A Question of Honours

Question

Just looking at the spade suit, and assuming you can lead from either hand as many times as you'd like, can you make two tricks in spades?

Try it in the context of the whole hand First, read the context notes below

If you play it well, there is a 50% chance of making two tricks based on which opponent has the ♠A. If East holds the ace, you can never make two tricks in the suit. Their ♠A will beat one of your big cards, and while the other of your honours will then win, the opponents will eventually take their jack. But if West holds the ♠A you can make two tricks as long as you play small cards from the South hand twice. When you play the first small card, if West plays the ace, you play a small card from North and your king and queen are now winners. If West decides not to play the ace, you play the king and it will win. The next time you can lead from the South hand you do the same again and West has the same problem: play the ace and make your ♠Q a winner or play low and you can win the queen immediately.

Your opponents will start by taking the first four tricks in hearts (you should discard dummy’s fourth diamond and your fourth club on the last heart trick). You can play the remaining cards in any order you like but we want to focus on the spades, where you are missing the ♠A, but can still make two tricks if you approach the suit in the best way. You can use your clubs and diamonds to cross from one hand to the other, winning the trick in the hand you want to lead from next.

Play more card puzzles

More puzzles like this

The Case of the Missing King

Do you have to lose a trick to him?

Two Trick Magic

Can your queen triumph?

A Choice of Winners

Spot the successful strategy