Quiz 7H78 Main

Sparkling In Diamonds

by Richard Pavlicek

Does your declarer play sparkle?
Can you make these contracts on a squeeze play?

Problem 1

IMPs	2		West	`North`	East	`South`
E-W vul	9 4 3					1
	K Q J 10 3		1	3	3	Pass
	A 5 4 3		Pass	5	Pass	Pass
			Pass
Lead: K		East plays 10
Lead: K		East plays 10

	9 8 3
	A 2
	A 9 8 7 6
5 South	K 10 2		West shifts to Q (East plays 8).

Your play? A. Win A, draw trumps, 3 to 10
B. Win A, ruff with K, 3 to nine
C. Win A, lead 2
D. Duck the Q

Problem 2

IMPs	K 6 5		`West`	North	`East`	South
N-S vul	9 6 5 4 3					2
	K		Dbl	Pass	Pass	2
	6 5 4 3		Pass	2	Pass	2
			Pass	3	Pass	4
Lead: K		East plays 7	Pass	5	Pass	6
Lead: K		East plays 7	All Pass

	A Q 4 3
	A
	A Q J 10 9 8
6 South	A 2		Trumps split 4-2.

Your play? A. Win A, A-Q-J-10, lead 2
B. Win A, A, K, ruff
C. Win A, lead 2
D. Duck the first trick

Problem 3

IMPs	A 5 4 3	`West`	`North`	`East`	`South`
None vul	A 9 4		1 NT	Pass	2
	J 10 9 8	Pass	2	Pass	3
	A K	Pass	3	Pass	5 NT
		Pass	7 ¹	All Pass
Lead: J
Lead: J		1. Overbid but 6 is too easy

	K
	K 10 8 3 2
	A K Q 7
7 South	J 6 5	Trumps split 3-2.

Your play? A. Win K, A-K-Q, A
B. Win K, A-K, J, ruff
C. Win K, A, J, ruff
D. Win K, A-K, A

Quit
Explanations
Top Sparkling In Diamonds

Problem 1

You have 8 top tricks and can ruff two spades in dummy for 10. The 11th must come from a miracle in clubs or a club-heart squeeze. The key play is to duck the Q, which rectifies the count. Assume West continues with the J.

Ruff a spade high; cash the Q; lead the J to your ace; ruff your last spade high; then lead the 3 to your nine. Cash your last two diamonds, discarding clubs from dummy. East will be squeezed on the last trump.

East held: Q-10-6 K-10-8-7-6-5 2 Q-J-9

Problem 2

You have 11 top tricks and the 12th must come from a 3-3 spade break or a squeeze. The best chance for a squeeze is if one opponent (West given the auction) is at least 4-4 in the black suits. Win the A and return a club (cashing the A first is also OK). Assume East wins the club and returns a spade (best).

Win the A in hand; cross to the K and ruff a club. This is the key play to isolate your club threat so only one player can stop it. Next lead all your trumps and the A, and West will be squeezed.

West held: J-8-7-2 J-8-2 5-2 K-Q-10-8

Problem 3

You have 10 top tricks and can ruff two spades in your hand to get 12. Your 13th trick might come from a lucky heart layout, the Q falling, or a heart-club squeeze. You must time the play carefully.

Win the K, cash the A and lead your low diamond to dummy; ruff a spade (there is no need to risk cashing A); cross to the A; ruff a spade; then cross to the K. Cash dummy’s last two trumps and the A, discarding hearts from your hand. West will be squeezed.

West held: J-10-9-6 Q-7-5 5-2 Q-9-8-2

Quiz 7H78 Main Top Sparkling In Diamonds