Compete with Scania Bridgekonsult

Bridge players are excellent problem solvers; that is nothing new. Therefore, from February 23, 2000, Scania Bridgekonsult invites its readers to a slightly different competition, free to enter for anyone; and the two best solutions (or more) will be rewarded with bridge books from our store. Therefore, don't hesitate to enter. You have nothing to lose, much to gain.

Deadline for our 41th problem was November 30, 2010. Many solvers had realized that the six and seven of diamonds were important cards. The draw favored Magnus Weiman and Terje Lie.

Recently I browsed through Eric Jannersten's book Find the Mistakes. Pretty soon I realized that the plays Jannerstens calls Bad plays often don't deserve to be called that, or that the plays he calls Good plays don't mean declarer played optimally. A telling example is the one with number 24.

West led the five of hearts. In the "bad play", declarer won the opening lead with the ten of hearts. He played diamonds from the top and emerged with eleven tricks. But he is crtiziced for playing like that by Jannersten. In describing how South should have played, the layout is changed to this one:

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

"South erred at trick one", Jannersten writes. "He shouldn't be greedy but go up with dummy's ace. Then he plays a low diamond towards his hand. If East follows, South just covers East's card. Then he does what he can to stop East from gaining the lead. Here, West wins the trick with his singleton ten, but South's spade stopper is secured. Should West lead a low spade to East's ace, South then covers the jack of spades and has the nine left to stop the suit with."

It is correct, as Jannersten writes, that the contract is secured if the declarer loses a diamond trick to West, but not if East gains the lead. Still, I disagree with Eric Jannersten. I prefer to call the latter plan "bad" and the former "good".

When you think you understand why I disagree with Eric Jannersten, send your solution to Scania Bridgekonsult no later than may 30, 2012. The simplest way is to send an e-mail, of course, but if you prefer an ordinary letter, send it to Scania Bridgekonsult, Barkåkragatan 8, SE-216 22 Limhamn, Sweden. Good Luck!