IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

 

Here is another example of the squeeze play.  In this hand I was able to execute a double squeeze when an opponent returned his partner’s suit rather than stopping to think.

 

Scoring: Matchpoints (Pairs)

#11-11

Dlr

E

Vul

E/W

S

K2

H

AK43

D

K963

C

A87

S

875

H

10865

D

Q2

C

Q1093

  pad  

S

AJ643

H

QJ72

D

104

C

54

 

S

Q109

H

9

D

AJ875

C

KJ62

West

North

East

South

  

  

   Pass

   Pass

  Pass  

   1D*

   Pass

    2D*

   Pass       2H        Pass       2NT

   Pass       3NT       Pass      Pass

   Pass

 

   *Inverted raise

 

 

 

BIDDING:  North decided his hand was too strong to open 1NT so he started with 1D.  Sitting South, I raised diamonds showing 10-12 points.  North showed a heart stopper and we soon reached our game in notrump. 

 

PLAY:  West led the ten of clubs that rode around to my jack.  I played the king and ace of diamonds and was pleased to see the suit behave.  Next, I led a spade to the king and East’s ace.  I won the club return and played the rest of my winners.  Here was the end position before I cashed the last diamond winner:

 

               HAK43

H1086                          SJ                       

CQ                               H QJ7

   

             S10 H9 D5 C6

 

When I played the last diamond West had to keep his club so he discarded a heart.  Then East had to discard a heart to keep the jack of spades.  I won the last trick with the four of hearts.  East can break up the squeeze by returning a heart when he is in with the ace of spades.

 

 

Copyright ©2011 Larry Matheny