Puzzle 7F19 Main |
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Norths raise to 5 is justified, but Souths final bid seems to be from outer space. The wild stab at 7
appears destined to fail. Even assuming declarer drops Wests 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 ![]() None Vul | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | West 1 ![]() All Pass | North 5 ![]() | East Pass | SOUTH 1 ![]() 7 ![]() | ||
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Lead: ? | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Against this extraterrestrial contract I say, Take me to your leader! What is the only card in Wests hand that will defeat 7 against any play by declarer?
First lets 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 ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Trick 1 W 2 S 3 N 4 N 5 S 6 N 7 S 8 S | Lead![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | 2nd 6 ![]() ![]() 3 10 3 8 K | 3rd 2 Q 5 A ![]() A ![]() ![]() | 4th A 3 ![]() 6 7 6 7 9 | W-L W1 W2 W3 W4 W5 W6 W7 W8 | ||
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Lead: ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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:
![]() Success | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Trick 9 N 10 N | Lead![]() ![]() | 2nd![]() ? | 3rd![]() | 4th![]() | W-L W1 | ||
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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.
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