No Squeeze

I was East on this deal from OKbridge, the premier online bridge club, and watched my opponents bid merrily to a slam. I got to make one peep — a double of the 4 cue-bid to request that lead — so my partner dutifully led a spade. Observe that with any other lead 6 is easily made without the spade finesse by establishing dummy’s fourth club.

South deals	A Q 10		West	North	East	South
N-S vul	K Q 6 5					1
	K 3		Pass	2	Pass	3
	Q 7 5 2		Pass	3	Pass	4
9 7 4 3		K J 8 5	Pass	4	Dbl	Pass
10 9		7 4	Pass	6	All Pass
J 9 6 5		Q 10 8 7
9 6 4		K 10 8
	6 2
	A J 8 3 2
	A 4 2
6 South	A J 3

Declarer knew I held the K, so he tried finessing the 10 to no avail as I won the jack. I exited safely with a trump and declarer drew a second round. Next came the K, A and a diamond ruff; then a low club to the jack. Two more trumps were led, throwing a club from dummy, and the A was cashed.

At this point North remained with the A-Q and the Q; I held the K-8 and the K. Declarer led his last trump, throwing the Q from dummy as I threw the K. Whew! My partner’s 9 saved the day, so there was no squeeze; down one. Curiously, the contract can and should be made. Do you see how?

Knowing that the K was offside from my double, declarer should win the ace at trick one. Draw trumps, ruff out the diamond, and finesse the J as before. Next lead all the remaining trumps, coming down to the Q and Q-7 in dummy. If East keeps K-10, declarer can exit with a spade for an endplay; and if East blanks the K, it will drop under the ace.

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© 1999 Richard Pavlicek