The Schnapsen Log

Brains and Brawn (solution)

Martin Tompa

Even though Peter knows his first consideration in this situation should be closing the stock, he abandons that immediately, as his only possible winners are the trump and, possibly, ♦K. All right, then, he will leave the stock open.

Peter next has vague thoughts about endplaying Hans in order to win his ♦K. But Peter is likely to lose trick 5 and pick up the ♣J from the stock. With his two trumps as entries, Peter is the one who is likely to have to open up the diamond suit, not Hans.

It looks as though neither player will be able to reach 66 trick points on this deal, and the decision will come down to the winner of the last trick. To help him plan for the last trick, Peter now imagines the ♣J already in his hand, as though each player holds 6 cards instead of the customary 5:

Hans: (14 points)
♠ TQ
♥ TQ
♣ —
♦ TQ

Peter: (47 points)
♠ K
♥ K
♣ KJ
♦ KJ

This artificial construct makes it easier to see how to proceed. Peter wants to avoid leading either spades or hearts, because these are both suits in which Hans has more cards than Peter. Peter knows that he wants to force Hans to lead these suits, because that will cause Hans to lose a tempo. If Peter avoids leading those two suits, he can count 2 entries for Hans (♦TQ) and 2 entries for himself (the two trumps). Since Peter has the lead now, the equal number of entries means he should be able to win the last trick.

Therefore, rather than trying to endplay Hans into opening up the diamond suit, Peter concludes that he should lead a diamond himself at trick 5. Does it matter which one? Think about it and, when you have decided, go on and read my conclusion.

© 2013 Martin Tompa. All rights reserved.

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