Puzzle 7F18 Main |
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South appears to have mistaken Valentines 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 ![]() N-S Vul | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | West Pass Pass Pass All Pass | NORTH 1 NT 2 ![]() 4 ![]() 5 ![]() | East Pass Pass Pass Pass | South 2 ![]() 3 ![]() 4 NT 7 ![]() | ||
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Lead: ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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.
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 Norths 5 appears to be irrelevant opposite Souths 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 ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Trick 1 W 2 S 3 S 4 S 5 N 6 S 7 S 8 N 9 N | Lead![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | 2nd 4! 7 8 3 10 6 9 5 6 | 3rd 7 3 6 K! ![]() 2 Q ![]() ![]() | 4th K 2 5 2 7 3 ![]() ![]() ![]() | W-L W1 W2 W3 W4 W5 W6 W7 W8 W9 | ||
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Lead: ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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:
![]() Success | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Trick 10 N 11 N | Lead![]() ![]() | 2nd![]() | 3rd![]() | 4th![]() | W-L W1 | ||
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North leads | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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, dummys 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