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Silvio Sbarigia is a pharmacist; he was born in Rome and lives there. He has won the European championship in 1975, runner up at 1974’s and at Olympic games of 1976. His bridge problems aren’t difficult; just we need to think on a plan and to avoid the instinctive playing. Solution will be published into fews days. As usual, mind the title and … Have fun!
Silvio Sbarigia’s quiz 15th: “Touching the void”.
North (Dummy): ♠K63 ♥862 ♦Q86 ♣Q1063
South (Declarer): ♠— ♥AKQ1093 ♦AK742 ♣A3
The auction:
| South | West | North | East |
|
– |
– |
– |
1♠ |
| Double | 3♠ | Pass | Pass |
| 4♠ | Pass | 5♣ | Pass |
| 6♥ | All pass | ||
West leads ♠10. Make your plan.
SOLUTION
The movie “Touching the void” tells a mountain story actually happened on Mount Siula Grande (6344 meters, 20813 ft) in the Peruvian Andes. A climber fell; alone, with a broken leg, he courageously faced the descent of the glacier with high risk of falling into hidden crevasses.
The Declarer starts the trick 8th
Dummy
♠K
♥8
♦—
♣Q1063
West
♠9
♥—
♦J
♣J985
♦5
East
♠AQ
♥J
♦
♣K74
Declarer
♠—
♥A10
♦4
♣A2
In this hand, if the diamonds will run we have twelve tricks. It need then make a plan for the diamond’s 4-1 break and for the 3-1 trumps (with 2-2’s trump, the lacking trick will come from ruff; with the 4-0’s it will not come at all).
We have to note that the ♣A and the ♣K must be both in East, otherwise he couldn’t have enough for opening; the missing trick (if diamonds are 4-1 and trumps are 3-1) then could come from a suited throwing in after cleared ♥s and ♦s.
It need not else: ruff the ♠ lead, draw two trumps; West discards a spade on the second trump trick. Now, with the courage of that climber, play ♦ Ace and King! East could ruff with his remaining trump, but after he should move under one of his head cards, ♣K or ♠A, and, furthermore, the Dummy would retain a trump for ruffing a diamond.
The complete deal
Dummy
♠K63
♥862
♦Q86
♣Q1063
West
♠10954
♥5
♦J1097
♣J985
East
♠AQJ872
♥J43
♦2
♣K74
Declarer
♠—
♥AKQ1097
♦AK543
♣A2
Then West is forced to duck and we follow the march on ice, that is insisting with a diamond toward the Queen. Now we enter in hand ruffing a spade and play a diamond again, discarding the ♠K on it! (Trick 8th diagram).
West eventually can take by his ♦J, but he now has to play spade – allowing ruff and sluff – or club, allowing the ♣J finesse. If it will work, the contract is made. If it does not, nothing could have saved it.
