Solution To Squeeze Hand from yesterday

Here is yesterday’s problem.  If you didn’t read yesterday’s blog you still have a chance to look at the problem before going to the solution.

	North 854 AKQ1087 – A765
	South AJ6 65 AKQJ1054 Q

West	North	East	South
pass	1	pass	2
pass	4	pass	4NT
pass	5	DBL	7NT
all pass

Opening Lead: 9

East plays the Q and you win with the A. You play two rounds of diamonds and East shows out on the second, playing the 2. How should you proceed?

Solution

If hearts run then the hand is trivial, so you consider what to do if they fail to break. In that case, the only chance seems to be a spade-heart squeeze — undoubtedly against East. However, this squeeze will fail because it is impossible to cash the free winner (the A) and then return to hand.

But there is a chance after all. If you discard dummy’s A and East holds the K, he will be subject to a triple squeeze. Will this squeeze gain two tricks? Obviously yes: you can squeeze him again by cashing the Q (or, if he throws the K, the J). Evidently this is a case where two losers are better than one.  Here is the whole deal:

	North 854 AKQ1087 – A765
West 973 9 98732 J983		East  KQ102 J432 6 K1042
	South AJ6 65 AKQJ1054 Q