Puzzle 7F18 Main

Valentine Magic

by Richard Pavlicek

South appears to have mistaken Valentine’s Day for Christmas in the bidding, as the final bid is more than a tad optimistic. Perhaps you can save the day and find a way to make this grand slam — or at least give it a try before you look at the answer.

North deals	Q 5 2		West	North	East	South
N-S vul	Q 6 3			1 NT	Pass	2
	A K J 9 8		Pass	2	Pass	3
	A 4		Pass	4	Pass	4 NT
J 7 6		K 4 3	Pass	5	Pass	7
9 8 7		5 2	All Pass
7 3		10 6 5 4 2
Q J 10 6 5		9 8 7
	A 10 9 8
	A K J 10 4
Lead: Q	Q
7 South	K 3 2

At first the contract looks easy, as declarer has 12 top tricks (five hearts, four diamonds, two clubs, one spade) and can ruff a low club in dummy for 13. Not true! If you ruff a club, you cannot win four diamond tricks, because the suit is blocked.

Are you a magician? Take it from there.

Puzzle 7F18 Main

Top Valentine Magic

Solution

Since declarer has 12 tricks, either in high cards or by ruffing a club at the expense of a diamond trick, the first idea would be a squeeze. Perhaps East can be squeezed, since he holds the K and a diamond stopper. No, East will discard after dummy so it will not work.

The solution is indeed based on a squeeze, but not the ordinary kind. Both opponents are involved in a double ruffout squeeze. The ending is difficult to spot because a key element — North’s 5 — appears to be irrelevant opposite South’s 10-9-8.

Win the club lead in hand and cash K-J, or any two trumps as long as you save the queen.

7 South	Q 5 2		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	Q 6 3		1. W	Q	4!	7	K
	A K J 9 8		2. S	K	7	3	2
	A 4		3. S	J	8	6	5
J 7 6		K 4 3	4. S	Q	3	K!	2
9 8 7		5 2	5. N	9	10	10	7
7 3		10 6 5 4 2	6. S	A!	6	2	3
Q J 10 6 5		9 8 7	7. S	4	9	Q	4
	A 10 9 8		8. N	A	5	8	5
	A K J 10 4		9. N	J	6	9	6
	Q			continued below…
	K 3 2

Next lead the Q and overtake in dummy to run the 9. Assume East covers with the 10 (if not pitch a spade and ruff the 8); ruff with the 10 (or any heart) and cash the A (key play). Cross to the Q and win two more diamonds to reach this ending:

win all	Q 5		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
North leads	—		10. N	8	8	10	7
	8		11. N	Q!
	A			Declarer succeeds
J 7		K 4
—		—
—		—
J 10		9 8
	10
	A
	—
	3 2

Now lead the good 8 to pitch your remaining spade. East must discard a club (else his K ruffs out) then West is in trouble. If West throws a spade, dummy’s queen is led through East to smother the jack and establish the 5. If West instead throws a club, the A is cashed and South wins the last trick with the 3 — or more dramatically, the carefully preserved 2.

Puzzle 7F18 Main

Top Valentine Magic

© 1987 Richard Pavlicek