All is known

JUST as the serve at tennis and the drive at golf are crucial in determining the outcome, the first trick in a hand of bridge is the most important.

This week's hand is amazing in that declarer knew the location of all 52 cards at the end of the first trick. I fear it is a goulash, but nonetheless highly instructive. North's raise to 7* was optimistic in the light of the expected bad breaks that goulash bridge creates. But partner held 4A and good enough trumps to give the contract a chance.

West led 4K on which East discarded 3. This marked all four trumps with West, as well as his nine spades. He was therefore void in both minors. Can you see a way for declarer to succeed?

With East marked with Queen of clubs it is hard to see how declarer can prevail, but there is a way. He wins 4A, trumps a 4 in dummy, crosses to V9 and trumps his last *. He overtakes tK with tA and draws West's trumps, discarding 9 and J from dummy, leaving AK.T9 and AK. East has to discard from Q1087 and +Q108. If he discards a , then declarer will play A, *K and ruff out East's *Q. He will make the last three tricks with dummy's top s and *J. Thus East is forced to discard another . Now declarer cashes dummy's minor suit ace-king, trumps a third and makes the last trick with 2 (which he has retained for maximum effect!). He has just executed a `criss-cross squeeze'.

Copyright Spectator Apr 12, 1997
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