BRIDGE
Have a heart
Andrew Robson
CHARISMATIC bridge star Zia Mah- mood, in conjunction with Orbis, has launched a challenge to all bridge players. Zia poses an ingenious bridge problem each week; solving 13 correctly gives you a chance of winning $50,000. Zia told me that the problems were based on actual hands, and whilst they are ingenious, they do not appear contrived. Full details and the prob- lems themselves can be found at the web- site: www.bermudabowl.com. This week's hand is based on my favourite problem that he has set thus far, which apparently caught out 71 per cent of solvers.
Dealer South North-South Vulnerable The Bidding South West North East
1♦ pass 1• pass
2NT pass 3NT pass
pass pass West leads 46 and you withhold 4A until the third round, West indicating a five-card suit. With eight top tricks, you can establish a ninth either via a successful ✓ finesse (should West hold •Q), or by establishing a 4 trick (but only if East holds 4A — West having two 4s to cash). How should you maximise your chances? You should take the V finesse before leading 4s as it gives you both chances. But there is a hitch. Suppose you cash VA before leading V4 to •J. If East wins VQ he may (as in the layout above) be able to return a V to establish a second V trick. Then you will fail even if East holds 4A the defence will have established five tricks.
The solution is to lead V4 to Vi without cashing VA first. Now you have time to establish a 4 trick even if the V finesse loses. The contract will only fail if West holds 4A and East •Q, in which case no line of play succeeds.
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