IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

Many new players think a squeeze is beyond their skill level but sometimes all you have to do is play off your trumps.  Take a look.

Scoring:  Matchpoints (Pairs)

Hand #48
Dlr   N
Vul N/S
S K10
H A975
D A1085
C J98
S 8764
H QJ1042
D K3
C 105
    
S AJ952
H 863
D J974
C A

S Q3
H K
D Q62
C KQ76432
West North
 East
 South

1D  1S 2C
    2S    Pass       Pass
     3C   
    3S    Pass
     Pass
     4C
All Pass


 
BIDDING:  East-West competed to the three level before South bought the contract.

PLAY:  West led a spade and East played the jack on dummy's ten.  Declarer won the queen and counted four possible  losers: 1 spade, 2 diamonds, and 1 club.  One of his diamond losers could be discarded on the ace of hearts so he knew the contract was in no danger.  He continued at trick two by unblocking the heart king followed by a club to dummy's jack and East's ace.  East cashed the spade ace and exited safely with a heart.  Declarer discarded a low diamond and won the heart ace in dummy.  Since East held both black aces, it was likely the king of diamonds and heart honors were in the West hand.  Accordingly, South ran the rest of his trumps.  In the end position, West had to discard from the queen of hearts and K3 of diamonds.  Behind him dummy held the nine of hearts along with the A10 of diamonds.  West finally discarded a diamond hoping his partner held the queen but declarer had his overtrick and a very good score.

Note if East shifts to a diamond after winning his two aces, declarer can play low from his hand and make the same overtrick. 

Copyright ©2008 Larry Matheny.