[Rebound]

Scoring: MP

I was West. Auction, uncontested. 1♥-1♠-2♣-4♥-all p

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Pretty normal auction. Not necessarily the best defense, but North lead AK and a third ♦, winning in dummy, pitching a club from my hand. I then took 3 rounds of hearts, ending in dummy, followed by a ♣ to the Q, which held. I then cashed the ♣ A and the ♥ 8 to leave this position:

Scoring: MP

I was West. Auction, uncontested. 1♥-1♠-2♣-4♥-all p

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On the last ♥, South is cooked. So, wadda all you folks think? Good or lucky? In any event I am giving myself a pat on the back lol... I have a mental block when it comes to squeezes, so I am proud just to have played the cards the way I did :-)

[pigpenz]

yes, nice squeeze! thats why on defense its important early on to break up the communication on defense.

[Rebound]

Thanks. An alternative line once in dummy with the ♦ Q would be to hook a club right away and try to ruff clubs in dummy but I think it is (obviously?) inferior due to the possibility of giving up a heart trick either as a ruff or promotion. I dunno for sure tho. Hence the post.

[cherdano]

Nice play! This is a difficult problem at the table. I think the alternative you suggest (trying to ruff a club in dummy) might be a little better. You win when clubs are 3-3, or when North has two clubs and 3 hearts. Your squeeze only works only when clubs are 4-2, and the long club hand has ♠QJ as well, which is less likely. However, your line has better chances against 4-1 trumps. And the squeeze is more fun!
(There is a 3rd possibility of playing ♥KA before trying to ruff a club; then you win when clubs are 3-3, or when the hand with 3 hearts has also 4 clubs and 3 spades; I doubt it is better.)

Arend

[Rebound]

[Deleted due to being stupendously dumb]

[david_c]

Rebound, on May 7 2005, 07:41 AM, said:

An alternative line once in dummy with the ♦ Q would be to hook a club right away and try to ruff clubs in dummy but I think it is (obviously?) inferior due to the possibility of giving up a heart trick either as a ruff or promotion.

That doesn't seem right - if the club finesse is right, then you're always making the contract unless there's a bad trump break (and even then you have good chances). But if the club finesse is wrong, then you'll always go down if you draw trumps first, whereas if you take the finesse immediately you might still make.

[Fluffy]

Chances of squeeze are 'poor' at best, chances of ruffing a ♣ in dummy without promotion are great, the problem is getting a double promotion, but if you can smell that North has more than 3♦ then I guess the ruff try is better line.

[Rebound]

Oh. Ok.

[inquiry]

Congradulations, you line makes the plenty of sense, but I would have started with the club hook first. Then ♥KA. When both follow, you have 10 tricks (1♦+2♣+2♠+5♥). Now there is no reason to risk someone ruffing your club ace (of course if they do, you ruff a club for your 10th trick). Just take your tricks and smile. Should someone have 4clubs and QJ of spades, so much the better.

You will be surprised how few people will lead that last trump. Learning to do that simple thing will win you a lot of extra tricks over the years. Keep it up.

ben

[Rebound]

Thanks <silly grin>