At the ‘local dupe,’ North (rosecolored glasses) bid too much and placed South in a seemingly unmakable 7 NT. ‘No Trump Play 101’ tells us to play our winners, in the hope that discarding will become difficult for one or both defenders.
| The bidding: | N | E | S | W |
| 1C | Pass | |||
| 1H | Pass | 2NT | Pass | |
| 4NT(Aces) | Pass | 5D(1 ace) | Pass | |
| 5NT(Kings) | Pass | 6C(4 kings) | Pass | |
| 7NT(!!) | Pass | Pass | Pass |
Opening lead: 5♦
NORTH
♠ A 9 5 2
♥ A J 4 3
♦ Q J
♣ A 9 7
WEST
♠ 10 6
♥ 7 6
♦ 9 7 6 5 4 3 2
♣ 10 2
EAST
♠ Q J 7
♥ Q 9 8 5 2
♦ 8
♣ J 5 43
SOUTH
♠ K 8 4 3
♥ K 10
♦ A K 10
♣ K Q 8 6
[the play]
1. The ♦ 5 was led. South won in dummy with the Jack, noting East’s 8.
2. The ♦ Queen from dummy, East discarded ♥ 2, South the King, and West the 4 (therefore West began with seven♦s).
3. The third ♦, the Ace, brought another of East’s ♥s.
4. South played the ♠ 3 to dummy’s ♠ Ace. Declarer, knowing West with long ♦s must be short in the other suits, placed East with longer ♥s and played East for the ♥ Queen.
5. From dummy, South finessed the ♥ 10 and when it held, he then cashed the King. (The ♥ Queen was going to fall under the Ace.)
6. The ♣ 6 to dummy’s Ace.
7. ♥ Ace, dropping the Queen. South now knew he had 12 tricks.
8. “No Trump Play 101” – cash your winners!
South cashed the now ♥ Jack, and East was had.
9. If East discards a ♠, declarer’s 13th trick will be a ♠. If East discards a ♣, the 13th trick will be a ♣.
10. East discarded a ♣, and South had executed a three-suit squeeze to make his grand slam (two ♠s, four ♥s, three ♦s, four ♣s = 13 tricks). South’s never-give-up attitude garnered him a top board and a promise from his partner not to bid so much next time. Thanks to Milt Zlatic for this month’s hand.
[tip of the day]
Q. Kenny, having played some years now, I’m a pretty good declarer, but making a squeeze has escaped me. Any tips?
A. I’m sure you’ve heard people say, ‘He fell into that squeeze.’ There is some truth to that statement. Squeezes are often a default play. Cashing your winners puts pressure on the defenders, and they may be forced to make a critical discard or two.
[Do you have a good bridge tip? Email kennethmbland@yahoo.com]