Plan the play at six hearts.
Bridge Column for March 7, 2003, Harvey Bernstein
Both Sides vulnerable.  South deals.
                              North
                              S: 4 3           
                              H: 6 3         
                              D: K Q 10 9 6 5 
                              C: A 9 3   
            West                             East
            S: K Q 2                         S: 10 9 7 6 5
            H: 7 4                           H: 10 9 8     
            D: 8 7                           D: J 4 3 2           
            C: K Q 8 7 6 5                   C: 10          
                              South                         
                              S: A J 8 
                              H: A K Q J 5 2 
                              D: A         
                              C: J 4 2    
          The Bidding:  
                  South    West    North    East                  
                   1H      Pass     2D      Pass
                   2S      Pass     3D      Pass
                   4NT     Pass     5D      Pass
                   5NT     Pass     6D      Pass
                   6H      Pass     Pass    Pass
     West leads the king of clubs against your slam contract. 
What is your line of play against best defense?
     Erwin Brecher of London, England has written many books over
the years.  Most have revolved around different types of logic
puzzles.  One on his latest offerings is Hocus-Pocus, published
by Panacea Press in the United Kingdom and distributed in Canada
and the United States by Master Point Press of Toronto, Ontario,
Canada.  
     The book includes "double-dummy" bridge problems along with
math and logic puzzles.  A "double-dummy" problem is one in which
you are able to see all four hands.  Each odd numbered page has
two puzzles, one bridge problem and one of a different kind, with
the answers on the other side of the page.
     Have you decided how you will play to make your contract? 
As is the case in most of these types of problems, the correct
play must be made early on.  You call for the ace of clubs and
when East contributes the ten, you must play the jack.  You can
now draw trumps in as many rounds as necessary, unblock the ace
of diamonds, and lead toward the nine of clubs as your entry to
the top diamonds in dummy to discard losing spades.
     The companion puzzles include a wide variety of mental
exercises.  For example, the day before yesterday, Peter was 17. 
Next year he will be 20.  How do you explain this?
     The answer is simply that Peter's birthday is December 31st
and the statement was made on January 1st.  
     Hocus-Pocus is available from your favorite bridge book
seller or you can contact Master Point Press at (416)-781-0351 or
via the internet at www.masterpointpress.com
_______________________________________________________
Bernstein is a free-lance writer in Solon.