September 2022 - 57

Intermediate Players
Chalk Talk
BY EDDIE KANTAR
kantarbridge.com
1 Dlr: West  A 10 2
Vul: Both k 8 3
l 7 5 4
' 9 8 7 6 3
 J 4
k A K Q J 10 7 5
l A Q 3
' 5
West North East
1 Pass
South
2 4k
All Pass
Opening lead: K. Plan the play.
2 Dlr: North  Q J 8
Vul: Both k 3
l 3 2
' A J 10 9 8 7 2
 A 10 9
k Q J 10 4 2
l A K 9 4
' K
West North East
3' Pass
South
3NT
All Pass
Opening lead: 5. Plan the play.
Solutions
1
Responding to a preempt
 A 10 2
k 8 3
l 7 5 4
' 9 8 7 6 3
 K Q 9 8 5
k 6 4
l K J 6
' K 4 2
 7 6 3
k 9 2
l 10 9 8 2
' A Q J 10
 J 4
k A K Q J 10 7 5
l A Q 3
' 5
Duck the opening lead and unblock
the J. When you next get the lead,
draw trumps and lead a spade to the 10,
discarding a loser on the A. This line
gives you seven heart tricks, two spade
tricks and at least one diamond trick.
2
 Q J 8
k 3
l 3 2
' A J 10 9 8 7 2
 K 7 6 5 4
k K 8 7 5
l J 8 7
' 4
 3 2
k A 9 6
l Q 10 6 5
' Q 6 5 3
 A 10 9
k Q J 10 4 2
l A K 9 4
' K
North hand to:
K Q 10 2 k9 5 lK J 9 8 5 'J 2.
Now North has four-card support
plus added distribution and values
that have potential. North would pass
when South bid 2 but when opener
bid 3k, North has reason to bid 3.
The extra trump and good shape
make the difference.
Careful! You must win the opening
lead with the ace, leaving the blank
Q-J in dummy, a sure entry. Next,
overtake the 'K with dummy's ace
and drive out the 'Q, East winning
the trick.
There's not much East can do with
that spade entry lurking in dummy
where six winning clubs reside. The
best the defense can do is take one
club, one spade and two heart tricks -
if they cash the hearts quickly. If they
don't, declarer has 10 tricks available:
six clubs, two spades and two diamonds.
And it all happens at trick one,
just as in Problem 1. So take your time
before you play to the first trick!
The great Eddie Kantar died April
8, but the Hall of Famer and prolific
writer left us a treasure trove of bridge
content. Per his wishes, we honor his
memory in the Bridge Bulletin by
sharing his work with ACBL members.
East hands for the
September Bidding Box
Bid these hands with a partner. The West
hands are on page 51. The North-South
players are silent unless otherwise
noted. Scores on page 40-43.
Problem 1. North deals. None vul.
10 5 kA K Q 8 3 lA J 8 5 4 '6
Problem 2. East deals. N-S vul.
K Q 10 8 5 k8 7 3 lK 8 'A 9 4
Problem 3. South deals. E-W vul.
A 2 kQ 10 8 6 5 3 l9 7 2 'K 3
Problem 4. West deals. Both vul.
North overcalls 3' if possible.
Q 10 2 k9 7 4 lQ J 8 4 3 'J 9
Problem 5. North deals. N-S vul.
North opens 3.
- kA K Q J 5 lQ 9 8 6 4 'A J 5
Problem 6. East deals. E-W vul.
A J 5 4 3 kK 10 lA 9 'A 9 7 3
Problem 7. South deals. Both vul.
K 8 kJ 3 l10 7 6 'A 10 9 8 5 3
Problem 8. West deals. None vul.
Q 4 k9 3 lQ 4 2 'K Q 10 9 8 4
September 2022 | Bridge Bulletin |
57
http://www.kantarbridge.com
September 2022

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