Dubious Logic

Squeeze play is easy

It is a sure mark of the beginner to try and take all the tricks for the contract from the off. It is a parallel to the front-runner in a horse race that you know will surely be beaten. Or, perhaps more accurately, the lead-out man in a cycling sprint that provide cover for his fellows. When I first learnt bridge, I was told how much more impressive it was to take the last nine tricks in three no-trump rather than (just) the first eight. This approach can develop into a technique, take this hand for example, you arrive in three no-trumps against silent opposition and receive the lead of the king of hearts – how do you play?

Well, you can be sure as this hand appears here, you may not count two aces, three diamonds and four clubs. There is no rush, so you duck the opening lead. The knave appears from South and North gives the matter some thought. Eventually he switches to the knave of diamonds. How do you think the heart suit lies?

Almost certainly North doesn't hold a solid sequence in hearts – else he would have continued, but how does that help? But, to be honest, there isn't much you can do. You win the diamond king and, as if there are four club tricks there always will be, you cash the heart ace. South follows with the ten. As the break can be no worse that 5-2, you play another round. South discards a spade and North is delighted to cash his winners – but only four of them all told. Hearts exhausted, let's say he finally plays a spade, having discarded two spades from dummy (East) and a one of each black suit from hand you cash your diamonds reaching this position.

If clubs were 3-2 all along then no harm has been done (except to delay your journey home) but if South holds ♠KQJ and four clubs then in this position there are not four cards he can keep. In fact the full deal was;

Though my partner didn't quite find this line – and succumbed to down one amidst much shaking of head – we were redeemed by our team-mates, which ties nicely with last weeks column. Our adventurous North opened the equivalent of a weak two in hearts and had to leave his partner in that contract doubled. The defence was not of the highest order and after the ace of spades was driven out, they drew trumps. That left declarer able to score four of each major for +670. Saved by the other room again!

Published Saturday 7.Apr.2001