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.

7 South None Vul	J Q K 10 6 4 Q J 10 9 8 7 6			West 1 All Pass	North 5	East Pass	SOUTH 1 7 ?
Q 9 8 6 4 2 K 10 6 Q 9 2 K			10 7 3 J 9 7 3 2 J 7 3 3 2
Lead: ?	A K 5 A 8 5 4 A 8 5 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?

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

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

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© 1994 Richard Pavlicek