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Competition Problem 102b from
the collection of Robert Lemaire
South to make seven spades. West leads the ♦Q. Successful solvers: Ian Budden, Steve Bloom, Leigh Matheson, Sebastian Nowacki, Radu Mihai, Dick Yuen, Wim van der Zijden
Solution South wins the first trick in hand with the ♦A, then in some appropriate order come the ♣K, ♥A, ♠Q, club ruffed high, ♠K, club ruffed high, ♠A, ♣A and ♣Q. On those last two tricks South discards the ♥9 and ♥10, while both opponents are squeezed in the red suits, as follows. If East bares the ♥K, South’s last spade ruffs the ♥6 and North’s ♦K and ♥Q take the last two tricks. If West bares the ♥J, North leads the ♥Q and South ruffs the ♥K to leave North with the ♦K and good ♥6. If both defenders keep two hearts, then each has only one diamond, so the ♦K, heart ruff and ♦3 take the last three tricks. The ending is usually called a double ruffing squeeze, though perhaps ruffing double squeeze is more appropriate, seeing as only one ruff is taken after the squeeze. The key play is to win the first trick in the South hand, keeping the diamond entry to North that is needed for the squeeze. See the solution to Competition Problem #4 for the recommended tabular format if you prefer not to write in English prose.
© Hugh Darwen, 2013 Date last modified: 11 March, 2017 |