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 H South
N-S Vul
S Q 5 2
H Q 6 3
D A K J 9 8
C A 4
West

Pass
Pass
Pass
All Pass
NORTH
1 NT
2 D
4 H
5 H
East
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
South
2 C
3 H
4 NT
7 H
S J 7 6
H 9 8 7
D 7 3
C Q J 10 6 5
TableS K 4 3
H 5 2
D 10 6 5 4 2
C 9 8 7
Lead: C Q S A 10 9 8
H A K J 10 4
D Q
C 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 S 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 S 5 — appears to be irrelevant opposite South’s 10-9-8.

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

7 H South S Q 5 2
H Q 6 3
D A K J 9 8
C A 4
Trick
1 W
2 S
3 S
4 S
5 N
6 S
7 S
8 N
9 N
Lead
C Q
H K
H J
D Q
D 9
S A!
H 4
D A
D J
2nd
4!
7
8
3
10
6
9
5
6
3rd
7
3
6
K!
H 10
2
Q
S 8
S 9
4th
K
2
5
2
7
3
D 4
C 5
C 6
W-L
W1
W2
W3
W4
W5
W6
W7
W8
W9
S J 7 6
H 9 8 7
D 7 3
C Q J 10 6 5
Table S K 4 3
H 5 2
D 10 6 5 4 2
C 9 8 7



Lead: C Q
S A 10 9 8
H A K J 10 4
D Q
C K 3 2

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

H win all
Success
S Q 5
H
D 8
C A
Trick
10 N
11 N
Lead
D 8
S Q!
2nd
C 8
3rd
S 10
4th
S 7
W-L
W1
S J 7
H
D
C J 10
Table S K 4
H
D
C 9 8



North leads
S 10
H A
D
C 3 2

Now lead the good D 8 to pitch your remaining spade. East must discard a club (else his S 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 S 5. If West instead throws a club, the C A is cashed and South wins the last trick with the C 3 — or more dramatically, the carefully preserved C 2.

Puzzle 7F18   MainTop   Valentine Magic

© 1987 Richard Pavlicek