Puzzle 7F19 Main

Take Me To Your Leader!

by Richard Pavlicek

North’s raise to 5 is justified, but South’s final bid seems to be from outer space. The wild stab at 7 appears destined to fail. Even assuming declarer drops West’s singleton K, there are only 12 tricks. A diamond loser seems inevitable.

But wait! If West leads a low spade, he gives declarer an extra trick. The same is true of a low heart or a low diamond. Further, declarer might be able to develop a squeeze if West finds a safe lead.

South deals	J		West	North	East	South
None vul	Q					1
	K 10 6 4		1	5	Pass	7 ?
	Q J 10 9 8 7 6		Pass	Pass	Pass
Q 9 8 6 4 2		10 7 3
K 10 6		J 9 7 3 2
Q 9 2		J 7 3
K		3 2
	A K 5
	A 8 5 4
	A 8 5
7 South	A 5 4

Against this extraterrestrial contract I say, “Take me to your leader!” What is the only card in West’s hand that will defeat 7 against any play by declarer?

Puzzle 7F19 Main

Top Take Me To Your Leader!

Solution

First let’s see how declarer is able to make his contract on a squeeze. Suppose West leads the K (declarer will drop it anyway). Win the A and lead two more rounds of trumps (optional).

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

Next lead the Q to the ace and ruff a heart; lead the J to the ace, cash the K and ruff another heart to reach the ending below:

win 5	—		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	—		9. N	10	3	5	9
	K 10 6		10. N	9	?
	10 9			Declarer succeeds
Q 9		10
—		J
Q 9 2		J 7 3
—		—
	5
	8
	A 8 5
North leads	—

The 10 lead from dummy puts East under pressure. A heart discard loses immediately, so assume East lets go his spade; South throws a diamond, and West throws a spade. Now the 9 effects a double squeeze: East must pitch a diamond; South throws his now useless heart, then West is squeezed.

Variation: If East keeps the 10 and lets go a diamond, the next club squeezes him again. If he throws a spade, West is squeezed in spades and diamonds; if he throws another diamond, the A drops his jack and West can be finessed.

Can any lead prevent this?

Yes. First thoughts might turn to the Q (crushing the jack) or the K (crushing the queen) but these are red herrings that do nothing to prevent the squeeze.

The squeeze position requires a twin entry in diamonds, which West can erase by leading that suit; but which diamond? A low diamond is obviously disastrous; dummy plays low and declarer can pick up the entire suit. What about the queen? Better, but still failing; declarer can win the K, ruff hearts twice as before, then squeeze East in the red suits.

The only lead to defeat 7 is the diamond nine. This delicately holds the diamond position, and declarer cannot benefit. Try it.

Puzzle 7F19 Main

Top Take Me To Your Leader!

© 1994 Richard Pavlicek