| Board 12 - Card Combinations |
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Forgive the brevity this week but I am in the middle of the North Sea!
The key to bidding 3NT is West's reverse into 2♦ which promises 16 points and allows East to confidently bid 3NT
The key to the play are the red suits. Hearts is what is called a frozen suit - i.e. one that whichever side opens up the suit will give away a trick by doing so.
Diamonds is more promising
Declarer has only two entries to hand so must make good use of them by playing ♦ Q first finessing the ♦ K and then when that works playing a low diamond to finesse the ♦ J.
Playing that way gives declarer eleven tricks (two Spades, no Hearts, four Diamonds amd five Clubs)
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| Squeeze (2) - Vienna Coup |
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This second Squeeze hand demonstrates a technique called a Vienna Coup
North-South overbid and end in 7NT to which East leads the ♣7.
North counts 12 Top Tricks and the obvious chance for the thirteenth trick is to hope the Diamonds split 3-3.
There is another chance. Can you see what it is?
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| Show Answer |
The extra chance is if either defender started with the ♥K and four Diamonds.
If so Declarer can squeeze that player by cashing the ♥A, three Spades and five Clubs. The squeezed defender will be down to four cards and will have to let go either the ♥K or their fourth Diamond.
Declarer is looking at ♦ A K Q x opposite Dummy's ♥ Q ♦ 5 4 3, with the lead in Dummy (South).
If the ♥ K has been discarded then the ♥ Q provides the thirteenth trick.
If declarer hasn't seen the ♥ K then they play off the ♦ A K Q and hope.
They are no worse off than if they hadn't tried the squeeze but they have given themselves a precious extra chance. |
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