Puzzle 7F43 (Jan 97) by Richard Pavlicek

Tenuous Technique

3 NT by South

	A 6 5 4 3 2 A Q 10 9 4 3 2
J 10 A J 10 J 8 7 6 5 4 J 10		Q 9 8 7 K 9 8 7 3 Q 9 8 7
Lead: 6	K 3 2 Q 6 5 4 K 2 A K 6 5

West Pass Pass

North 2 3 NT

East Pass All Pass

South 1 NT 2

At first glance it looks like East can be squeezed in spades and clubs, but this is far easier said than done. The problem is that the count is not rectified, and the enemy will attack your entries when given the opportunity.

After the diamond lead, 3 NT can be made against any defense. To get you started, assume the opponents lead spades (best) if given the lead.

Solution

The first crucial play is to duck the spade (else West can later kill your spade entry). West continues with his remaining spade, and now comes the remarkable play: You must win the ace in dummy — a sloppy, blocking play in most cases, but essential here. Another heart is ducked to West’s jack (if West wins the ace he puts an even greater burden on East) which leaves the position in the diagram:

	6 5 — A Q 10 4 3 2
— A J 8 7 5 4 J 10		Q 9 K 9 — Q 9 8 7
	K Q 6 2 A K 6 5

West does best to return a diamond, won by the 10 as East throws a spade. On the  A, East throws a club as does South. Hold it! Do not cash the  Q yet. You must first cash the  A-K then exit with a heart to West, leaving this position:

	6 5 — Q —
— — J 8 7 —		Q K — Q
	K Q — 6

West must lead a diamond to North’s queen, and East is caught in a jettison triple squeeze. If he throws a heart or a club, South throws the opposite and his hand is good. If East throws the  Q, South jettisons the  K and dummy is good.

The defense I followed seemed like the strongest, but there are many variations. Declarer can always succeed after the diamond lead. Curiously, the contract can be defeated with either black-suit lead, which emphasizes how fragile the timing is.