I thought I would just post a couple of interesting declarer play problems that I read in a bridge mag a couple of days ago. The first one I got wrong straight away, the second one I got right straight away.

Contract 4S
Lead: QD

Axx
AK109
65
Q109x


KQJ108
xx
AK72
xx

The second one:

Contract: 6S
Lead: QC

Qx
AKxxxx
Ax
Kxx


AKJxx
x
Qxxx
Axx

The real reason these are interesting is the guy that declared these contracts was banned for 10 years in 99 for fixing these boards in the Welsh Trials. He is unleashed on us all again in only three years.

can we guess how he fixed them?

i think the first has lead a singleton Q so everyone who tries to ruff a diamond high loses


Myles play one
take it on the Ace and a low club to the 9, if a D is returned im taking it big and trying to ruff the next with As

heart return taking it big and playing a spade to K and another club up to the Q
same on a sp return takin it in hadn and up to the clubs

the 2nd, bah
taking a boring line,losing line
taking it in hand
heart up, heart ruff, sp - Q heart ruff high adn trying to draw trumps with Ak




surely it isnt that hard to get into the welsh team?

You got both of them wrong! The first you have to duck a diamond from hand. You then simplay ruff a diamond with the A of spades, thus protecting against a 6-1 break in diamonds (the classic safety play). This one I missed.

The second one is a little more straightforward. With the odds that both majors are breaking 4-2 (as is the odds) then the correct play, which I found (just thought I would sneak that in), was winning in hand and ducking a heart at trick two. Now providing both majors break 4-2 or better than you are home. Since the hands were fixed they of course both did.

To be fair in this year the trials were actually very strong, although there wasnt that many playing.