posted January 2011

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A classic double-squeeze

Bd: 4
Dlr: West 
Vul: All
                North
                S K             
                H Q108          
                D AJ8542        
                C K53           


                South
                S Q932          
                H A5            
                D K763          
                C A76           


West    North   East    South
GIB W   GIB N   GIB E   baboo123   
                                
Pass     1D      1S      3NT    
Pass    Pass    Pass    

Trick 1:    ST  SK  SA  S2  
Trick 2:    S8  S9  S5  H8  
Trick 3:    DK  D9  D2  DQ  
Trick 4:    SQ  H4  C3  S4

Practising your matchpoint killer instincts, you try and make 12 tricks.

QUIZ: Your 4-card ending?


Solution:

You know that East is guarding your 3.   If West possesses the K he will have to guard the Q, who will guard the third club??

Cash the A now (Vienna Coup) then proceed to run all the diamonds. When the last diamond hits the table, this is the 4-card ending:

                North
                S -             
                H Q          
                D 4        
                C K5           

        West                East
        S -                 S J        
        H K                 H -             
        D -                 D -             
        C 982               C QJ10         

                South
                S 3          
                H -             
                D -           
                C A76

Now play off the last diamond in a classic double-squeeze ending. East has to keep the J else your 3 becomes good. You throw the now useless 3, and it is West's turn to squirm. He has to retain his K so he too throws a club.   Now K - A - 7 !

The full hands were:

               North
                S K             
                H Q108          
                D AJ8542        
                C K53           

        West                East
        S 105               S AJ8764        
        H KJ9643            H 72            
        D 109               D Q             
        C 982               C QJ104         

                South
                S Q932          
                H A5            
                D K763          
                C A76




22nd Jan:   Received an email from Richard Pavlicek regarding this quiz. He writes:

Hi Sid,

I was browsing your fun pages and noticed the Jan. 2011 problem solution, which you may want to edit. Location of the HK is actually irrelevant (as is HQ). Proper play is to run 5 diamonds (don't cash SQ) to reach:


   -
   Qx
   x
   Kxx

  
   Qx
   Ax
   -
   Ax

Then if you think RHO still protects hearts (not clubs) win CA, SQ, CK, last diamond for double squeeze.

If instead you think RHO protects clubs (not hearts), lead last diamond to pitch a heart, then HA, SQ completes the double squeeze (per the actual layout).

Note that hearts could be xx opposite Ax for the same result.

Theory of this squeeze can be found in my Pure Squeeze article (Type 2-C).

Happy new year, my friend, and best to Abby.

Richard

Thanks for your input and wishes Richard, and best of 2011 to you and your loved ones! :)