Ted's Bridge World The Master Play

Movie #7 : page 3

Any 'safe' return sets up precisely the scenario for which the Old Master was hoping.  He will arrange to play off the top hearts and the spade ace, then run clubs to this position:

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The lead of the last club effects a classic double squeeze (a recurring theme of this column).  West must discard to save the high heart, and east must discard a diamond in order to guard spades.  Observe that the location of the diamond queen has become immaterial.

But that location of that card was meaningful earlier.  To have any chance, your partner must hold the diamond queen, and you must return a diamond at trick two!  It doesn't even matter which one you lead; but low is better because you, naturally, will not go wrong in the end game.

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Upon seeing the diamond return, the Old Master graciously spreads his hand and concedes one down.  Upon seeing that you had led away from your king, he does indeed invite you to partner him at an upcoming duplicate.

Note:  Had declarer held this unlikely hand:  A105 A 6 KQT98532, the same diamond return would have been necessary for the same reason.

Standard defense to a double squeeze: attack the entry in the middle suit (diamonds).

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