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.

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

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 Q 6 3 A K J 9 8 A 4			Trick 1 W 2 S 3 S 4 S 5 N 6 S 7 S 8 N 9 N	Lead Q K J Q 9 A! 4 A J	2nd 4! 7 8 3 10 6 9 5 6	3rd 7 3 6 K! 10 2 Q 8 9	4th K 2 5 2 7 3 4 5 6	W-L W1 W2 W3 W4 W5 W6 W7 W8 W9
J 7 6 9 8 7 7 3 Q J 10 6 5			K 4 3 5 2 10 6 5 4 2 9 8 7
Lead: Q	A 10 9 8 A K J 10 4 Q 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 Success	Q 5 — 8 A			Trick 10 N 11 N	Lead 8 Q!	2nd 8	3rd 10	4th 7	W-L W1
J 7 — — J 10			K 4 — — 9 8
North leads	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

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© 1987 Richard Pavlicek