Puzzle 7F19 (1994) by Richard Pavlicek
Puzzle 7F19 (1994) by Richard Pavlicek
is justified, but South’s final bid seems to be from outer space. The wild stab at 7 seems destined to fail. Even assuming South drops West’s singleton K, there appears to be an inevitable diamond loser.But wait! If West leads a low spade, he gives declarer an extra trick. The same is true of a low heart. Further, declarer might be able to develop a squeeze if West finds a safe lead.
7 by South
 |  J Q K 10 6 4 Q J 10 9 8 7 6 | |
| Q 9 8 6 4 2 K 10 6 Q 9 2 K | ![[W - E]](t.gif) | 10 7 3 J 9 7 3 2 J 7 3 3 2 |
| A K 5 A 8 5 4 A 8 5 A 5 4 |
| West 1 All Pass | North 5 | East Pass | South 1 7 ? |
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?
Solution K (declarer will drop it anyway). Win the A and lead two more rounds of trumps (optional). Lead the Q to the ace and ruff a heart; lead the J to the king, cash the A and ruff another heart. This leaves the ending in the diagram:
| — — K 10 6 8 7 | |
| Q 9 — Q 9 2 — | | 10 J J 7 3 — |
| 5 8 A 8 5 — |
North leads the 8 and East is 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 7 completes a double squeeze: East must discard a diamond; South throws his now useless heart, then West is squeezed.
Variation: From the diagram, if East retains his 10 and discards a diamond, the next club squeezes East again. If he throws a spade, the same double squeeze develops; if he throws another diamond, the A will drop his jack and West can be finessed in diamonds.
The only way to break up this squeeze position is for West to lead a diamond. But which diamond? A low diamond lead is disastrous — North plays low then declarer can pick up the entire suit.
What about the Q lead? Nope. Declarer can win with the king in dummy, ruff hearts twice as before then bring about a diamond-heart squeeze against East.
The only lead to defeat 7 is the nine of diamonds. This delicately holds the diamond position, and declarer cannot benefit. Try it.
Copyright © 1994 Richard Pavlicek. All rights reserved.