Squeeze without the count

[Dave Flower]

This hand came up in a league of eight match:

A K x
A x
A K x x
K Q 10 9

x x x x J x x
J x Q 10 x x x
Q 10 x 9 8 x x
x x x x x

Q 10 x
K x x x
J 9
A J x x

Skillfully missing 7C, I was declarer in 6NT

I won the SA, and played four rounds of clubs; RHO discarded two hearts, so I conceded a heart and claimed the rest.

Note that if N/S cash four clubs and two spades, RHO is squeezed.

Note also that the play still works if the hearts are 3-4

Dave Flower

[f***@googlemail.com]

Post by Dave Flower
A K x
A x
A K x x
K Q 10 9
x x x x J x x
J x Q 10 x x x
Q 10 x 9 8 x x
x x x x x
Q 10 x
K x x x
J 9
A J x x
Skillfully missing 7C, I was declarer in 6NT
I won the SA, and played four rounds of clubs; RHO discarded two hearts, so I conceded a heart and claimed the rest.
Note that if N/S cash four clubs and two spades, RHO is squeezed.
Note also that the play still works if the hearts are 3-4
Dave Flower

Playing in a friendly teams of 8 match at the weekend, this hand came up.
West overcalled 1S so no-one bid 6D, but everyone skillfully avoided 6NT as well.

How do you play 6NT on the jack of hearts or the 8 of clubs lead after West has overcalled in spades? (The lead is honest, which should help you divine the layout)


Q642
Q5
AKQ9752
-

K96
AK62
8
A10753

[Robert Chance]

Post by f***@googlemail.com

Post by Dave Flower
A K x
A x
A K x x
K Q 10 9
x x x x J x x
J x Q 10 x x x
Q 10 x 9 8 x x
x x x x x
Q 10 x
K x x x
J 9
A J x x
Skillfully missing 7C, I was declarer in 6NT
I won the SA, and played four rounds of clubs; RHO discarded two hearts, so I conceded a heart and claimed the rest.
Note that if N/S cash four clubs and two spades, RHO is squeezed.
Note also that the play still works if the hearts are 3-4
Dave Flower

Playing in a friendly teams of 8 match at the weekend, this hand came up.
West overcalled 1S so no-one bid 6D, but everyone skillfully avoided 6NT as well.
How do you play 6NT on the jack of hearts or the 8 of clubs lead after West has overcalled in spades? (The lead is honest, which should help you divine the layout)
Q642
Q5
AKQ9752
-
K96
AK62
8
A10753

6NT is cold on a heart lead providing that diamonds break (win the heart in dummy, cash the diamonds and knock out the ace of spades). I can't see any way of dealing with a 4-1 diamond break.

On a club lead, I think you need LHO to be 5422. Win the first round of clubs (throwing a spade from dummy), and run seven rounds of diamonds, coming down to SK HAK62. LHO has to keep four hearts and the ace of spades, so must discard the remaining club. You now play a spade to the king, and have a heart entry to dummy to enjoy the queen of spades for your twelfth trick.

[Dave Flower]

Post by Robert Chance

Post by f***@googlemail.com

Post by Dave Flower
A K x
A x
A K x x
K Q 10 9
x x x x J x x
J x Q 10 x x x
Q 10 x 9 8 x x
x x x x x
Q 10 x
K x x x
J 9
A J x x
Skillfully missing 7C, I was declarer in 6NT
I won the SA, and played four rounds of clubs; RHO discarded two hearts, so I conceded a heart and claimed the rest.
Note that if N/S cash four clubs and two spades, RHO is squeezed.
Note also that the play still works if the hearts are 3-4
Dave Flower

Playing in a friendly teams of 8 match at the weekend, this hand came up.
West overcalled 1S so no-one bid 6D, but everyone skillfully avoided 6NT as well.
How do you play 6NT on the jack of hearts or the 8 of clubs lead after West has overcalled in spades? (The lead is honest, which should help you divine the layout)
Q642
Q5
AKQ9752
-
K96
AK62
8
A10753

6NT is cold on a heart lead providing that diamonds break (win the heart in dummy, cash the diamonds and knock out the ace of spades). I can't see any way of dealing with a 4-1 diamond break.
On a club lead, I think you need LHO to be 5422. Win the first round of clubs (throwing a spade from dummy), and run seven rounds of diamonds, coming down to SK HAK62. LHO has to keep four hearts and the ace of spades, so must discard the remaining club. You now play a spade to the king, and have a heart entry to dummy to enjoy the queen of spades for your twelfth trick.

I disagree; South should come down to HAKxx C109 (Still to discard); East was squeezed on the last diamond, having to discard from Sx HJ10xx CK

Dave Flower

[Robert Chance]

Post by Dave Flower
I disagree; South should come down to HAKxx C109 (Still to discard); East was squeezed on the last diamond, having to discard from Sx HJ10xx CK
Dave Flower

You're right - I hadn't spotted that you have the choice to play either opponent for the long hearts.

You can postpone the decision which opponent to squeeze until you discard at trick 7 (discarding from SK HAKxx CTx). By then you will know which opponent has the long diamond, and you may be influenced by the club pips RHO discards. This also depends on which pip opponents lead from xxx - if RHO throws three small clubs you may be able to rule out xxx on your left.

[Robert Chance]

On Tuesday, 19 September 2017 16:29:07 UTC+1, Robert Chance wrote:

On further reflection, you can always afford to discard the king of spades at trick 7; if West has the long heart then s/he has to come down to the bare ace anyway, so you don't need to keep the king. You do still have to decide at trick 8 which opponent has the long heart, but you are likely to be able to read the final position.

So I agree that you should come down to HAKxx CTx, but it is still possible that you will be squeezing West, not East.