Ted's Bridge World Problems

Apocalypse

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Opening lead: 9.
East to make 7NT against any defense or distribution.


This layout is rife with red herrings and wild-goose chases.  An imaginative chess player might have gleaned a clue from the problem's cryptic title.

Observe that if ever the J drops, or if either defender shows out of spades or discards one, the jig is up.  So noting, we play off all of dummy's kings, sending the four horsemen (Knights) into the fray immediately.  That's right; the heart position is an illusion!

If nothing good has happened yet, then cash the Q-A.  Yes, the diamond spots are an illusion!

If nothing good has happened yet, then run the clubs, discarding dummy's hearts.  Yes, a heart threat of any kind is an illusion!

If nothing good has happened yet, then play off the A at trick ten and throw away dummy's diamond, whereupon something good must happen.  If anyone discards on this lead, then a complete count is available (three known suits beget four known suits).  If instead both opponents follow to the heart lead, then whoever still is clutching the J cannot also hold the three remaining spades.

Problems don't come any prettier than that!

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