1.    OKB     IMP's     Week 46     Board 414  

Dlr: EAST
Vul: None 		S- 43
H- K863
D- A43
C- KQ95



S- AJ
H- AQ9542
D- 8
C- A1072
  

(Hand rotated for convenience)


Contract - 6H- with no opposition bidding.

Lead - D-Q

You receive the lead of the D-Q against your contract of 6H-. You win the ace and play a baby trump to your ace, and West shows out. How would you continue?

In particular, how would you play the clubs?

  1. C-K, then C-A to guard against Jxxx with West, who is short in trumps?;
  2. C-K, then C-Q to guard against Jxxx with East?
  3. Another line?

Decide on your line of play now,
then see the solution further on.


2.    OKB     MP's     Week 40     Board 614  

Harald reported this hand to me with the addendum "This is the first squeeze I planned consciously and I   knew   the cards as the play progressed."

Great stuff, Harald!



Dlr: WEST
Vul: E-W 		S- K1063
H- Q982
D- Q8
C- KQ6
  
S- 8754
H- J6
D- J97
C- J1054
  
S- 92
H- A1053
D- 10632
C- 972
  S- AQJ
H- K74
D- AK54
C- A83
  

Contract - 6NT (S)
Lead - S-7

There was no opposition bidding.

On first inspection you can count 11 tricks - 4 spades, 1 heart (after the ace is dislodged), 3 diamond tricks, and 3 clubs. Where, and how did Harald (maddas on OKB) get his 12th trick from?

Harald received the lead of the S-7 in his 6NT contract. He promptly proceeded to cash all 4 spade tricks. On the third and fourth spades, East discards two clubs.

Now Harald cashes the C-A and C-Q. Surprise - East follows, then discards a heart. Harald suspects that East is holding on to the diamonds.

Now Harald plays a heart from table. East has to duck, else Harald claims. Then Harald plays a diamond to the queen, and the third club follows. The pressure is mounting on East, for the position now is: (see next diagram)



6NT
 S- - -
H- Q98
D- 8
C- K
 
Immaterial
  S- - -
  H- A10
  D- 1063
  C- - -
  S- - -
H- 74
D- AK5
C- - -
  
No trick has been lost yet.

The play of the C-K now effectively squeezes East.

Forced to retain all his diamonds, East pitches the H-10, baring his ace. The H-8 play now collects the ace!!

Making 990 was worth 71.88%.

Well played, Harald!!




Solution to 6H- hand

Dlr: EAST
Vul: None 		S- 43
H- K863
D- A43
C- KQ95



S- AJ
H- AQ9542
D- 8
C- A1072
  


(Hand rotated for convenience)


Contract - 6H- with no opposition bidding.

Lead - D-Q

You receive the lead of the D-Q against your contract of 6H-. You win the ace and play a baby trump to your ace, and West shows out. How would you continue?

In particular, how would you play the clubs?

LOL, Solution? You force the opponents to assist!!!

Win the diamond ace, cash the H-A (West shows out), play a second heart to the king, and ruff a diamond.

Now the H-Q to draw the last trump, you get to dummy with the a club to the king, and you need to ruff the last diamond.

The stage is set. Cash the S-A, and exit the S-J.

You claim.

It doesn't matter who wins the spade. They have to play a club, removing the guess, or concede a ruff and discard.

100% proof.


 

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