The Hardest Bridge Problem

[@balazskovacs5887]

Nice and really challenging problem. Thank you for the analysis. It worths mention that this technique was developed by Geza Ottlik, a hungarian writer (he wrote some really good novels). He first published this technique (and several other very challenging ones in Bridge World in the '70s) and wrote also a bridge book (together with Hugh Kelsey). It is really fascinating book, most probably the toughest bridge book ever written. It is called Adventures in card play.

[@benthomas3395]

You inhabit a different planet from us card shufflers. If, God forbid, I ever arrive in this contract I will have to 'phone a friend'. I hope your phone is switched on.

[@jyutzler]

Thankfully this kind of inspired play rarely comes up. Even at the highest levels, the game usually comes down to making the fewest mistakes. It's funny, yesterday I had a really good game that included a successful squeeze and we came in 4th out of 200+. Yet we had three mistakes (one by me, one by partner, one we shared) that kept us out of first. It's understanding why those mistakes are being made and eliminating them that will make the most difference long-term. A major factor is simply using the allotted time wisely, though ethically.

[@endthisnonsense7202]

Entry - shifting squeeze, and criss-cross squeeze, also delayed-duck squeeze, and all of that working because of it being an extended-threat squeeze ;)

[@yonnie1964]

thanks pete. very interesting. you remind me how much i don't know. and the BBO reference is very useful

[@owengoddard926]

Hey Pete, Love this kind of content. Hopefully we can get more of this!

[@WatchParty1]

Bridge Master is the single best way to improve your declarer play. I played through them all and learned so much.

[@mymyscellany]

I was inspired and tried it before watching the video. Took me a little over an hour to complete. I was visualizing a 4 card end position, 2 clubs in each hand, each hand with 2 of a different major with the ace. 67 of clubs in the closed hand, 85 on the board. LHO has 2-2 in the majors left. I lead toward the board, and depending on which major they play, I can squeeze them. I was stuck just imagining that for a long time, but it's not a position I can possibly get too, because hearts will be knocked out before then. Eventually I figured out that if I can keep transportation to my hand, I can make it so they can't afford to discard down to 2 spades, because I can lose a spade while hearts are still stopped, and then set up my spade. So then I figured out a 5 card position where they have 2 hearts left and 3 spades, the board has 3 hearts and 2 diamonds, and I have 3 spades and 2 diamonds. When I lead a diamond, if they throw off a heart, I can win all my hearts. If they throw off a spade, I lose a spade to set up my last one. It was a good bridge exercise for hand visualization, but definitely way above my pay grade haha.

[@xuyang9755]

This is a great one. Thanks for sharing!

[@dimitriskontoleon6787]

I slove all problems twice. The 2nd time the bbo had remove all the stars... I have found too many bugs and errors that Sloved much deference from the solution. Is a really good mind exercise

[@Wambie68]

Awesome and hand and explanation.

[@e-pluszak9419]

One more thing missing: what if east lets the jack of clubs hold

[@BridgeWithPete]

Jack wins. Then you lead the 9 to the king and then play the ace and your in the same position.

[@chrisperry4774]

Think I agree with previous comment that this might not be makeable if the Q of clubs is not played by E. There seems to be no reason to cover given that it is not developing tricks for the defenders

[@BridgeWithPete]

What ever replied below "Then you play 9C to the Ace, et King of Clubs: having K7 in hand and 85 in dummy, the entry shifting squeeze still works (unblock 8C if W discards Spade, and low Club from dummy if he discards Heart)" Also as long as you run the jack of clubs on the first round you are okay. As you will always have control. If you took one top club then them covering or not can affect it.

[@erickehr4475]

So how many people do you know (or even know of) who you think would get that right at the table?

[@BridgeWithPete]

a handful of players world wide.

[@jyutzler]

@@BridgeWithPete In matchpoints with a clock? At least in a team game the clock isn't usually an issue.

[@BridgeWithPete]

@@jyutzler The info is all their and there are some really good card players out there. One that jumps to mind is Geir Helgemo. There are would be a bunch more though.

[@michaelfay3886]

Lots of Kudos for declarer play.... Bidding to 6n..... not so good! First video I've yours I've watched ... very enjoyable and I've subscribed.

[@almightyhydra]

A criss-cross, stepping stone (kinda), entry-shifting squeeze without the count. Obvious when you think about it :D

[@zogzog1063]

What happens if East does not cover the Club Queen?

[@BridgeWithPete]

What ever replied below "Then you play 9C to the Ace, et King of Clubs: having K7 in hand and 85 in dummy, the entry shifting squeeze still works (unblock 8C if W discards Spade, and low Club from dummy if he discards Heart)" Also as long as you run the jack of clubs on the first round you are okay. As you will always have control. If you took one top club then them covering or not can affect it.

[@zogzog1063]

@@BridgeWithPete Right you are there Peter! Thanks for that. As an aside I would of course gone down, winning the first trick in hand. I would have gone to dummy with the Spade, done the Diamonds ending in dummy, and run the CJ trying to pick up singleton or doubleton C10. (Maybe even giving up by going back to dummy with the HA to finesse C10! - an ignominious result.) Now it is too late because when I duck a Spade to rectify the count a Heart return would block the communications. Any way, fabulous hand and thank you for sharing!

[@dimitriskontoleon6787]

And this problem was quite easy from black problems... I mean the 5 Club was so "ring the bell" I mean the problem give usually toughing small numbers so in fact said that the 5 was part of the solution

[@associationcoproprietaires9395]

I love bridge Master and I do it one by one, level by level. Since several monthes I am blocked on level 4, hand a-34. I refuse to go to the answer but cannot found the solution by myself yet. Tricky point is robot change cards to make you fail.. grrr

[@richardfarrer5616]

But what if East doesn't cover the Jack of Clubs? You're now in the same position as if you played for a doubleton Queen in the first place and I think the squeeze fails.

[@bezeju1]

Then you play 9C to the Ace, et King of Clubs: having K7 in hand and 85 in dummy, the entry shifting squeeze still works (unblock 8C if W discards Spade, and low Club from dummy if he discards Heart)

[@BridgeWithPete]

As long as you run the jack of clubs on the first round you are okay. As you will always have control. If you took one top club then them covering or not can affect it.

[@richardfarrer5616]

@@bezeju1 Thanks. Should have spotted that. It's a matter of unblocking rather than overtaking. Definitely need to reread Adventures in Cardplay.

[@DonaldSjervenE]

I originally thought that too. That is not a problem. If the jack holds don't touch the 5. Lead the 8 or 9 over to the ace. The king will drop the queen on the next round but not before you see what west discards. The K and the 7/6 are essentially equivalent cards. The key card is the 5 and can still be decided on the 3rd round as before.

[@mymyscellany]

Oh I didn't take the same line as you. I probably cheesed it 1) win the king of hearts 2) Ace of clubs, playing the 8/9 3) spade to the king 4) jack of clubs 5) low club in your hand winning 6) club to the board 7) take the diamond finesse keeping the 10. 8) take the diamond finesse again (the robot covers) If the robot doesn't cover the diamond jack trick 8, does my line not work? It doesn't seem like it does : (

[@drpoundsign]

WOW! This is getting almost too Mathematical.

[@menhera2]

Jesus H. Christ I give up 😭

[@journeymanproject1756]

If you were any kind of teacher at all you'd show this on a physical whiteboard. This is terrible!