IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

 

Although squeeze play can be complex, sometimes it is extremely simple.  Here is a hand where it was almost too easy.



Scoring:  Matchpoints (Pairs)

Hand#8

Dlr

 N

Vul

E/W

S

84

H

10642

D

AK62

C

KQ5

S

632

H

Q5

D

J754

C

AJ92

  pad  

S

K

H

AK9873

D

1093

C

843

 

S

AQJ10975

H

J

D

Q8

C

1076

West

North

East

South

   

   1D

1H

1S

   Pass

   1NT

   Pass

     4S

    End

 

 

 

 
BIDDING:  After opening a flat, minimum hand, North had a rebid problem and finally decided 1NT was the best solution.  South made a bold jump to game to end the auction.


PLAY:  West led the queen and a second heart that declarer ruffed.  Declarer counted four possible losers: 1 spade, 1 heart, and 2 clubs.  He could discard a club loser on the third diamond so he felt the contract was safe.  At trick three he led a low club to dummy’s king.  Next, he led a spade from dummy and was delighted when the king appeared.  He quickly drew the rest of the trumps followed by the remaining spades.  When the last trump was played, dummy still held four diamonds and the queen of clubs.  West could not protect the ace of clubs and four diamonds so declarer ended with 12 tricks and a great score.  It was difficult for West to see the impending squeeze at trick three but he needed to win the ace of clubs to hold declarer to 11 tricks.

As you can see, the squeeze was not difficult; declarer had to simply run his trumps.


Copyright ©2010 Larry Matheny.