Compete with Scania Bridgekonsult

Bridge players are excellent problem solvers; that is nothing new. Therefore, from February 23, 2000, Scania Bridgekonsult invites its readers to a slightly different competition, free to enter for anyone; and the two best solutions (or more) will be rewarded with bridge books from our store. Therefore, don't hesitate to enter. You have nothing to lose, much to gain.

Deadline for our 33rd problem was March 10, 2008. The winners are Björn Ohlsson, Per Jansson and Torsten Åstrand, all of Sweden.

Any bridge hand has either three suits with an even number of cards and one with odd, e.g. 4-4-4-1, or three suits with an odd number and one with even, e.g. 5-3-3-2. We call the first type odd, the second type even.

Recently, I read a study, made by T.C. Pant of India, regarding odd and even hands. He had looked at 2000 randomly dealt deals to see what the result would be if he looked at a full deal: How many hands were odd, how many were even? His result was that 63% of the time, three hands were of one type, the fourth of the other, e.g. three odd and one even. 28% of the time there were two of each. In the remaining 9% all four hands were of the same type, e.g. odd.

He also wrote: "If you, as declarer, have the same parity as dummy, and later learn that one of the opponents also has that type, the chance is roughly 90% that the remaining hand is of the opposite type. That knowledge may come in handy when you plan the play."

This surely sounded interesting, so I took a deck, shuffled and dealt. Then I looked at North's and South's hand. Both were odd. But then it struck me that on this very deal, East and West must have different parity. If West's hand is even, East must be odd, and vice versa. It was impossible that both were odd or both were even.

When you think you know why it must be like this in my case, send your answer as an e-mail, or as an ordinary letter to Scania Bridgekonsult, Barkåkragatan 8, SE-216 22 Limhamn, Sweden, or fax it to 001 425 984 7031. If you do it no later than October 20, 2008, you have a chance to win one of our books. Good Luck!