Belgian Open Teams slam

[inquiry]

[hv=n=st98hat73da52cq64&s=sakqj7542hdk43ca2]133|200|7♠ no opponent bidding. Opening lead ♥Queen[/hv]

 

Here is an interesting one. NS have 12 top tricks so will need a squeeze. The commentators were a harsh on the line of play chosen at one table (grand made at one table, down at the other). Surely a squeeze will be needed, what thoughts should we be thinking at trick one? What squeeze options are there and why might some work and others not?

[Impact]

Since T1 exposes the H void we might as well take advantage of the chance to ruff in hand (twice in fact) as we may be able to isolate HJ as a menace in LHO if H are 6430 round table.

We will draw trumps while taking the opportunity to ruff a second H and cash HA and CA before running S with the likely basis of a simple squeeze in C & D (which requires D at least 5-2 & CK or triple squeeze or if we pick it double squeeze with H & C menaces split and neitehr able to hold D). NB the latter requires the positional element of LHO holding a pickable menace as the end position will be

N HT, DA5 CQ when South plays from S5 DK43 and leads the last trump.

 

That is not as good a position as the 2 single menaces in the South hand and the D length in dummy- so some guessowrk will be necessary as to which menace is held where but the unambiguous lead of the Q should make it fairly clear as West presumably (std leads) holds HJ and East the HK.

[Free]

If East dropped the ♥K, I think the ending should be:

[hv=n=shtdaxcqx&s=s2hdkxxca]133|200|[/hv]

 

To get there, discard a ♣ on ♥A, and ruff 2 ♥s. Draw trumps.

 

On the play of ♠2 LHO may be in trouble with his ♥J. If he keeps it, discard ♥T which has done it's job. Now you play ♦K and you have a criss cross left, which is always a bit ambiguous. However, I don't see a better line with that ♣ holding...

[Walddk]

The commentators were a harsh on the line of play chosen at one table.

I disagree. I was commenting myself, and I do not think that any commentator was harsh. Declarer misplayed the hand by discarding a diamond at trick 1. At this point you don't know what to pitch, so the simple answer is not to pitch at all. Ruff instead.

 

The declarer in question is a very experienced international player, so in my view it is perfectly legitimate to state that he made a serious error.

 

I think that the hand will make automatically if you ruff ♥Q. It is much more interesting on a diamond lead because then a criss-cross squeeze is needed as pointed out by Fred Gitelman.

 

Roland

[Free]

What is the point of discarding a ♦? :) The only possible way to make now is a positional minor suit squeeze against West (or a triple). This approach is clearly inferior than a criss-cross with some extra possibilities, unless I missed something.

[pclayton]

I'm wondering why this doesn't play itself as a compound, assuming you can read the ending? Assuming you can isolate the heart menace, ruff the opening lead, and use one of dummy's trump to ruff a 2nd. With one to go, the ending is:

 

[hv=d=s&n=shatdaxxcqx&w=shjxdqxxcxx&e=shkdjxxcxxx&s=sakhdkxxcax]399|300|[/hv]

 

The club spots are immaterial, as is the ♣Q in this ending. It's really early here, but I can't see how the defense can counter this ending when South plays off the final two trump.

[inquiry]

The diamond discard is clearly wrong for the same reason that there was no double squeeze in this thread (Interesting play problem).. which is, all three threats can not lie in the same hand. The club and heart threats are both in dummy, so dummy's third diamond has to be a threat.

 

Could a diamond pitch from south ever be right? What if WEST alone guards diamonds and clubs? Well, yes, then the ♦ pitch is ok. This is just a vienna coup run the black cards and WEST would crumble. This requires west to hold the club KING and the Five diamonds (or EAST make a mistake and give up his diamond guard). Note, while a ♥=♦ squeeze would work against WEST, a ♥-♣ simple will never work since there is no entry in either of those two suits. If the ACE and Queen of clubs were reversed between NS, then a trump squeeze in those two suits would have been possibility. (ending A of clubs in dummy along with two hearts and top D, south trump, diamond, Qx of clubs--- cash diamond, West can not keep two hearts and two clubs).

 

So, declearer took a line that would allow one squeeze to work (♦-♣) if WEST had the right hand. The problem is, he had much better chances if he keeps the third diamond in his hand -- one thing, the ♦-♣ squeeze would still have worked against WEST, but it also introduces some other squeezes. A double squeeze, a ♦-♣ on EAST, and some compound squeeze chances. And of course, the trump squeeze on WEST in ♥-♣ (winning last diamond in dummy as the squeeze card while one trump is left). So correct is to ruff opening lead, cross in ♠ and ruff another ♥. Only one opponent can stop clubs, so even a 4-4 split in ♥ may be overcome on a compound squeeze.

 

Still declarer's play was not without some hope (a positional type 0 simple squeeze on WEST). And Roland, I thought the commentators were a tad harsh, but I do see I had some private chat that might not have been from commentators.