Making 1NT

There is a certain joy in making a contract like 1NT by figuring things out even if it isn’t worth all that many imps.  This is what happened to me today when playing with my student.  We discussed my thinking when I played the hand and it was in fact a strip squeeze and endplay.  You know how I feel about those!

Both Vulnerable

	Cora J82 J109  A1074 652
	Linda AQ97 72  QJ93 AQ7

I opened 1NT and this was passed out.  West led the 4 and East won the A and switched to the J.  For better or worse I decided that he was not all that likely to switch to a club with the K.  Besides if he did have the K I might make my Q later. 

I led the Q and that was covered.  I now how six tricks and playing imps I just need one more to make my contract so I am not going to take more than one spade finesse.  It seems likely that the defense has five hearts, the Q and if the spade finesse losses that is too many anyway. 

I ran diamonds to see if that would help.  West had to pitches to make and played the 3 and then the 3.  What are his remaining 7 cards cards?  Assuming he started with 5 hearts as it appears from the carding it means he has three hearts left,  Let’s give him the K.  Would he really hang onto three small spades?  Maybe he was keeping a club as an exit but he must know I have the  Q.  Why did he throw a heart?  The only conclusion I could come up with was despite his play in the heart suit he had started with six hearts.  But with that perhaps he would have overcalled 2.  His initial hand would have been. 

Kxx
KQxxxx 
Kx
Kx

 

Should I play for the endplay or the finesse?  What was the strongest evidence?  West was a pretty good player but he did like to make deceptive plays.  East can’t have the K but he could have the Q.  For the endplay to be right West had to have all the kings and the Q unless he really had started with 5 hearts.  Going around in circles here.

I played a heart.  Here was the whole deal.

 

	Cora J82 J109  A1074 652
West K103 KQ6543  K2 K3		East 654 A8  865 J10984
	Linda AQ97 72  QJ93 AQ7

Okay so I was lucky but a strip squeeze is still fun (not just in the bedroom).