♠A and switches to a club. Again North wins and
leads a diamond to South’s ♦K. The first heart ruff follows but this time North
cashes the ♦A, South throwing the club loser, to leave this, with North on lead:
♠ 6543
♥ none
♦ 43
♣ K65
♠ none ♠ KQJ10
♥ 10876 ♥ AK
♦ QJ10 ♦7
♣ 10 ♣8
♠ none
♥ J943
♦ none
♣ A943
Now comes the key play: North leads a spade (not a diamond) and South ruffs it
with the ♣A. West is caught in a backwash squeeze without the count.
178 Solutions

A. “Discarding” the ♣10 clearly makes life easy for declarer. The next four
tricks are cross-ruffed, then the ♣9 draws East’s ♣8 and the ♥J is the
eleventh trick.
B. Discarding a heart allows South to establish two heart tricks by ruffing
one and drawing trumps. A low heart is then conceded to East and South
is high with a trump and ♥J9.
C. Discarding a diamond allows declarer to cross-ruff the red suits for the
next four tricks, then throw West in with the last trump for a heart lead
into ♥J9.
Problem 101

102. ♠ K104
♥ none
♦ AKQJ
♣ A98754
♠Q ♠ AJ8765
♥ J1092 ♥ 76543
♦ 876 ♦ 102
♣ QJ1063 ♣ none
♠ 932
♥ AKQ8
♦ 9543
♣ K2
South to make five no-trumps. West leads the ♣Q.
South wins with the ♣K and cashes one heart winner, on which North discards
the ♠10! North wins two diamonds and then advances the ♠K.
A. If East wins two spade tricks, North’s discards on South’s three major suit
winners include the two remaining diamonds so that South can then cash
the ♦9 and ♦5 to squeeze West in clubs and hearts.
B. If East wins the first spade and then underleads the ♠J, South wins with
the ♠9 and plays a club (optionally cashing one top heart first). If West
plays low, North wins cheaply and leads the ♣9 to West’s ♣10. Now
North’s remaining low clubs will either win tricks (when West leads one
into the tenace) or be discarded on South’s remaining top hearts.
 DR4 Problems 179
C. If East wins the first spade and leads a heart, the play is similar to B.
except that North is entered on a diamond to lead a spade towards the ♠9.
D. If East lets the ♠K win, North wins one more diamond and leads a middle
club, which West must take. If West exits with a heart, three rounds of
hearts put West on play again and North’s club tenace and top diamond
take the last three tricks. If West instead exits with a club, North finesses
and plays three rounds of the suit so that West has to let South’s heart
winners score.
Here is Ernest Pawle’s original, as it appeared in Bridge Magazine, July 1951:
♠ QJ
♥ none
♦ AKQJ
♣ A986543
♠ 10 ♠ AK87654
♥ J1093 ♥ 76542
♦ 8743 ♦ 10
♣ QJ107 ♣ none
♠ 932
♥ AKQ8
♦ 9652
♣ K2
South to make five no-trumps. West leads the ♣Q.
The play to the first four tricks is as above, but several orders of play are
available, including the option for North to cash one more diamond before
exiting on a spade.
Problem 102
180 Solutions

103. ♠ 32
♥ A32
♦ Q432
♣ A832
♠ KQJ987 ♠ 10
♥ none ♥ J1087654
♦K ♦ J1098
♣ QJ9765 ♣ 10
♠ A654
♥ KQ9
♦ A765
♣ K4
South is in three no-trumps.
What lead defeats the contract and how is it made against other leads?
A low club lead defeats the contract. Otherwise:
A. Against a high club lead South wins and will make the contract by
endplaying West in the black suits. Several orders of play are available.
For example, South can lead another club at trick two, allowing West’s
♣9 to win. South’s spade and red suit winners are cashed, ending in
North (otherwise West can unguard clubs), forcing West down to two
clubs and three spades. North exits on a spade and eventually gets a club
lead into the ♣A8 tenace.
A low club lead defeats this play because North will not have a
club tenace at the end.
B. Against a spade lead and continuation, South holds up until the third
round and then plays to give up two diamond tricks to East and squeeze
West in the black suits. Several orders of play are available to achieve
this effect.
A low club lead defeats this play because North’s ♣A, needed for
communication in the squeeze ending, can be knocked out prematurely.
C. Against the lead of the ♦K, South wins with the ♦A and immediately loses
a spade. If spades are continued South ducks and play follows line B, so
West returns a high club to the ♣K. South then ducks a diamond to East,
who returns the suit to North’s ♦Q. North leads a low heart and South
wins the trick as cheaply as possible. (Those last two tricks are reversed if
East returns a heart instead of a diamond.) Now East is thrown in with the
 DR4 Problems 181
last diamond and South just covers the forced heart return, subjecting
West to a seesaw squeeze. If West comes down to two clubs, North plays
low to retain the ♥A as entry after conceding a club trick; otherwise West
comes down to two spades and North overtakes so that South has a heart
entry after conceding a spade trick.
The play is similar if West leads a high spade and switches to a
(high) club. South wins, cashes the ♦A, and ducks a diamond.
A low club lead defeats this play because when South exits at trick
two with a low spade several defences are available, one of them being for
East to win with the ♠10 and return a heart, followed by a second heart on
gaining the lead in diamonds.
Variations: On a spade lead, ducked, the best defence is a high club continuation
(on a low club, South can duck, leading to a simple black suit squeeze against
West). Play reverts to C, but here also West’s best defence is to play a high club.
Furthermore, if East returns a heart after winning the diamond at trick four, South
finesses and now the ♦Q and a low diamond follow (so North’s play after
winning the ♦Q depends on East’s earlier return).
Problem 103

104. ♠ AQ
♥ 98765
♦3
♣ A8654
♠ KJ10 ♠ 8765
♥ 432 ♥ KJ10
♦ KJ1098 ♦ A2
♣ Q10 ♣ K732
♠ 9432
♥ AQ
♦ Q7654
♣ J9
South to make three hearts. West leads the ♦J.
East must win with the ♦A and return a minor suit. North wins the second trick
and then the play goes: heart finesse, spade finesse, second spade, second heart to
South, spade ruff, third heart to East, South discarding a club. We now have one
of two similar 5-card endings, depending on which suit was returned at trick 2:
182 Solutions

A. ♠ none
♥ none
♦ none
♣ A8654
♠ none ♠8
♥ none ♥ none
♦ KJ10 ♦ none
♣ Q10 ♣ K732
♠9
♥ none
♦ Q76
♣J
or
B. ♠ none
♥9
♦ none
♣ 8654
♠ none ♠8
♥ none ♥ none
♦ KJ109 ♦2
♣Q ♣ K73
♠9
♥ none
♦ Q765
♣ none
In both cases East is on lead with North-South needing three more tricks.
If East leads a spade, then declarer wins and in case A plays ♣A and
another club, when either North will make an extra club or South the ♦Q; in case
B a diamond ruff and club exit have the same effect.
If East instead leads a club, then in case A North wins and plays a second
club, after which either South makes the ♦Q and ♠9 or, when East rises with the
♣K, North makes two more club tricks; in case B the ♣Q is allowed to hold and
so is the ♦K, after which the ♦Q, ♠9 and ♥9 take the last three tricks.
Finally, if East leads the ♦2 in case B, North ruffs and if East rises with the
♣K on the next trick, South discards the ♠9! (otherwise South discards a diamond
and later makes the ♦Q and ♠9).
 DR4 Problems 183
Here is the original 10-card problem by Kurt Bendix, as it appeared in Sure
Tricks:
♠ none
♥ 8754
♦A
♣ A8632
♠J ♠ Q8
♥ 96 ♥ QJ
♦ Q10862 ♦ K4
♣ Q10 ♣ K754
♠ K9
♥A
♦ J9753
♣ J9
South to with hearts as trumps. North-South to make seven tricks.
The intended solution required South to lead the ♠9, but in fact any card apart
from the ♥A and ♦J can lead to success. With various orders of play possible,
East can be put on play with a heart with remaining cards the ♠Q and ♣K75
opposite West’s ♦Q108 and ♣10.
Problem 104

105. ♠ J10873
♥ A6
♦ 1082
♣ Ax2
♠ KQ654 ♠9
♥ 32 ♥ QJ954
♦9 ♦ KJ7654
♣ KJ963 ♣Q
♠ A2
♥ K1087
♦ AQ3
♣ 1087y
West leads the ♥3 to South’s three no-trumps.
Show that the contract makes only if x is the ♣5 and y the ♣4.
184 Solutions

There are eight tricks when the spades have been established. The ninth can
come from a throw-in or squeeze against East to yield an extra trick in one of the
red suits. For the squeeze to operate, South needs to lose two club tricks to West,
in addition to the two spade tricks, in order to rectify the count.
The opening lead goes to the ♥J and ♥K and South immediately plays ♠A
and another spade. West does best to duck the second spade and win the third.
When East discards two diamonds (best), South must discard a middle club on
the third spade. West’s best continuation is another heart to North’s ♥A. Now
comes the fourth spade, to West. If East discards a third diamond South will
come to the ♥10 after the ♣A and three rounds of diamonds, so it is better for
East to discard a heart now, in which case South must discard the ♣8 or ♣10,
keeping the ♣y. The position with West on lead is now:

♠J
♥ none
♦ 1082
♣ Ax2
♠6 ♠ none
♥ none ♥ Q9
♦9 ♦ KJ76
♣ KJ963 ♣Q
♠ none
♥ 108
♦ AQ3
♣ 10y
A. If West now leads a black suit, North can score both black suit winners
and play the ♦10 to ♦J and ♦Q, allowing South to throw East in with a
heart.
B. If West leads the ♦9 to the ♦10, ♦J, and ♦Q, the throw-in fails because
South’s diamond entry is used too early. Instead, South plays to lose two
club tricks to West, after which North’s black suit winners squeeze East.
However, if y is the ♣5, West can foil this plan by winning the first club
and exiting on the ♣3!
 DR4 Problems 185
Here is Åke Killstrom’s original problem, as it appeared in Sure Tricks:
♠ J65
♥A
♦ J52
♣ A52
♠ AK4 ♠7
♥Q ♥ J87
♦6 ♦ K9874
♣ KJ964 ♣Q
♠ none
♥ 954
♦ AQ3
♣ 10873
South to lead at no-trumps. North-South to make six tricks.
The solution given was to play a heart to the ♥A followed by the ♠J, on which
South discards a middle club. However, it assumed that West would win and
return a diamond, overlooking the fact that contract fails on the return of the ♣K!
Problem 105

106. ♠ AJ2
♥ Q43
♦ Q109
♣ AJ104
♠ 1098 ♠ K76
♥ 109 ♥ AJ8765
♦ K876 ♦ J54
♣ Q765 ♣K
♠ Q543
♥ K2
♦ A32
♣ 9832
South to make three no-trumps. West leads the ♠10.
North wins the first trick with the ♠A, and leads the ♦Q, won by West’s ♦K.
West switches to the ♥10. North and East play low. South wins with the ♥K,
and leads a low spade to the ♠J.
186 Solutions

A. If East wins and plays:

1. the ♥A and another heart, which runs to North’s ♥Q. Declarer can
now play on straightforward lines—for example, cashing the ♣A,
finessing a diamond, and just giving up a club to West.
2. a spade to the ♠Q. South leads a low club to North’s ♣10 and
East’s ♣K. East exits with, say, a low diamond, but declarer can
make two diamonds, the last spade, and three more clubs by
leading a high club from South.
3. the ♣K. This is allowed to hold the trick. Play then reverts to line
2.
B. If East ducks, North leads the ♣J to East’s ♣K. To remove South’s entry
before the long spade is established, East exits with the ♦J, won by
South’s ♦A. South leads a high club, which holds the trick, and then takes
a club finesse, cashes the ♦10 (and, optionally, the last club), and throws
East in with a spade, forcing a lead to the ♥Q.
Problem 106

107. ♠ 543
♥ A43
♦ 5432
♣ A103
♠ 76 ♠ A8
♥ Q65 ♥ K1087
♦ J1098 ♦ A76
♣ 9876 ♣ KQ54
♠ KQJ1092
♥ J92
♦ KQ
♣ J2
South to make three spades. West leads the ♣9.
The opening lead goes to ♣3, ♣Q, and ♣J. East does best to plays ♠A and
another spade. South plays high on both spades and leads a diamond. East does
best to win with the ♦A and return the suit. Next come a spade to North, on
which West throws a club, then a diamond ruff and a fourth spade, on which
North throws a heart.
 DR4 Problems 187
A. If West discards another club, a heart to North is followed by the last
diamond ruffed with South’s last trump. If East still has the ♥K South
exits to that card and East has to lead into the ♣A10; otherwise, North
makes the ♣A to draw West’s safe exit card and leads a heart to ♥10 and
♥J to guarantee a heart trick.
B. If West discards a heart, then South leads the ♥2. West clearly has to play
low and so does North. East wins and returns a heart to North’s ♥A.
Now South ruffs a diamond to squeeze East in hearts and clubs.
Problem 107

108. ♠ 932
♥ A82
♦ 432
♣ 10832
♠ 876 ♠ KQJ105
♥ K765 ♥J
♦ 876 ♦ KQ109
♣ 976 ♣ QJ5
♠ A4
♥ Q10943
♦ AJ5
♣ AK4
South to make four hearts. West leads the ♠8.
On the spade lead North plays the ♠2, East the ♠10, and South wins with the ♠A.
South leads the ♥Q, which is allowed to hold, then the ♠4, covered by the ♠6, ♠9
(to keep West off the lead), and ♠J. If East now leads:
A. another spade, South ruffs low, leads the other low heart for a finesse of
the ♥8, and leads a diamond from North. East plays high (best), and is
allowed to hold the trick. If East now plays:
1. a spade, South discards the ♣4 and ruffs with North’s ♥A.
Declarer enters hand with a diamond finesse and leads a heart,
restricting West to one more heart trick.
2. a diamond, South wins as cheaply as possible, cashes the
remaining minor suit winners, and at the eleventh trick throws East
188 Solutions

in with the third club (it does not help East to unblock). East must
lead a spade or a diamond and West’s ♥K is smothered.
3. the ♣Q, South wins, crosses to the ♥A, takes two diamonds with
the aid of the finesse, and at the eleventh trick throws West in with
the last heart. West must lead a club. North covers and declarer
makes two more tricks in the suit.
B. the ♦K, it is allowed to hold the trick. If East now plays:
1. a spade, South ruffs, finesses the ♥8, finesses the ♦J, and cashes the
remaining minor suit winners to reach the ending in A.2.
2. another diamond, South wins as cheaply as possible, finesses the
♥8, ruffs a spade, and cashes the remaining minor suit winners to
reach the ending in A.2.
3. the ♣Q, South wins, and uses the ♥8 and ♥A as entries to take the
diamond finesse and a spade ruff. Declarer cashes the remaining
diamond winner and throws West in with the last heart for the
ending in A.3.
C. the ♣Q, South wins, crosses to North by finessing the ♥8, and leads a
diamond. East plays high and is allowed to hold the trick. A club
continuation will immediately concede a trick in the suit. On a spade or
diamond continuation, play reverts to line A.3.
Problem 108
 DR4 Problems 189
109. ♠ A92
♥ A2
♦ Q9732
♣ Q32
♠ K8 ♠ 1065
♥ KJ10 ♥ Q8765
♦ J10865 ♦K
♣ J109 ♣ AK76
♠ QJ743
♥ 943
♦ A4
♣ 854
West leads the ♦J against South’s contract of four spades.
How does declarer take advantage of this gift?
North plays a low diamond and South’s ♦A captures the ♦K. The fortunate
distribution in spades allows trumps to be drawn by leading the ♠Q and then,
when this is covered by the ♠K and ♠A, the ♠9, pinning the ♠8. The ♠7 (or ♠J)
draws East’s last trump. West does best to discard a club on this trick, leaving
the following position, with South on lead:
♠ none
♥ A2
♦ Q973
♣ Q32
♠ none ♠ none
♥ KJ10 ♥ Q8765
♦ 10865 ♦ none
♣ J10 ♣ AK76
♠ 43
♥ 943
♦4
♣ 854
South cashes another spade, North throwing a club. If West discards a club
North can be entered on a diamond finesse to lead the ♣Q, after which South’s
♣8 can be established after a heart loser has been discarded on the ♦Q. However,
if West discards a heart, then South must play the last spade before taking a
diamond finesse. Now West must discard another club, keeping two hearts to
190 Solutions

prevent an easy throw-in against East. North advances the ♣Q to East’s ♣K,
pinning West’s last club.
A. If East immediately returns a heart, West’s ♥K is allowed to hold. The
♥A wins the next trick and then the lead of the ♦3 throws West in for a
diamond lead into North’s remaining tenace.
B. If East cashes the other club winner, West and North both discard low
diamonds. Now after a heart to the ♥K and ♥A the lead of the ♥2 brings
about the coup de grâce: if East plays low, North’s diamond tenace takes
the last two tricks, whereas rising with the ♥Q swallows the ♥J and gives
South the last two with the ♣8 and ♥9!
Trap: If North discards a diamond instead of a club on the last spade, then line A
fails. However, North might try winning the heart and leading the a club. In that
case East wins with the ♣A and returns the suit, West discarding the ♥J! And if
North leads a heart instead, East rises with the ♥Q and returns a heart. In either
case South has to lead from a minor tenace at trick twelve and East wins the last
two tricks
Problem 109

110. ♠ KJ32
♥ K105
♦ 6543
♣ J10
♠ 54 ♠ A109876
♥ Q9876 ♥J
♦ 1098 ♦ K2
♣ K65 ♣ Q987
♠Q
♥ A432
♦ AQJ7
♣ A432
South to make five diamonds. West leads a low heart.
North goes up with the ♥K and leads a diamond for South to finesse and win two
trump tricks. Now a low heart is led and West wins with the ♥Q. West does best
now to lead a low club to the ♣10, ♣Q, and ♣A. The next three tricks are taken
by the ♥10, the ♦Q and the ♥A on which North throws a club. This is now the
position, with East still to discard:
 DR4 Problems 191
♠ KJ32
♥ none
♦6
♣ none
♠ 54 ♠ A109
♥9 ♥ none
♦ none ♦ none
♣ K6 ♣ 987
♠Q
♥ none
♦7
♣ 432
A. If East discards a spade, North overtakes the ♠Q to establish the suit with
a ruff as entry.
B. If East discards a club, the ♠Q is allowed to hold and South then leads a
club.
1. If West rises with the ♣K, North ruffs and leads a high spade.
South ruffs the ♠A and puts East in with a club so that North’s
spade winner takes the last trick.
2. If West plays low, North discards a spade and East is endplayed.
Whichever black suit winner comes next is ruffed and then the
hand opposite takes the last two tricks with a ruff and a black suit
winner.
This problem is based on Ernest Pawle’s last problem to appear in Bridge
Magazine, as No. 184, July 1966, before his untimely death that year, causing me
to take on his column. Here is the problem as it appeared in that issue:
192 Solutions

♠ KJ95
♥ J109
♦ 8654
♣ J10
♠ 76 ♠ A108432
♥ Q5432 ♥6
♦ J109 ♦ 32
♣ K65 ♣ Q987
♠Q
♥ none
♦7
♣ 432
South to make five diamonds. West leads a low heart.
The solution given was as essentially shown above but alas a much easier
solution turned out to be available, thanks to North’s ♠9. North wins the opening
lead and after three rounds of trumps South leads the ♠Q. East lets this win but
after the ♣A and another club, North can ruff the third club and lead a high
spade, covered by East and ruffed. East is thrown in on the fourth club to lead
into North’s spade tenace.
Problem 110:

111. ♠ K92
♥Q
♦ AKQJ10
♣ J1065
♠ 10543 ♠ A876
♥ K105 ♥ J432
♦ 987 ♦ 65
♣ 987 ♣ AQ2
♠ QJ
♥ A9876
♦ 432
♣ K43
West to lead and East-West to defeat South’s contract of three no-trumps.
West must lead the ♥K.
 DR4 Problems 193
A. If South wins with the ♥A, the best try for the contract is to lead another
heart, North discarding a club. East (not West) must win this and exit
passively on a diamond or a low spade. Assuming a spade, South can set
up the hearts now, with an entry to come in clubs, but the defenders have
the tempo and can set up the long spade to cash when East gets in with the
♣A. (A diamond from East at trick three also works. A spade from North
comes to the same as before, whereas a high club is covered by the ♣Q so
that the defenders can win two club tricks when West gets the lead on the
♥10.)
B. If South ducks, West switches to a club, covered by the ♣10, ♣Q and ♣K.
Declarer’s best try now is to run the diamonds immediately, discarding a
heart and a club from hand. Each defender must discard two spades, but
East’s other discard must be the ♥J! The ending is now
♠ K92
♥ none
♦ none
♣ J65
♠ 105 ♠ A8
♥ 105 ♥ 43
♦ none ♦ none
♣ 87 ♣ A2
♠ QJ
♥ A98
♦ none
♣4
and East merely has to duck the first spade to leave declarer with no hope.
Traps:
In A., if West wins the heart at trick two, the best try for the defence is a spade
ducked to South, but the run of North’s diamonds squeezes East in three suits.
In B., if East discards a low heart instead of the ♥J, then the ending after the last
diamond becomes
194 Solutions

♠ K92
♥ none
♦ none
♣ J65
♠ 105 ♠ A8
♥ 105 ♥ J4
♦ none ♦ none
♣ 87 ♣ A2
♠ QJ
♥ A98
♦ none
♣4
East wins the second spade and leads a heart as before but if this is the ♥J, South
ducks and now East can make only the ♣A before giving either North or South
the last two tricks. If East instead leads the ♥4, South wins with the ♥A and
throws East back in with a heart, North discarding the ♠K so that the ♣J will
score.
Problem 111

112. ♠ Q32
♥A
♦ 987
♣ A107432
♠9 ♠ KJ1087
♥ J432 ♥ Q1096
♦ 432 ♦ K65
♣ K9865 ♣J
♠ A654
♥ K875
♦ AQJ10
♣Q
South to make five diamonds. West leads the ♠9.
South wins with the ♠A and leads the ♣Q, covered by the ♣K and ♣A. North
cashes the ♥A, on which East and South both play middle cards! Next comes the
diamond finesse, then the ♥K (though this trick could be taken later instead) and
the ♥8, ruffed by North. South finesses again in diamonds and draws the
remaining trumps to give this:
 DR4 Problems 195
♠ Q3
♥ none
♦ none
♣ 1074
♠ none ♠ KJ108
♥? ♥?
♦ none ♦ none
♣ 9865 ♣ none
♠ 654
♥5
♦Q
♣ none
South exits on the heart and whoever will win this trick is endplayed. If West
wins it, North will of course play low on the ♣9 and then finesse the ♣7.
Trap: If South has the ♥8 instead of the ♥5 in the above end position, it
will win the trick, leaving South with three spade losers.
This problem is Paolo Treossi's correction of Problem 91, attributed to Norman J.
Bonney of Boston, Massachusetts, in George Coffin's Sure Tricks:
♠ Q86
♥A
♦ 1095
♣ K97432
♠J ♠ K10972
♥ Q432 ♥ J1096
♦ 432 ♦ 876
♣ J10865 ♣Q
♠ A543
♥ K875
♦ AKQJ
♣A
South to make five diamonds. West leads the ♠J.
The intended solution was for South to win the opening lead, play the ♥7 to the
♥A, come to hand on the ♣A, ruff the ♥8, win three diamonds, then cash the ♥K
to give the above ending.
However, on this layout the contract can also be made by playing the ♥5 at
trick two, coming to hand on the ♣A, and playing the ♥K and ♥7. North ruffs
196 Solutions

and now declarer already knows which card will win the fourth heart. If that is
the ♥8, then North can lead the ♣K, forcing East to ruff. South overruffs, cashes
the ♥8, on which North discards a spade, and gives up a spade. North gets a
spade ruff for the eleventh trick.
Problem 112

113. ♠ J109
♥ A43
♦ 104
♣ Q6543
♠ none ♠ KQ65
♥ KQJ9 ♥ 10765
♦ 9876 ♦ KQJ5
♣ J10987 ♣K
♠ A87432
♥ 82
♦ A32
♣ A2
South to make four spades. West leads the ♦9.
The ♦9 lead goes to the ♦4, ♦5, and ♦A. South leads the ♥2, North playing low.
If West wins, declarer has the tempo to ruff a diamond in dummy. On
regaining the lead declarer gives up a diamond to East and will then take the
diamond ruff. Declarer’s remaining trumps will be big enough to restrict East to
one spade trick.
To prevent the diamond ruff East wins the second trick, overtaking the ♥9
with the ♥10, and leads the ♠K. South wins and leads a diamond, won by East,
who continues with the ♠Q and another spade to the ♠J. South enters hand with
the ♣A, and draws East’s last trump, discarding a club from North. West comes
down to three clubs, a heart, and a diamond to give this position:
 DR4 Problems 197
♠ none
♥ A4
♦ none
♣ Q65
♠ none ♠ none
♥K ♥ 765
♦8 ♦ KQ
♣ J109 ♣ none
♠ 84
♥8
♦3
♣3
South cashes one more spade, and West is caught in a clash squeeze:
A. If West discards the ♥K, North discards a club. Declarer then makes
the♥8 (the clash menace), ♣Q, ♥A, and the last trump.
B. If West discards a club, North discards a heart. Declarer then crosses to
the ♣Q, ruffs a club, and enters North with the ♥A to cash the long club.
C. If West discards the ♦8, North discards a club. Declarer then crosses to
the ♣Q and ruffs a club, squeezing East in the red suits.
Problem 113

114. ♠ A2
♥ Q43
♦ AJ1032
♣ K103
♠6 ♠ QJ10987
♥ 1098 ♥ K2
♦ K9876 ♦ Q5
♣ Q954 ♣ J76
♠ K543
♥ AJ765
♦4
♣ A82
South to make six hearts. West leads the ♠6.
198 Solutions

North wins with the ♠A and leads a low heart for the finesse. South wins two
heart tricks (the second can alternatively be taken later) and plays a diamond to
the ♦A and a diamond ruff. North is entered on the ♥Q to lead a high diamond
on which South discards a spade, giving this ending with West still to play a
diamond on North’s ♦J:
♠2
♥ none
♦ 103
♣ K103
♠ none ♠ QJ10
♥ none ♥ none
♦ K98 ♦ none
♣ Q954 ♣ J76
♠ K5
♥7
♦ none
♣ A82
A. If West wins and leads a diamond, a double squeeze comes about with
diamonds against West, spades against East and clubs as pivot suit. For
example, the next four tricks could be won by the ♦10 (South throwing a
club), ♠K, ♣A, and ♥7 to make the squeeze simultaneous.
B. If West wins and leads the ♣Q (a low one immediately gives a way a
trick), South wins with the ♣A, cashes the ♥7 on which North throws a
diamond, and then a club to the ♣K and the ♦10 squeezes East.
C. If West wins and leads the ♣9, covered by North’s ♣10 and East’s ♣J,
South wins with the ♣A and cashes the spade and heart winners to
squeeze West.
D. If West ducks, South ruffs a diamond.
1. If East discards a spade, South plays the ♠K and another spade,
squeezing West at the same time as endplaying East. When West
discards a low club, North throws the ♦10 and the forced club
return gives declarer three club tricks, North capturing West’s ♣Q
and leading the ♣10 to pin the ♣9.
 DR4 Problems 199
2. If East discards a club, South exits immediately on a low spade.
Now a spade return squeezes West and a club return gives three
club tricks.
It is interesting to note that the contract goes down if West leads the ♣9, covered
around the table to South’s ♣A. North’s entries can be used to ruff a diamond
and play three rounds of trumps but when North the leads the ♦J, West lets it win.
Here is David Solis-Cohen’s original problem, as it appeared in Sure Tricks:
♠ AJ
♥ Q107
♦ AJ1083
♣ K82
♠9 ♠ Q107542
♥ J94 ♥ 52
♦ K9764 ♦ Q5
♣ Q964 ♣ J75
♠ K863
♥ AK863
♦2
♣ A103
South to make six hearts. West leads the ♦6.
The intended solution was for North to win with the ♦A and immediately ruff a
diamond (though any non-club lead succeeds), North to win two hearts, finessing
(though South can ruff with any heart and then lead any non-club card, and the
second heart can be won in either hand), South to shed a club on the ♦J, taken by
West’s ♦K (though a spade discard works too), North to win the spade return
(though it can be taken in either hand), South to shed a spade on the ♦10 and
come to hand on a hand (though club to the ♣A works too), and South to play
the ♠K, the ♣A, and the remaining heart to bring about a simultaneous double
squeeze.
Play does always end in a double squeeze of some sort, but there is a huge
variety in the ways of bringing one about. Treossi’s amendment makes the order
of play precise (apart from exactly when to cash the ♥A) and offers added
interest when West ducks the ♦J.
Problem 114
200 Solutions

115. ♠2
♥ AQ32
♦ J432
♣ KQ72
♠ 987 ♠ KJ654
♥ 987 ♥ J10654
♦ A1098 ♦K
♣ 654 ♣ A8
♠ AQ103
♥K
♦ Q765
♣ J1093
South to make four no-trumps. West leads the ♣6.
On the first trick North plays the ♣Q and East does best to duck. South unblocks
the ♣9. Declarer finesses the ♠10 and then ducks a diamond to East’s ♦K. East
cashes the ♣A (best), on which both South and North unblock honour cards, and
leads a heart to the ♥K. South leads a low diamond, on which West must play
low, and North’s ♦J wins, East discarding a spade. North cashes the ♥A, on
which South discards a diamond, and then leads the ♣7.
A. If East discards a spade, South overtakes the club and plays the ♠A and
another spade, won by East. East must return a heart to North. South’s
last diamond goes on this trick and the last two tricks are won with the ♣3
and the last spade.
B. If East discards a heart, South plays the ♣3. North then cashes the ♥Q and
throws East in with a heart, South discarding a diamond and a low spade.
East must return a spade and South wins two spades and a club.
(If East leads a heart to the ♥K at trick 4, declarer plays the same tricks in a
different order. A low diamond is led to the ♦J and North exits with the ♣K to
East’s ♣A, South unblocking. East returns a heart, won by North.)
Traps:
1. If declarer ducks a diamond at the second trick, before taking the spade
finesse, East will defeat the contract by cashing the ♣A and then leading a
heart.
 DR4 Problems 201
2. If declarer tries to set up a diamond winner by leading the ♦Q instead of a
low one, West defeats the contract by winning with the ♦A and continuing
with any suit except a spade.
3. If declarer leads the ♣7 from North at the seventh trick, before cashing the
♥A, then East unblocks the ♠J. The contract can now be defeated, as
declarer cannot set up the spades without letting West in to win a
diamond.
Problem 115

116. ♠ KQJ10987
♥ A2
♦ 72
♣ 32
♠ 54 ♠ 32
♥ Q1086 ♥ J975
♦ AJ1093 ♦ Q654
♣ J6 ♣ K54
♠ A6
♥ K43
♦ K8
♣ AQ10987
South to make six no-trumps. West leads a spade.
Declarer wins the spade lead in hand and runs the suit. This is the position at
trick six, with two spades still to be played:
♠ KQ
♥ A2
♦ 72
♣ 32
♠ none ♠ none
♥ Q108 ♥ J97
♦ AJ3 ♦ Q6
♣ J6 ♣ K54
♠ none
♥ K43
♦K
♣ AQ109
202 Solutions

Note that West has taken care to keep the ♦3 and South has had to bare the ♦K.
Many variations now arise as North scores the two remaining spade winners.
A. East first discards a heart, South a club (perforce), West the ♦3.
1. If East then discards another heart, South must play the ♦K. West
does best to throw the ♦A but East then has to duck North’s lead of
the ♦2 (to avoid setting up the ♦7) on which South parts with a low
heart. West has to return a heart to South’s ♥K. The ♥4 to the ♥A
then squeezes East in the minor suits.
2. If East instead discards a diamond, South can throw the ♦K and
West is caught in a guard squeeze with the count: a club discard
gives declarer three club tricks via two finesses; a heart discard
gives declarer three heart tricks; and a diamond discard lets North
give up a diamond to establish a winner in that suit.
B. As in A, but West discards the ♦J. A minor suit discard by East is now
immediately fatal, so East throws another heart and South and West must
do the same. Now two rounds of hearts catch East in a vice: a club
discard gives three club tricks, whereas baring the ♦Q allows that card to
be pinned by the ♦K losing to the ♦A and setting up North’s ♦7. Various
orders of play are possible. Simplest is to take the club finesse and cash
the heart in either order. When East discards a diamond, cash the ♣A and
lead the ♦K. West’s last card is the ♦3, losing to North’s ♦7.
C. East first discards the ♦6, South the ♦K (perforce), West the ♦3.
1. If East then discards the ♦Q, South throws a heart and can safely
play three rounds of clubs to set up the fourth.
2. If East instead discards a heart, South throws a club and West is
squeezed as in A.2.
D. As in C, but West discards a heart. East is compelled to discard the other
diamond on the last spade and play follows line C.1.
Problem 116
 DR4 Problems 203
117. ♠ QJ10
♥ AJ6543
♦ A8
♣ Q4
♠ 432 ♠K
♥2 ♥ 10987
♦ 5432 ♦ KJ1096
♣ A8765 ♣ KJ10
♠ A98765
♥ KQ
♦ Q7
♣ 932
(a) South to make five spades. West leads a diamond.
(b) How would the contract be defeated if the ♦8 and ♦7 are swapped?
(a) North takes the opening diamond and South drops the ♦Q. After three rounds
of spades, a heart to South, and two more spades, this is the position:
♠ none
♥ AJ6
♦8
♣ Q4
♠ none ♠ none
♥ none ♥ 1098
♦ 543 ♦ KJ
♣ A87 ♣K
♠7
♥K
♦7
♣ 932
South leads the ♠7. West and North discard clubs and, East is squeezed down to
the three hearts and two minor suit cards. South cashes the ♥K. South leads a
club if East still has the ♣K, otherwise a diamond. In either case East cannot
avoid being on lead at trick twelve with two heart losers.
(b) The plays proceeds as in (a) but East takes care to preserve the ♦6. The 4-
card ending is now like this, with South on lead:
204 Solutions

♠ none
♥ AJ
♦7
♣Q
♠ none ♠ none
♥ none ♥ 109
♦ 543 ♦ K6
♣A ♣ none
♠ none
♥ none
♦8
♣ 932
Note the careful discarding by East and West. A club exit allows East to discard
a heart and take two diamond tricks, so South tries the ♦8, but this is allowed to
hold! East then discards the ♦K on the ♣A and West’s diamonds take the last
two tricks.
This defence explains why South drops the ♦Q at trick one in (a)—if
North can beat South’s diamond in the ending, then the ♥A and ♥J yield an
overtrick if East futilely ducks.
Problem 117

118. ♠ A73
♥ A65
♦ A432
♣ Q32
♠ K8 ♠ 654
♥ J10 ♥ Q987
♦ K7 ♦ Q1098
♣ KJ109876 ♣ 54
♠ QJ1092
♥ K432
♦ J65
♣A
South to make five spades. West leads the ♣6.
Along with Problems 65 and 66, this one appeared in a single competition titled
“Variations On a Theme”. The Difficulty Ratings varied from 3 to 7, so only
half of them appear in this volume.
 DR4 Problems 205
Winning with the ♣A, South leads the ♠Q, followed by the ♠J when the ♠Q
holds. When West plays the ♠K North wins with the ♠A and leads a heart.
When East plays low (best), so does South. The heart return is won by South’s
♥K and West is thrown back in via a diamond to the ♦A and another diamond
(South having drawn West’s second trump if West covered the ♠Q at trick two).
The ending is now
♠7
♥A
♦ 43
♣ Q3
♠ none ♠6
♥ none ♥ Q9
♦ none ♦ Q10
♣ KJ10987 ♣5
♠ 1092
♥ 43
♦J
♣ none
A. If West exits with a low club, South discards the ♦J on North’s ♣Q and
then in some order declarer can score the ♥A and cross-ruff the
remaining tricks.
B. If West plays the ♣K, South ruffs high, crosses to the ♠7, and discards
the ♦J on the ♣Q, catching East in a ruffing squeeze. On a heart discard
North cashes the ♥A and South ruffs a diamond to score the good heart,
whereas on a diamond discard South ruffs a diamond and goes back on
the ♥A to score the good diamond.
Problem 118
206 Solutions

119. ♠ K10965
♥ none
♦ 543
♣ A10432
♠ none ♠ J87
♥ J987654 ♥K
♦ A6 ♦ QJ10987
♣ KJ98 ♣ 765
♠ AQ432
♥ AQ1032
♦ K2
♣Q
South to make six spades against any defence.
West’s best lead is a heart. North must ruff low and lead the ♠10, which East
does best to cover. South wins with the ♠A (not the ♠Q) and leads the ♣Q,
covered by the ♣K and ♣A. North cashes the ♠9 and South ruffs a club. Now
the ♠Q from South exerts a seesaw squeeze on West in this position:
♠ K6
♥ none
♦ 543
♣ 1043
♠ none ♠8
♥ J987 ♥ none
♦ A6 ♦ QJ10987
♣ J9 ♣7
♠ Q4
♥ AQ103
♦ K2
♣ none
A. If West discards a heart, the ♠Q wins and South plays three rounds of
hearts on which North discards the three diamonds. West is endplayed
and must set up either South’s ♦K or North’s ♣10—in each case West’s
top card is ruffed in one hand and the other hand then has an entry on a
ruff to score the established winner.
 DR4 Problems 207
B. If West discards a club, North overtakes with the ♠K. South ruffs a club
and cashes the ♥AQ, North discarding diamonds. North’s remaining
trump and two good clubs take three of the last four tricks.
C. If West discards the ♦6, the trick can be won in either hand to lead a
diamond to the ♦A. West’s next lead concedes a trick in either clubs or
hearts, to add to the ♦K, ♥AQ and a ruff in each hand.
D. If West discards the ♦A, South cashes the ♦K and, optionally, one top
heart, before leading the ♥3. As in line A, North refrains from ruffing and
so leaves West endplayed, this time in hearts and clubs.
If West starts with the ♣K instead of a heart, that merely swaps the first and third
tricks in the above line, giving the same ending.
Problem 119

120. ♠ KQ2
♥ J4
♦ K1032
♣ 8743
♠6 ♠ AJ987
♥ K109876 ♥5
♦ J987 ♦ A65
♣ 109 ♣ KJ65
♠ 10543
♥ AQ32
♦ Q4
♣ AQ2
South to make three no-trumps. West leads the ♥10.
North wins with the ♥J and leads a diamond.
A. If East plays low, South wins with the ♦Q and continues the suit, finessing
the ♦10. East takes, perforce, with the ♦A and does best to lead a low
club. South wins with the ♣Q and leads a spade, North playing high.
1. If East ducks, North cashes the ♦K and leads a club, South playing
the ♣A and another club. If East cashes both clubs and the ♠A, the
next spade to North squeezes West in the red suits; otherwise, as
soon as North gets in with the ♠K a diamond exit throws West in
for a heart lead into the ♥AQ.
208 Solutions

2. If East wins the first spade and returns a high club, then North’s
♣87 become equals and declarer can set up a club for the eighth
trick and simply lead towards the ♠10 for the ninth (several orders
of play are available to achieve this result).
3. If East wins the first spade and returns a low club, South ducks,
letting West win the trick. West does best to return a diamond but
North wins and returns the suit to put West back in for a heart lead
into South’s tenace, South having thrown a heart and a spade.
South scores the ♥Q and ♥A, North discarding the ♠2, and East is
subjected to a criss-cross squeeze in the black suits.
B. If East rises with the ♦A, South must drop the ♦Q! Now whatever East
leads, declarer has several routes to success, some of which lead to the
ending in A.3 without using North’s ♣87 as a threat.
Trap: If South fails to unblock diamonds in line B, East returns the suit, wins the
first spade and returns a low club. West can be thrown in to lead a heart for
declarer’s eighth trick but North’s spade entry has to be used up to achieve that
and so there is no endplay against East for the ninth.
Problem 120

121. ♠ AK87
♥ Q876
♦ 5432
♣9
♠ Q2 ♠ 93
♥ AJ932 ♥ K54
♦6 ♦ KQJ10987
♣ KJ732 ♣A
♠ J10654
♥ 10
♦A
♣ Q108654
(a) South to make four spades. West leads the ♦6.
(b) Can the contract be defeated on a different lead? Justify your answer.
Part (a): The ♦A at trick one is followed by two rounds of trumps ending in
North (it matters not which cards South plays to these two tricks), then a club to
 DR4 Problems 209
East’s ♣A. South ruffs the diamond return and leads a high club, covered by
West and ruffed by North, who leads a low heart.
A. If East plays low, West wins with the ♥J and continues with a low heart,
South ruffing East’s ♥K. The position is now (for example)
♠8
♥ Q8
♦ 54
♣ none
♠ none ♠ none
♥ A9 ♥5
♦ none ♦ QJ109
♣ J73 ♣ none
♠J
♥ none
♦ none
♣ 10865
South leads a high club, followed by another if West lets it hold. North
discards one or two diamonds. In either case West’s next lead either lets
North make the ♥Q or gives South a second club trick.
B. If East rises with the ♥K and returns a diamond, South ruffs and can lead
any club, North discarding a diamond.
C. If East rises with the ♥K and returns a heart, South can either ruff and lead
a high club, or simply discard and make North’s ♥Q.
Part (b): To defeat the contract West must lead the ♥J. If North covers, East
wins with the ♥K and continues hearts, putting South immediately in a losing
position. If North ducks (better), West must switch to the ♦6. Declarer’s best
chance is to follow the play in (a) but this time starting with the ♠J, which West
must duck. East wins the first club and leads a diamond, ruffed by South. West
must discard a low heart.
D. If South now leads a high club, West can either cover or play the ♣3, in
which case South leads another club. East discards diamonds. When
West covers a club, North ruffs and leads a low heart. East plays low,
letting West win with the ♥9 and return a low heart to the ♥K. Declarer
ruffs but can take only two of the last three tricks.
210 Solutions

E. If South instead leads a low club, West must play the ♣7. Whether North
discards or ruffs the position is now hopeless.
Trap: In Part (b), if West covers the first spade, North wins and leads a club.
East wins with the ♣A and returns a diamond, but South ruffs and leads a low
club. West covers with the ♣7 but North ruffs high. Declarer can now come to
hand on a trump and eventually set up the clubs, ruffing out one of West’s
honours and losing to the other.
Problem 121

122. ♠ AQ
♥ K6543
♦ KJ7
♣ A102
♠ K65 ♠ J432
♥ Q987 ♥ none
♦ 1065 ♦ AQ432
♣ K87 ♣ J654
♠ 10987
♥ AJ102
♦ 98
♣ Q93
Why is a low spade by West the only lead to defeat South in four hearts?
On the low spade lead, declarer does best to win with the ♠Q and lead the ♦K or
♦J.32 East wins and returns a low spade to the ♠A, West playing low. Declarer’s
best try now is a heart to the ♥A followed by the ♥J, which West must cover.
North wins with the ♥K and South comes back to hand on a third heart to run the
♦9, but East wins this and leads a third spade. North can ruff, cash the ♦J and
throw West in on the last trump, but East discards from the suit South discarded
on the ♦J and the defenders must come to a fourth trick in either clubs or spades.
If South has discarded a spade, then West and East must both play a low club at
trick eleven.
Suppose instead that the defence starts with three rounds of diamonds.
Then on the third round South ruffs North’s winner! Declarer can now lead

32
None of the solutions received in 2018 covered this line, hence the hint.
 DR4 Problems 211
either a spade or the ♥J, in either case winning two spades and three hearts to
give this position with South on lead:
♠ none
♥ 65
♦ none
♣ A102
♠K ♠ J4
♥9 ♥ none
♦ none ♦ none
♣ K87 ♣ J65
♠ 109
♥ none
♦ none
♣ Q93
North ruffs a spade and leads a heart, simultaneously squeezing East and
throwing West in for a club lead, South’s discard matching East’s.
If West leads the ♠K instead of a low one, the defence can follow the
given line but then the third spade sets up a trick for South, who can discard a
club loser on the good third diamond. If East leads a low diamond instead of the
third spade, South ruffs it and reaches the above ending.
Problem 122

123. ♠ KQJ32
♥ 543
♦ 832
♣ AK
♠ 7654 ♠ A1098
♥ Q2 ♥ J1098
♦ A765 ♦ J10
♣ 1098 ♣ Q76
♠ none
♥ AK76
♦ KQ94
♣ J5432
South to make three no-trumps. West leads the ♥Q.
212 Solutions

South lets the ♥Q hold and wins the heart continuation to play diamonds from the
top. West does best to win the second diamond and lead a spade. East captures
North’s ♠J, South discarding a low club, and returns the ♥J in this position:

♠ KQ32
♥5
♦8
♣ AK
♠ 765 ♠ 1098
♥ none ♥ J10
♦ 76 ♦ none
♣ 1098 ♣ Q76
♠ none
♥ A7
♦ 94
♣ J543
West is in discard trouble as South wins with the ♥A.
A. If West throws a spade, North club winners and (optionally) a top spade
are followed by the ♦8 to catch East in a seesaw squeeze. A spade discard
lets South play low and cash North’s spades for an overtrick, whereas a
club or heart discard lets South overtake with the ♦9 and cash a winner in
the unguarded suit (or possibly two winners in clubs if North still holds
the two top spades). Assuming North has already cashed a top spade,
South scores a heart or a club in the unguarded suit and exits to East on a
club or a heart so that North’s remaining spade winner takes the last trick.
B. If West throws a club, play proceeds as in A., but differs when East
discards a spade on the ♦8. In that case West is thrown in on the fourth
spade at trick twelve such that South’s ♦9 wins the last trick.
Problem 123
 DR4 Problems 213
124. ♠K
♥ A2
♦ J109876
♣ K832
♠9 ♠ 1087654
♥ J987 ♥ Q65
♦ Q5 ♦ K43
♣ AQJ765 ♣ 10
♠ AQJ32
♥ K1043
♦ A2
♣ 94
South to make three no-trumps. West leads the ♣Q.
North wins the opening lead with the ♣K and cashes the ♠K. A low club to the
♣9 and ♣J forces a spade discard from East. West must return a low heart—
anything else would give declarer the ninth trick—and this runs to East’s ♥Q and
South’s ♥K. South now cashes the top spades, on which North discards
diamonds, squeezing West in this ending:
♠ none
♥A
♦ J1098
♣ 83
♠ none ♠ 108
♥ J98 ♥ 65
♦ Q5 ♦ K43
♣ A7 ♣ none
♠ J3
♥ 1043
♦ A2
♣ none
A. If West discards a diamond on the ♠J, North discards a club and then the
♦A and another diamond gives declarer an overtrick.
B. If West discards the ♣7, North discards a diamond and South plays the ♦A
and another diamond.
1. If West wins with the ♦Q and cashes the ♣A, North gets the ♥A
and ♣8.
214 Solutions

2. If West wins with the ♦Q and leads a heart, North wins and exits
with a club to the ♣A and South gets a trick with the ♥10.
3. If East wins with the ♦K, North will get two more tricks in the red
suits.
C. If West discards a low heart, North is accessed with the ♥A and a
diamond is run round to West’s ♦Q. However West now plays declarer
will score a trick with either the ♥10 or the ♣8, to go with the ♦A. If West
cashes the ♥J, North discards a diamond to keep the ♣8 guarded;
otherwise South wins the diamond return and puts West back in with a
heart.
Problem 124

125. ♠ A76
♥ QJ10
♦ K10732
♣ 65
♠ K982 ♠ none
♥ K8765432 ♥ A9
♦9 ♦ QJ54
♣ none ♣ AQJ10987
♠ QJ10543
♥ none
♦ A86
♣ K432
South to make four spades. West leads the ♦9.
What lead would defeat the contract?
North covers with the ♦10 and South’s ♦A captures East’s ♦J. The ♠Q is covered
(best) by West and won by North’s ♠A, whereupon South ruffs a heart. Three
more rounds of spades follow, putting West on play. On the first three spades
East discards clubs. On the fourth North discards a heart and East then does best
to throw the ♥A. With only hearts left, West leads the ♥K, ruffed by South, who
continues with the ♦8, North playing low. East was squeezed on the ♥K.
A. If East discarded a diamond and must therefore win with the ♦Q, North
will make three diamond tricks and South will come to the ♣K one way or
another.
 DR4 Problems 215
B. If East discarded a club and ducks the diamond, South exits on a low club.
East can make two club tricks but must then either give North three
diamond tricks or South two clubs to go with the ♦K.
The contract goes down if West leads the ♠9 or ♠8. If West leads the ♠2, North
wins the trick and advances the ♦10, covered by East and won by South’s ♦A.
The contract cane then be made either by ducking a diamond or by playing a
spade to the ♠A, ruffing a heart and throwing West in as above.
Problem 125

126. ♠ AQ87
♥ KQ106
♦ 32
♣ Q54
♠ J10432 ♠ K65
♥ AJ5 ♥ 432
♦ K7 ♦ A654
♣ A102 ♣ K93
♠9
♥ 987
♦ QJ1098
♣ J876
West to lead and East-West to defeat South in one diamond.
The aim is to attack North’s entries before the ♠Q can be established for the
seventh trick. So the opening lead must be a heart and in fact West must lead the
♥J! North wins and does best to play a trump. West must win this and lead the
♥5. Declarer takes this in either hand and leads another trump. East must win
with the ♦A and leads another heart to West’s ♥A. Here is the position at trick
six:
216 Solutions

♠ AQ87
♥K
♦ none
♣ Q54
♠ J10432 ♠ K65
♥ none ♥ none
♦ none ♦ 65
♣ A102 ♣ K93
♠9
♥ none
♦ J109
♣ J876

West must lead a low spade.

A. If North plays low, East wins with the ♠K and exits to South on a
diamond. However many diamond tricks South now wins, West discards
spades and the defence will come to three club tricks.
B. If North plays the ♠A and leads the ♥K, East ruffs. Declarer’s best try is
to overruff and lead a club.
1. If it is a low club to North’s ♣Q, East wins with the ♣K and either
returns the suit or puts South in with a diamond. In either case,
West wins the next club as cheaply as possible and, now down to
the top club and ♠J10, returns a spade through North’s ♠Q8.
Ruffing with the last trump, South has to give up a third club and
the defence has a spade winner to score at trick thirteen.
2. If it is the ♣J, West wins and leads a high spade with similar effect.
If South leads the ♠9 instead of a diamond at trick four, West plays low. When
North does the same, East wins with the ♠K and leads a heart to West’s ♥A.
West returns a diamond and the defenders will come to three club tricks as
above.
Traps:
1. If West leads the ♥5 at trick one, South wins and leads the ♠9. If West
plays low, so does North and declarer will come to two spade tricks with
an entry to North in hearts. So West covers the ♠9, but North wins with
the ♠A. Now neither defender can safely lead a spade. West can let the
 DR4 Problems 217
second heart win, take the third and lead the ♦K for three rounds of
trumps but when East wins the first club and forces South to ruff the ♠K,
each defender now has a spade loser and North makes the ♠Q at trick
thirteen.
2. A similar result arises if West covers South’s ♠9 at trick four, and also if
West leads the ♠J instead of a low one at trick six in the given solution.
3. If East wins the first diamond and returns a heart, South wins in hand (as
West must duck again) and leads the ♠9. With the now bare ♦K and ♥A,
West is bound to be endplayed into letting North in to score the major suit
winners.
Problem 126

127. ♠J
♥ AQ843
♦ K1065
♣ A109
♠ 7543 ♠ K10986
♥ J5 ♥ K1076
♦ Q98 ♦ J7
♣ Q654 ♣ 87
♠ AQ2
♥ 92
♦ A432
♣ KJ32

(a) South to make five no-trumps. West leads the ♦8.

(b) East-West to defeat North’s contract of five no-trumps after the lead of the
♣8 from East.
Part (a): The lead of the ♦8 is covered by the ♦10 and East’s ♦J is allowed to
hold the trick. East continues with the ♠10 (best, as it gives declarer a losing
option). South wins with the ♠Q, then leads the ♣J, which holds the trick,
followed by a low club for a finesse of the ♣10 (the play is in effect the same if
West covers the first club). Declarer cashes the ♣A and ♦K, crosses to the ♦A,
and cashes the ♣K, discarding North’s blocking diamond. East does best to
discard middle spades and one heart, leaving this position with South on lead:
218 Solutions

♠ none
♥ AQ843
♦ none
♣ none
♠ 754 ♠ K6
♥ J5 ♥ K107
♦ none ♦ none
♣ none ♣ none
♠ A2
♥ 92
♦4
♣ none
South cashes the ♦4 to squeeze East. A heart discard allows North’s suit to be
established by ducking but if East discards a spade, then the ♠A is cashed and the
♥9 is led even if West’s ♥J is now bare. North covers if necessary and takes the
last two tricks when East has to win this trick and lead into the remaining tenace.
Part (b): On the lead of the ♣8 South plays the ♣J. West must cover with the
♣Q. North wins and cashes the ♣10 and ♣9. East must discard a middle spade.
North leads the ♠J. East must cover with the ♠K. South wins, cashes the ♣K,
North discarding a diamond, and leads a low diamond to the ♦8, ♦10, and East’s
♦J. East must return a high spade. South wins, North throwing a heart, plays a
diamond to the ♦K, crosses back to the ♦A, and cashes the last diamond. In
discarding on these tricks West must retain the ♠7, and East’s last high spade
must go, leaving that hand with the ♠6 and the guarded ♥K. The defence will
then come to two more tricks.
Problem 127
 DR4 Problems 219
128. ♠ A962
♥ A98
♦ 765
♣ J106
♠ K10 ♠ 8543
♥ QJ5432 ♥ 10
♦2 ♦ AQJ1098
♣ Q943 ♣ K7
♠ QJ7
♥ K76
♦ K43
♣ A852
South to make three no-trumps. West leads the ♥2.
Declarer aims for an endplay—either a squeeze (Position A) or a throw-in
(Position B)—against East’s spade and diamond holdings. To rectify the count
for the squeeze in Position A four tricks must be lost early on, one in hearts, one
in diamonds, and two in clubs. East can create a difficulty by withholding the
♦A, but then declarer aims for Position B, having lost a heart trick and two club
tricks.
Position A
♠ 96
♥ none
♦7
♣ none
♠ none ♠ 85
♥ J5 ♥ none
♦ none ♦Q
♣4 ♣ none
♠7
♥ none
♦4
♣5
South is on lead to cash the ♣5. North discards the ♦7 and East is squeezed.
220 Solutions

Position B
♠ 96
♥ none
♦7
♣ none
♠ none ♠ 85
♥ J54 ♥ none
♦ none ♦A
♣ none ♣ none
♠7
♥ none
♦ 43
♣ none
In Position B East, who has been squeezed without the count at trick ten, is
thrown in with a diamond and either South or North takes the last two depending
on which spade East leads.
The first manoeuvre towards either of these two positions is easy—South
ducks the opening heart lead in both hands. East does best now to play on
diamonds.
A. If East plays ♦A and another, South wins the second and leads the ♠Q,
covered (best) by West. North wins with the ♠A and advances the ♣J,
covered (best again) by East. South wins with the ♣A and leads the ♣2.
1. If West ducks, North wins with the ♣10 and leads another club to
West. If West now cashes the fourth club the count is right for the
squeeze on East when the ♥A and ♥K follow in that order. So
West tries a heart exit, but North simply wins with the ♥A and
leads a spade to the ♠J so that South can give up a club and West’s
heart return brings about Position A.
2. If West rises with the ♣Q, North unblocks the ♣10! West now
does best (marginally) to lead the ♠10, but South wins and leads
the ♣8, now being equals with the ♣5. (The ♥A can optionally be
cashed instead, followed by the ♣6 overtaken.) If West wins, the
♥A (if still held), South’s ♥K and ♣5, the order depending on
West’s return, inflict the squeeze; otherwise South exits on a club
and the heart return does the squeeze.
 DR4 Problems 221
B. If East leads a lower diamond at trick two, South wins with the ♦K and
plays along similar lines to line A, starting with the ♠Q. Some variations
in the order of play are possible, but play always ends in Position B. For
example, at trick four North, having just won with the ♠A, can lead any
club, South finessing the ♣8 if North chooses the ♣6 and East the ♣7.
Trap: In line A, if North fails to unblock clubs as shown, then it is not possible to
lose that second club trick while retaining control of hearts. The three-card
ending then differs from Position A in that South holds the ♣8 instead of a
diamond and East has a safe exit on the ♠5.
Problem 128

129. ♠ J84
♥ 732
♦ AQ732
♣ J9
♠ 976 ♠ K1032
♥ AKQ98 ♥ J654
♦ K654 ♦ J10
♣ 10 ♣ Q87
♠ AQ5
♥ 10
♦ 98
♣ AK65432
South to make six clubs against any defence.
In all lines North is entered on a diamond finesse to lead the ♣J. If East covers,
South wins and goes back on the ♣9 to lead the ♠J (or ♠8 if the ♠J was played on
West’s ♠9 at trick one); otherwise North stays on lead and plays the ♠J
immediately. The run of the clubs then gives rise to a squeeze in which North’s
red suit sevens and South’s ♠5 can all play a significant role.
A. On a heart lead and continuation South ruffs and leads a diamond to play
as described. The run of the trumps produces a guard squeeze on West
followed if necessary by a squeeze on East. North’s first three discards
can be two diamonds and the ♠8 in any order, giving this position at trick
nine with South about to lead the penultimate club:
222 Solutions

♠4
♥7
♦ A73
♣ none
♠ 97 ♠ 1032
♥K ♥J
♦ K6 ♦J
♣ none ♣ none
♠ Q5
♥ none
♦9
♣ 65
North can spare a diamond, East a spade, but West, who obviously cannot
afford a diamond, is triple-squeezed.
1. If West discards the ♥K, then the last club starts a nonsimultaneous
double squeeze as West has to throw a spade. North’s remaining
low diamond can now go away and the ♦A squeezes East in the
major suits.
2. If West discards a spade, then the last club wrings the ♥K from
West, whose remaining spade guards against a finesse of South’s
♠5 (thanks to the earlier unblock of the ♠8); but North throws the
♦7 and then the ♦A squeezes East as before.
B. On a spade lead West’s card is covered around the table as cheaply as
possible. Winning with the ♠Q or ♠A as appropriate, South exits on the
♥10. Assuming West wins and continues the suit, play follows line A but
this time North’s eventual lead of the ♠J isolates the guard of that suit in
West, who is then easily squeezed in spades and diamonds.
C. On a diamond lead the play follows the usual line except that declarer
does not give up an early heart trick. The squeeze then operates without
the count in this position at trick eight with South to lead:
 DR4 Problems 223
♠4
♥ 73
♦ A73
♣ none
♠ 97 ♠ 1032
♥ A9 ♥ J6
♦ K6 ♦J
♣ none ♣ none
♠ Q5
♥ 10
♦9
♣ 65
On the next club North discards a diamond, East a spade. On the last club
West has to reduce to ♦K6 and two major suit cards. If these are
1. The ♥A and ♥9, then declarer makes the ♦A and two spades by
finessing.
2. The ♠9 and either the ♠7 or the ♥9, then North discards the ♦7 and
South leads the ♥10 to establish North’s ♥7.
3. The ♠9 and ♥A, then North discards the ♠4 and East is triple-
squeezed: a spade discard gives South two spade tricks; a heart
discard allows North’s ♥7 to be established; and if the ♦J is thrown,
then South can run the ♦9, cash the ♠Q and put West in on the ♥A
to score North’s ♦A.
D. On a club lead declarer can follow either of the lines A and C.
Problem 129
224 Solutions

130. ♠ AK98
♥ 93
♦ 109
♣ A6543
♠ 10 ♠ QJ76
♥ Q1087654 ♥2
♦ 85 ♦ KJ63
♣ KQJ ♣ 10987
♠ 5432
♥ AKJ
♦ AQ742
♣2
South to make four no-trumps. West leads the ♣K.
North wins with the ♣A and leads the ♦10, covered by the ♦J and ♦Q. North is
entered on a spade to repeat the diamond finesse, East again covering (best).
South’s ♦74 is now a tenace over East’s ♦63. One top heart is cashed (to remove
East’s safe exit card) before South leads a spade in this position:
♠ A98
♥9
♦ none
♣ 6543
♠ none ♠ QJ7
♥ Q108765 ♥ none
♦ none ♦ 63
♣ QJ ♣ 1098
♠ 543
♥ KJ
♦ 742
♣ none
A. If West discards a heart, North plays low and East wins. As West is
exposed to a club throw-in whatever East does, a club return is best. If
West wins both clubs, East is triple-squeezed on the heart exit. If West
wins just one club, South wins two heart tricks and plays the ♦7 and ♦4 to
throw East in for a spade into North’s ♠A9 tenace.
 DR4 Problems 225
B. If West discards a club, North rises with the ♠A and throws West in with a
club. South scores the ♥J and ♥A. East safely discards clubs but is
thrown in with a spade to force a diamond lead into South’s ♦74.
Problem 130

131. ♠ 654
♥ AJ87
♦ K2
♣ K432
♠ KJ102 ♠ 987
♥ K952 ♥ 10643
♦ Q96 ♦ J8754
♣ A10 ♣Q
♠ AQ3
♥Q
♦ A103
♣ J98765
South to make five no-trumps. West leads the ♥K.
North wins with the ♥A and leads the ♣K. West does best to play the ♣A.
A. If West returns a heart, North runs it to East’s ♥10 and South discards the
♠3. The spade return is captured by South’s ♠A. On the run of the clubs
West must keep the ♠K and two hearts to give this ending:
♠6
♥ J8
♦ K2
♣ none
♠K ♠9
♥ 95 ♥6
♦ Q9 ♦ J87
♣ none ♣ none
♠Q
♥ none
♦ A103
♣5
The ♣5 catches West in a guard squeeze— diamond discard gives South a
finesse against East.
226 Solutions

If East returns a low diamond a trick four, South wins with the ♦A
and runs the clubs. A diamond to the ♦K then squeezes West in the major
suits.
B. If West returns a club, South runs the suit. With two clubs left we have:
♠ 654
♥ J87
♦ K2
♣ none
♠ KJ102 ♠ 987
♥9 ♥ 106
♦ Q96 ♦ J87
♣ none ♣ none
♠ AQ3
♥ none
♦ A103
♣ 65
On the next club West can discard the ♥9 and East can seemingly spare a
spade (a diamond discard exposes West to a throw-in). North must also
discard a spade. On the last club West must throw a spade (a diamond
discard exposes East to a throw-in), as do North and East. North is now
entered on the ♦K to lead the ♥J. South discards the ♦10 and West is
squeezed. Another spade discard allows declarer to set up a spade trick
with the ♦A as entry, so West discards a diamond. South comes to hand
on the ♦A and leads a low spade if West’s cards are ♠KJ10, otherwise the
♠Q. In either case, West wins the trick and leads into South’s tenace,
either the ♠AQ over ♠KJ or ♠A3 over ♠K2.
C. If West returns a low diamond, South’s ♦A captures the ♦J. North scores
the ♦K and ♥J and then the run of the clubs leads to a squeeze and throw-
in on West in spades and diamonds.
Problem 131
 DR4 Problems 227
132. ♠ A104
♥ K6543
♦ KQ
♣ AK3
♠K ♠ QJ932
♥ QJ1098 ♥7
♦J ♦ 10832
♣ QJ10986 ♣ 754
♠ 8765
♥ A2
♦ A97654
♣2
South to make five diamonds. West leads the ♣Q.
Declarer contrives a dummy reversal! North wins the opening lead. The next
three tricks, in some order, are a club ruff, a heart to the ♥K, and the other top
club on which South discards the ♥A! South ruffs a heart and crosses on a trump
to ruff another one. This is now the position, with South on lead:
♠ A104
♥ 65
♦K
♣ none
♠K ♠ QJ9
♥ QJ ♥ none
♦ none ♦ 1083
♣ J109 ♣ none
♠ 8765
♥ none
♦ A9
♣ none
South puts West in on the ♠K. A club return is ruffed by North’s ♠A, with two
trump tricks for South to follow. A heart return looks better but South ruffs,
crosses to the ♠A, and completes the dummy reversal by ruffing the last heart
with the ♦A. North’s ♦K gives the eleventh trick.
Problem 132
228 Solutions

133. ♠ A104
♥ K6543
♦ KQ
♣ AK3
♠K ♠ QJ932
♥ QJ1098 ♥7
♦J ♦ 10832
♣ QJ10986 ♣ 754
♠ 8765
♥ A2
♦ A97654
♣2
South to make three no-trumps. West leads the ♠K.
This was actually rated as DR5, but I’ve included it in this volume because of its
striking pairing with Problem 132.
North plays the ♠10! On a club switch declarer can simply duck and then
play all of North’s top cards followed by a heart to the ♥A. East is forced to keep
two spade winners and the ♦108, so is thrown in on a spade for South to get a
lead into the ♦A9. So, West does better to switch to hearts at trick two. North
wins with the ♥K and cashes the ♦K and ♦Q. West must keep four hearts
because otherwise North has enough entries to lose two tricks in the suit and set
up the fifth. West having therefore parted with a club, North plays the ♣A, ♣K,
and another club. South can discard either two diamonds or a diamond and a low
spade.
A. If West wins and cashes two more clubs, the next trick, won by South’s
♥A, squeezes East in spades and diamonds.
B. If West wins and returns a heart before cashing the last club, East will be
thrown in via the ♠A and another spade to lead into South’s ♦A9.
C. If East wins with the ♣7 to lead a high spade, North wins with the ♠A.
South comes to hand on the ♥A and throws East in with a spade.
Problem 133
 DR4 Problems 229
134. ♠ A8764
♥ KJ32
♦ QJ
♣ 43
♠ 109 ♠ QJ
♥ 654 ♥ A10987
♦ 106543 ♦ K7
♣ J75 ♣ KQ86
♠ K532
♥Q
♦ A982
♣ A1092
South to make six spades. West leads the ♣5.
This 2006 problem is out of chronological sequence because I didn’t discover its
accidental omission until I had completed the first draft. The consequences of
inserting it in an earlier position, giving rise to renumbering, were too much to
bear.
South captures East's Q and crosses to the A to lead a diamond, which
East covers. After two rounds of diamonds South comes to hand on a spade,
North preserving the 4, to take the ruffing finesse against West's 10.
Assuming West covers, North ruffs high and leads the 4 to South's 5. North
discards the club loser on South's good diamond, and South leads the Q.
A. If neither defender has kept three hearts, North overtakes with the K.
East wins the trick but the North hand is now high.
B. If East has kept three hearts and two clubs, North plays low. If East wins,
North is high again, so East ducks. Now South leads the 10. Assume
that East's clubs are K6 and that West now has two clubs, a diamond
and a heart, though the following play works whatever East's clubs are
and whatever West has kept. If West plays low, North discards a heart
and East is endplayed—a club return sets up South's last club and a heart
return sets up a heart for North. If instead West plays the J, North ruffs
and leads a high heart, covered by East and ruffed by South. At trick 12
South puts East in on the K and North's heart winner takes the last trick.
C. If East has kept two hearts (opposite West's three) and three clubs, North
again plays low and again East should duck. This time, however, South
230 Solutions

leads the 2 (not the 10, which West would cover) and North ruffs.
South ruffs a heart and exits on a club. If West wins, North makes a
heart; if Est wins, South makes a club.
Problem 134
GENERAL INTEREST

Double Dummy Bridge Problems

from 2005 to 2022 with Full Solutions
This is the first of two volumes forming a sequel to the author’s
A Compendium of Double Dummy Problems (Master Point Press,
2021), containing 134 double dummy problems, ranging from
‘very easy’ to ‘moderate’ in difficulty.
The collection is derived from the monthly series of
problems that have been presented at the author’s website
for competitive solving. It features as many as 24 different
composers, several of whom made their first appearance at
this website. The format follows that of the Compendium,
with solutions being given in full. Difficulty ratings are based
on suggestions from successful solvers, ranging from 1 to 4.
Volume II will cover the more difficult problems rated 5 to 8
(fiendish).

HUGH DARWEN (UK) ran monthly solving

competitions from 1966 to 2005 in, successively,
Bridge Magazine, International Popular Bridge
Monthly, and Bridge Plus! Since 2005, these
competitions have continued, informally, at his
website www.doubledummy.net.

AN HONORS BOOK FROM MASTER POINT PRESS