Ted's Bridge World Play Problems

Symmetry
by William Butler

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South to make 6NT
Opening Lead: S2


At first blush, it looks as if there couldn't possibly be enough resources without spades being trump, but declarer can work magic on this one!

Declarer wins four spade tricks as West keeps three of each plain suit, leaving this:

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The S3 is led.  If west discards a heart, north wins the five; then a heart to the ace, spade to the ace, and a low heart to west's king.  A diamond return is taken by the ace; then the HQ squeezes west in the minors.  A club return is won by dummy's ace, as south discards to this position:

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North cashes the HQ, discarding a club, and west is caught in a criss-cross squeeze.  Whichever suit he unguards, declarer leads next.

Alternatively, if west casts a diamond on the lead of the S3, north wins the ace; then, a diamond to the ace, spade to the king, low diamond to west's king.  The return is won in hand; then the DQ squeezes west as before.  In this case, the criss-cross matrix is unnecessary.

Finally, if west discards a club on the fifth spade, the spades are finished and the C9 is led to the king, leaving this ending:

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The lead of the C8 effects a second entry-shifting squeeze; if a heart is discarded, the C8 wins and the HA is cashed; now, north has two entries to set up and cash the HQ.  If instead west lets go a diamond, the C8 is overtaken, the DA cashed, and south's DQ comes home in similar fashion.

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