Puzzle 7E81 (Oct 80) by Richard Pavlicek

Tough Victim

6 by South

None Vul	A Q 6 J 3 2 A 5 4 3 2 K 2
2 K Q 10 K Q J 10 9 8 Q 4 3		5 4 3 9 8 7 7 6 10 9 8 7 6
Lead: K	K J 10 9 8 7 A 6 5 4 — A J 5

West 2 Pass Pass Pass Pass All Pass

North 3 3 4 5 5

East Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass

South 1 3 4 4 5 6

Eleven tricks are easy by ruffing a club in dummy, and it seems like your best chance for 12 is to endplay West. If you could reach a three-card ending where West has  K-Q-10, a low heart from hand will do the job. Alas, it can’t be done, because you must lead all your trumps, and West will simply keep  K-Q and a good diamond.

Can you find the way to make 6 ?

Solution

Do not win the  A, but ruff the lead in hand; cross to dummy with a trump; ruff a diamond, and lead a low heart. West wins, and his only safe return is a third diamond (East pitching a heart) as you ruff in hand. Next cash the  A; cross to the  K; ruff a fourth diamond; then lead your last trump, overtaking in dummy to reach this ending:

	6 J A 2
— K J Q 4		5 — — 10 9 8
	— 6 5 — A J

The  6 draws the last trump, as you pitch a heart, and West a diamond. Finally, the  A squeezes West; he must keep the  K with the jack in view, so he’ll pitch a club, and the queen comes tumbling down.

Trap: If the  A is taken on the first or second round, East is able to pitch all his hearts to prevent South from unblocking the  A (Vienna coup), necessary for the squeeze.

A curious and remarkable feature is that the final squeeze card against West is the ace in his own long suit.