Ted's Bridge World The Master Play

Movie #3 : page 2

You have sufficient information to place your hand upon the table — with an appropriate announcement, of course.

You could try a minor-suit finesse at great risk, but either ploy would be giving up a sure thing.  West had two chances to lead a third heart, if any; therefore, he does not have one.  On the knowledge that east has eight major-suit cards, the surefire line is to win the second diamond with the ace, then a diamond to the queen.  If the suit splits 3-3 school is out.  In the unlikely event that east has four diamonds, then he could have but a singleton club, and a second-round club finesse is marked.

Most likely, west has four diamonds.  In this case, declarer cashes two trumps, to this position:

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The lead of the last spade effects a double squeeze.  West must guard diamonds, so he discards a club.  The diamond seven is now expendable, and east is forced to part with a club in order to guard hearts.

Note that winning the second diamond in hand kills the squeeze position.  The full deal:

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At the table, declarer reasoned that my partner (east) surely would not have made such a conservative preempt at favorable vulnerability; so he finessed clubs the wrong way and went down.

Never underestimate the power of a preempt!

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