[inquiry]

Here is a Novice/Beginner hand from today in the BBO.

IMPs
Vul: None
DLR North

S - KJ65
H - AQ9
D - KJ95
C - A4

S - Q987
H - KJT
D - AT43
C - T7

Auction
 N--E--S--W
1D-(P)-1S-(3C)
4S-(P)- P- (P)

Opening lead CLUB QUEEN, Ace wins, EAST plays the CLUB KING. Plan your play.

This clearly classifys as a novice/beginner hand. When this hand was played 15 times in 4S and once in 6Ds. The results obtained show that only 3 of the 15 declearer's (20%) managed to go down on this hand. So I think this hand is not too simple of one to propose for beginners/novices to consider. An interesting excercise might be to decide what those players must have done wrong. But if you don't want to do that, simply propose how you would play....

If you like, send me your replies. I will post the names of those who get it right (and not mention the names of those who miss it) in the second post to this thread (the list will be updated as people get it right). So like JJSB;s post, don't be real quick to post the right answer here, to give the other players a chance to think about it.

Actual results for this hand.....

4SS+1      450      3.33
4SS+1      450      3.33
4SS+1      450      3.33
4SS+1      450      3.33
4SN+1      450      3.33
4SS+1      450      3.33
4SN=       420      2.33
4SN=       420      2.33
4SN=       420      2.33
4SN=       420      2.33
4SN=       420      2.33
4SN=       420      2.33
4SS-1       -50      -8.27
4SS-1       -50      -8.27
4SS-1       -50      -8.27
6DS-2      -100      -9.2

[inquiry]

The following player(s) have sent me the correct solution to problem Good Idea 7(list will be updated as correct answers come in).

Rain
JStroke

[inquiry]

IMPs
Vul: None
DLR North

                       S - KJ65
                       H - AQ9
                       D - KJ95
                       C - A4

S - A                             S - Txxx
H - xx                       H - xxxxx
D - Qxx                 D - xx
C - QJ9xxxx        C - Kx

                        S - Q987
                        H - KJT
                        D - AT43
                        C - T7

Auction
N--E--S--W
1D-(P)-1S-(3C)
4S-(P)- P- (P)  

Opening lead CLUB QUEEN, Ace wins, EAST plays the CLUB KING. Plan your play.

This hand has 4 possible losers. 2SPADES, 1CLUB and 1DIAMOND. If you are lucky enuogh to guess which opponent has three diamonds to the queen you can probably always make it. But before you turn your attention to diamonds, You need to deal with the trumps.

You can avoid 2 trump losers if trumps are 4-1 and you guess who has the long trumps. The reason being, you can lead through the person with four to hook the trump TEN, if necessary. Given the bidding, it is best to play WEST for a short spade. So the best line, is to instead of leading a low trump from dummy towards the QUEEN, is to simply lead the spade KING from dummy (or, lead a heart to your hand, and play a spade towards the dummy's K). Then, on the second round, win the spade JACK in dummy. This allows you to pick up four spades to the TEN with EAST, if, as it was, the actual situation.

When you lead the SPADE KING, WEST wins the ACE and cashes the club QUEEN - east follows, and then switches to a heart. You win the heart, cash the spade JACK. When WEST shows out, you know how to play. Hook the spade TEN, then lead a Diamond and insert the nine. If this loses to the QUEEN. you will win EAST's return (if a club, ruff in dummy and play a HEART to your hand to pull the last trump). This sequence assures you 3D, 3S, 1C and 3H. And when the diamond hook wins, you win 11 tricks. If you pull four rounds of trumps and tthen hook in diamonds, if EAST has a third club you go down.