This month’s deal was played by Ed Metz about 10 years ago. Metz, though not an expert, was an experienced player and usually a winner, especially when it came to making bold slam bids. As South he reached a mere 7 NT on the auction shown.
It is apparent that 7 is a better contract because the club suit can be established with a ruff; but that would be too easy, and the Metz flair would be wasted. It is also apparent that 7 NT is impossible — declarer has 11 top tricks and both minor-suit finesses are destined to lose. Nonetheless, as baseball great Yogi Berra would say, “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.”
West was a suspicious soul. He had seen Metz steal too many slams off the first two tricks, so he led a diamond. This converted 11 tricks into 12; and where there’s 12, Metz could usually eke out 13. He won the Q and rapidly cashed the A-K and both minor aces before running the hearts.
On the last heart East let go a club to keep the Q, South discarded his now useless 10, and West had to discard a club to keep the K. Finally, a club to the king brought down the queen — and almost the ceiling — as Metz romped home.
As he left the table, Metz could be heard explaining all the intricacies of the “double squeeze and Vienna coup” to his partner.
© 1996 Richard Pavlicek
by Richard Pavlicek by Richard Pavlicek