Is it ho, ho, ho or uh-oh?
You wake upChristmas morning to find that Santa has crammed your stocking with aces, kingsand queens, enough high-card points to launch you on the way to a very happynew year, but will you have the last Clausian laugh or a down-one groan?Getting such goodies is fine; however, you must know what to do with them. Thehands in this quiz contain so many points that you and your partner havereached slam on every one. In some cases you have been given the additionalgift of a favorable opening lead. But can you take advantage of your goodfortune? To find out how you did, turn to page 123.
NORTH
[Queen ofSpades]
[3 of Spades]
[2 of Spades]
[King of Hearts]
[Jack of Hearts]
[8 of Hearts]
[6 of Hearts]
[9 of Clubs]
[4 of Clubs]
[King of Diamonds]
[Jack of Diamonds]
[10 of Diamonds]
[2 of Diamonds]
SOUTH
[ACE ofSpades]
[King of Spades]
[Jack of Spades]
[7 of Spades]
[ACE of Hearts]
[Queen of Hearts]
[10 of Hearts]
[9 of Hearts]
[5 of Hearts]
[King of Clubs]
[ACE of Diamonds]
[8 of Diamonds]
[6 of Diamonds]
1 CONTRACT: 6HThe opening lead is the ten of spades. (Trumps are 2-2.) Muff this one and evenSanta won't be able to help you on the others.
NORTH
[Queen ofSpades]
[10 of Spades]
[9 of Spades]
[8 of Spades]
[7 of Spades]
[ACE of Hearts]
[Jack of Hearts]
[4 of Hearts]
[Ace of Clubs]
[2 of Clubs]
[Ace of Diamonds]
[Jack of Diamonds]
[9 of Diamonds]
SOUTH
[Ace ofSpades]
[King of Spades]
[Jack of Spades]
[3 of Spades]
[2 of Spades]
[King of Hearts]
[10 of Hearts]
[9 of Hearts]
[8 of Hearts]
[King of Clubs]
[Jack of Clubs]
[5 of Clubs]
[2 of Diamonds]
2 CONTRACT: 7S(only because you are playing it). The opening lead is the four of spades. EastFollows. What is your plan?
NORTH
[Ace ofSpades]
[Jack of Spades]
[8 of Spades]
[Jack of Hearts]
[9 of Hearts]
[Queen of Clubs]
[4 of Clubs]
[3 of Clubs]
[Ace of Diamonds]
[King of Diamonds]
[8 of Diamonds]
[7 of Diamonds]
[6 of Diamonds]
SOUTH
[3 of Spades]
[2 of Spades]
[Ace of Hearts]
[King of Hearts]
[7 of Hearts]
[3 of Hearts]
[2 of Hearts]
[Ace of Clubs]
[King of Clubs]
[Jack of Clubs]
[7 of Clubs]
[5 of Clubs]
[2 of Clubs]
3 CONTRACT: 6CThe opening lead is the six of spades. Both you and your partner wanted to bidseven, but neither had the courage. How do you play to make six?
NORTH
[Ace ofSpades]
[King of Spades]
[9 of Spades]
[8 of Spades]
[7 of Spades]
[Jack of Hearts]
[3 of Hearts]
[2 of Hearts]
[King of Clubs]
[4 of Clubs]
[Ace of Diamonds]
[King of Diamonds]
[5 of Diamonds]
SOUTH
[Jack ofSpades]
[3 of Spades]
[2 of Spades]
[Ace of Hearts]
[Queen of Hearts]
[4 of Hearts]
[Queen of Clubs]
[Jack of Clubs]
[10 of Clubs]
[9 of Clubs]
[2 of Clubs]
[Queen of Diamonds]
[7 of Diamonds]
4 CONTRACT: 6NTThe opening lead is the ten of diamonds. Just your luck to hold only 12high-card points when your partner takes a flyer. But remember, this isXmas.
NORTH
[Ace ofSpades]
[9 of Spades]
[4 of Spades]
[Jack of Hearts]
[9 of Hearts]
[8 of Hearts]
[Ace of Clubs]
[10 of Clubs]
[8 of Clubs]
[7 of Clubs]
[4 of Clubs]
[2 of Clubs]
[4 of Diamonds]
SOUTH
[Ace ofHearts]
[Queen of Hearts]
[10 of Hearts]
[7 of Hearts]
[6 of Hearts]
[5 of Hearts]
[4 of Hearts]
[King of Spades]
[8 of Spades]
[5 of Spades]
[2 of Spades]
[Ace of Diamonds]
[9 of Diamonds]
5 CONTRACT: 6HThe opening lead is the King of club. What is the proper line of play?
NORTH
[Ace ofSpades]
[Queen of Spades]
[4 of Spades]
[3 of Spades]
[2 of Spades]
[King of Hearts]
[Jack of Hearts]
[7 of Hearts]
[6 of Hearts]
[King of Clubs]
[King of Diamonds]
[Queen of Diamonds]
[3 of Diamonds]
SOUTH
[Jack ofSpades]
[5 of Spades]
[Ace of Hearts]
[4 of Hearts]
[Ace of Clubs]
[Queen of Clubs]
[Jack of Clubs]
[10 of Clubs]
[9 of Clubs]
[8 of Clubs]
[Ace of Diamonds]
[8 of Diamonds]
[4 of Diamonds]
6 CONTRACT: 7NTEast doubles, something very few players dare to do to you. But it's really agift. How do you make the grand slam after the six of spades is led?
NORTH
[9 of Spades]
[5 of Spades]
[4 of Spades]
[Ace of Hearts]
[3 of Hearts]
[Ace of Clubs]
[Queen of Clubs]
[5 of Clubs]
[4 of Clubs]
[Ace of Diamonds]
[Queen of Diamonds]
[Jack of Diamonds]
[6 of Diamonds]
SOUTH
[Ace ofSpades]
[King of Spades]
[3 of Spades]
[2 of Spades]
[King of Hearts]
[7 of Hearts]
[2 of Hearts]
[King of Clubs]
[3 of Clubs]
[King of Diamonds]
[7 of Diamonds]
[5 of Diamonds]
[4 of Diamonds]
7 CONTRACT: 6DThe opening is the jack of spades. You win the ace, cash the ace of diamondsand then play the queen. Alas, West tosses a heart. How do you play?
NORTH
[Jack ofHearts]
[10 of Hearts]
[6 of Hearts]
[5 of Hearts]
[4 of Hearts]
[Queen of Spades]
[8 of Spades]
[3 of Spades]
[2 of Spades]
[Ace of Diamonds]
[King of Diamonds]
[7 of Diamonds]
[2 of Diamonds]
SOUTH
[Ace ofSpades]
[King of Spades]
[Jack of Spades]
[10 of Spades]
[5 of Spades]
[Ace of Hearts]
[3 of Hearts]
[Jack of Clubs]
[7 of Clubs]
[4 of Clubs]
[10 Diamonds]
[5 of Diamonds]
[4 of Diamonds]
8 CONTRACT: 6SWest, having stuck in a two-club overcall, opens his king of clubs. Afterruffing in dummy, how do you make your slam?
NORTH
[Ace ofSpades]
[Jack of Spades]
[7 of Spades]
[5 of Spades]
[3 of Spades]
[Ace of Hearts]
[King of Hearts]
[4 of Hearts]
[Ace of Clubs]
[Jack of Diamonds]
[9 Diamonds]
[7 of Diamonds]
[3 of Diamonds]
SOUTH
[Jack ofHearts]
[10 of Hearts]
[6 of Hearts]
[3 of Hearts]
[2 of Hearts]
[Queen of Clubs]
[Ace of Diamonds]
[Queen Diamonds]
[10 of Diamonds]
[8 of Diamonds]
[6 of Diamonds]
[5 of Diamonds]
[4 of Diamonds]
9 CONTRACT: 6DWest opened 2S (weak), North bid 2NT and East 3C. You ruff the king of spadeslead and play the ace of diamonds, East shedding a club. Now what?
NORTH
[Ace ofSpades]
[4 of Spades]
[King of Hearts]
[Queen of Hearts]
[7 of Hearts]
[6 of Hearts]
[3 of Hearts]
[King of Clubs]
[10 of Clubs]
[Ace of Diamonds]
[7 Diamonds]
[4 of Diamonds]
[2 of Diamonds]
SOUTH
[King ofSpades]
[9 of Spades]
[3 of Spades]
[Ace of Hearts]
[Jack of Hearts]
[10 of Hearts]
[8 of Hearts]
[4 of Hearts]
[2 of Hearts]
[Jack of Clubs]
[4 of Clubs]
[King of Diamonds]
[Jack of Diamonds]
10 CONTRACT: 6HEast overcalls 2S, then doubles the final contract. West leads the eight ofspades. How do you make them pay for that double?
NORTH
[Ace ofSpades]
[2 of Spades]
[Ace of Hearts]
[Jack of Hearts]
[10 of Hearts]
[5 of Hearts]
[Jack of Clubs]
[3 of Clubs]
[Queen of Diamonds]
[10 of Diamonds]
[6 of Diamonds]
[5 of Diamonds]
[4 of Diamonds]
SOUTH
[King ofSpades]
[Queen of Spades]
[10 of Spades]
[8 of Spades]
[4 of Spades]
[King of Hearts]
[Queen of Hearts]
[2 of Hearts]
[Ace of Clubs]
[King of Clubs]
[Ace of Diamonds]
[7 of Diamonds]
[3 of Diamonds]
11 CONTRACT: 6NTWest opens the ten of clubs. Make this one and you can boast about it the restof the holiday season.
ILLUSTRATION