The Big Kahuna

[Echognome]

[hv=d=s&v=n&n=skxhaxxdkjxckjxxx&s=saqxxhkxxdatxcaqt]133|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

Ok Ok. I was South and chickened out on the actual deal bidding only to 6NT after finding out that partner's hand minus the Jacks. I could have asked for the ♣J only below 6NT. But the play in 6NT is not that interesting. We'll assume that you were braver and bid 7NT.

 

You get the ♠J lead. Plan the play. In particular say what ending you are going to be looking for.

[Free]

Easy imo, go for the double/triple squeeze (guessing finesses is for noobs):

 

[hv=n=sxhxdkjxc&s=saqxhdatc]133|200|[/hv]

 

Now play ♦A and 2 ♠s and see what happens.

[inquiry]

The technically correct looking play, I guess, is to find out who holds the long spade (easiest if one of the opponents has five spades). But the problem with that approach is you have to find a discard from dummy on the third ♠. If you throw a ♥ or a ♦, the spade threat and the red suit threat in the suit you discard from dummy will both be in south's hand. This could break up your pending "compouond squeeze" . This really isn't a compound squeeze, as if the same hand with the four+ spades has the diamond queen it is simple squeeze (or hook), and if the hand with four plus spades doesn't have the diamond queen, it is double squeeze. But let's play same hand without the TEN or JACK of diamonds. Here, it is liekly that both opponents have a red suit stopper.

 

After four rounds of clubs (winning ♠King at trick one), your oppenent with four+ spades will have to have reduced to five red cards, and thus given up control in one of the two red suit. Which ever suit he has given up had exposed himself and his partner to a double squeeze we come to something like this...

 

[hv=n=sxhaxxdkxxcx&w=st9xhxxxdxxc&e=sxxhxxxdxxxc&s=saqxhkxdaxxc]399|300|Here abandoned diamonds, exposing his side to a double squeeze (both hearts, R=Spade, L=diamond. The obvious line is to cash two spades (discard diamond from dummy), cash both diamonds ending in dummy, and lead the last club. When East discards not the 13th diamond (thus reducing to 2♥ and 1♦, south lets his diamond go. West has to keep a ♠, so he reduces to 2♥. Now herat to king, heart Ace, and last heart is good[/hv]

 

What you have to do in these ending is "guess" which threat the hand with lhe long spade has given up. You must make certain that no matter which threat the long spade hand give up, you will have at least one threat in the upper hand against each opponent. Depending upon which suit your opponents give up, if you cash your red suit winners in the wrong order, the compound squeeze can fail. This can be no more than a guess on some hands. This hand gives you an advantage due to the diamond threat. One opponent will clearly have to keep diamonds (he might discard one early from Qxx to try to talk you out of finessing him, but if you play for the squeeze, now you make anyway even when you discard wrong).