John Solodar 1940-2017

by Phillip Alder

One of my best bridge friends and favorite partners, John Solodar, died on March 25 at the age of 76 after a long battle with illness. A native New Yorker, he won the world team championship in 1981 on home turf, in Rye, New York. He was also third in the 1990 , played in Geneva, Switzerland, and played in the World Senior Teams in 2009. He won only one national championship – the Nail Life Master Pairs in 1968 – because he was plagued with ill health throughout his life. He was second four times – the -a- Match Teams in 1974, the Knockout Teams in 1976 and 1980, and the Mitchell Open Board-a-Match Teams in 1983 – and won nearly 16,000 . He was married three times: to , Sylvia Moss and Suellen Solodar.

Here are two examples of his excellent play. First, though, consider the problems that faced him.

1. With only the opponents vulnerable, the bidding proceeds like this: West North East South You Dummy Partner Declarer Pass Pass 1‰ 3Œ Pass Pass 3‰ 3NT Dble 4‹ Pass Pass 4‰ All Pass

You start with a weak jump , then rebid three notrump to show secondary diamonds and better-than-usual playing strength for your initial intervention. What would you lead from this hand against four spades?

‰ 8 6 Š – ‹ A K 6 2 Œ Q 8 7 6 4 3 2

2. With both sides vulnerable, the auction begins: West North East South Partner You 1‰ Pass 2‹ Pass 3Œ Pass 3‹ Pass 4‹ Pass 4NT (a) Pass 5Š Dble ?? (a) Old-fashioned Blackwood

What would you do now with this hand?

‰ K Š K 9 5 ‹ A K 9 8 7 6 Œ K J 2

1 This was the full deal from the first problem:

North Dlr: North ‰ Q 10 Vul: N-S Š 9 8 6 5 3 ‹ 5 4 Œ K J 9 5 West East ‰ 8 6 ‰ J 5 2 Š – Š A Q J 10 ‹ A K 6 2 ‹ Q J 9 7 3 Œ Q 8 7 6 4 3 2 Œ 10 South ‰ A K 9 7 4 3 Š K 7 4 2 ‹ 10 8 Œ A West North East South Solodar Pass Pass 1‰ 3Œ Pass Pass 3‰ 3NT Dble 4‹ Pass Pass 4‰ All Pass

Solodar led the diamond six! East was surprised to win the trick with the jack, but got the message that West had a heart . East cashed the heart ace and continued with the heart queen. West, after ruffing away declarer's king, underled in diamonds for a second time. East took the trick with his queen and cashed two heart tricks to take the contract down three. Yes, it is true that the trick-one underlead was not necessary. If West had led the diamond ace, East would have played the queen, showing the queen and jack. Then West would have underled to put his partner on lead. After the heart ace and heart queen, covered and ruffed, West could have exited with a club (or a spade), and declarer could not have divested himself of his heart losers. South would have taken the club ace, drawn two rounds of trumps ending with dummy's queen and tried to cash the club king, but East would have ruffed. Still, that does not detract from Solodar's imaginative lead.

2 This was the second deal:

North Dlr: North ‰ A Q J 7 3 Vul: Both Š J ‹ J 5 3 Œ A Q 10 4 West East ‰ 9 8 6 2 ‰ 10 5 4 Š 8 6 3 2 Š A Q 10 7 4 ‹ Q 10 4 ‹ 2 Œ 8 3 Œ 9 7 6 5 South ‰ K Š K 9 5 ‹ A K 9 8 7 6 Œ K J 2 West North East South 1‰ Pass 2‹ Pass 3Œ Pass 3‹ Pass 4‹ Pass 4NT (a) Pass 5Š Dble ?? (a) Old-fashioned Blackwood

This deal was played in 1975, before Roman Key Card Blackwood became popular. It looked obvious to sign off in six diamonds, which Solodar realized would have been fine if he had no diamond losers; but if there was a diamond problem, perhaps the black suits would run. So Solodar bid six notrump . As you can see, six diamonds would have failed, and did go down one at the other table in a team event at the Fun City Regional in New York City in 1975. Against six notrump, East won the first trick with his heart ace and returned the heart queen. Solodar soon claimed twelve tricks via five spades, one heart, two diamonds and four clubs. Plus 100 and plus 1440 gave the Solodar team 17 international match points on the board.

John was a very popular player, partner and teacher who will be missed by so many.

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