From 2nd December, 2009, Board 29 Difficulty * * * * Dlr South Both Vul
West leads the ♣J. You have ♠AK and also AKQ in each of the other suits for a total of 11. If the Clubs or the Diamonds break 3-3 then that will be the extra trick, likewise if the Hearts are 3-3 or the Jack is singleton or doubleton. And, of course, if two of those suits behave then there will be 13 tricks. And, let’s not forget that there are some squeeze possibilities in the case where none of the suits behave.
The best line appears to be to cash the top Clubs and Diamonds, the logic being to leave the Heart guess until the last possible moment. So, you cash the top Clubs (East shows out on the third round, pitching a Spade), and then the top Diamonds (West shows out the third round, also pitching a Spade).
What next?
SOLUTION
With both minors breaking 4-2 you can forget about making 13 tricks. With 12 tricks as the maximum it would be a good idea to lose a Club or a Diamond immediately, tightening up the position and laying the groundwork for a possible squeeze. However, there is no squeeze against East, his Diamond winner sits over Dummy’s Diamond threat. But there is a possible squeeze against West, as his Club winner is under Dummy’s Club threat.
So, you cross to the ♠A, and lose a Diamond to East (West pitching another Spade). You win the Spade return and this trick will do one of three things as West comes down to 4 cards: - either Hearts are 3-3 and West will pitch his last Spade - or West has four Hearts and will be squeezed in Hearts and Clubs - or West has two Hearts and you are down one!
On the actual deal, it’s the Heart-Club squeeze that brings in 12 tricks. The suggested line of play works whenever Clubs or Diamonds are 3-3, or whenever West has 3 or more Hearts.
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