This Time It Was The Defence That Squeezed Declarer
Sydney Morning Herald
Friday December 7, 2001
This was an amusing deal from the Bermuda Bowl semi-final between Italy and Norway:
West North East South
-- -- Pass 1NT
Pass 2C 2D! Pass
2NT 3D* Pass 3NT
Pass Pass Pass --
* inquiry for diamond stopper
Opening lead: D3
If East's reason for bidding two diamonds (which by the way can't be beaten) was that he believed that any lead bar a diamond would concede three no-trumps to his opponents, he was dead right! West duly led the diamond 3 and after long thought, declarer ducked East's jack. A low diamond was returned to the 8 and 10 and West cashed the ace. At first sight it may look as if declarer will now make nine tricks, since West has the ace of spades and is out of diamonds. Look more closely. Declarer has no good discard in dummy on the ace of diamonds and in fact is squeezed out of his ninth trick! Declarer discarded a spade from dummy. West now played the ace of spades, the fourth trick for the defence and exited with a spade. His king of hearts was the setting trick. At the other table, South was untroubled to make three no-trumps once the heart 3 was led. 12 imps to Italy.
A light opening induced an imprudent double on this deal from the other Bermuda Bowl semi-final, USA2 against Poland:
West North East South
-- -- 1S Dble
2D 3C Pass 3NT
Dble Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: SJ
Declarer had ten top tricks in three no-trumps doubled, for a score of +650. At the other table, the contract was five clubs, played by South. After winning the diamond lead and drawing trumps, declarer led dummy's singleton heart and East blew the defence by rising with the ace. Declarer was now able to ruff out the heart king, with his queen of hearts the eleventh trick. 6 imps to USA2, but it could have been 12.
© 2001 Sydney Morning Herald