Solution to Quiz 1.2

Quiz 1.2 Matchpoints VUL= N/S	♠ 9 ♥ A K 9 6 ♦ A T 9 5 ♣ A 7 4 3		WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Pass 1 ♦ Pass 1 ♥ Pass 3 ♥ Pass 4 ♥ Pass Pass Pass END TRick Lead 2nd 3rd 4th 1.W ♠2 ♠9 ♠A ♠3 2.E ♥3 ♥2 ♥Q ♥A 3.N ♦5 ♦4 ♦K ♦6 4.S ♦2 ♦J ♦A ♦7 5.N ♦5 ♦3 ♥7 ♦T 6.S ♥T ♥J ♥K ♥4 7.N ♥9 ♥5 ♥8 ♠6
Lead ♠2	♠ Q 8 5 3 ♥ T 8 7 2 ♦ K 2 ♣ K J 2

Analysis

The matchpoint question was how to win 11 or even 12 tricks. The answer is a squeeze. For BLUE, the two threats will be against West and are the ♠Q and North’s fourth ♣ so "B" is Right.

If East happens to have the ♣Q, you have 3 ♣ winners by playing low to the ♣ K-J. That gives you 11 tricks, correcting the loser count for a simple squeeze against West, so "L" will be right. The squeeze card will be the ♥9. The club threat will be in the upper hand, so "U" is right. The entry, however is interesting. The ♠ threat has no entry in its own suit, so the ♣K will have to be the entry to South. After the ♣J wins, you have to get back to dummy, via ruffing a spade and then play the squeeze card (♦10).

Quiz 1.2 Matchpoints VUL= N/S	♠ ♥ 6 ♦ T ♣ A 7 5 3
♠ K J ♥ ♦ ♣ T 8 6 4		♠ T 7 6 4 ♥ ♦ 7 ♣ Q
Lead ♠2	♠ Q 8 5 ♥ ♦ ♣ K J 2

Here you can play hook East ♣Q, ruff a spade, and cash ♦10 on which West is squeeze in the black suits. If he throws a ♣, you run 3♣’s starting with ♣K. If he throws ♠K, you win ♣K, cash ♠Q, then ♣A, making 12 tricks in this ending.

Quiz 1.2.1 Matchpoints VUL= N/S	♠ ♥ 6 ♦ T ♣ A 7 5 3
♠ K J ♥ ♦ ♣ T 8 6 4		♠ T 7 4 ♥ ♦ 7 ♣ Q 9
Lead ♠2	♠ Q 8 5 ♥ ♦ ♣ K J 2

Alternatively, West may hold four clubs to the Queen. Can you still make 11 tricks in this ending? Yes! Lose the ♣ hook, win the ♣ return in dummy with ACE, temporarily blocking suit. Then cash the Diamond=ten executing a trump squeeze that we will study in chapter 2. But you should see that this squeeze is nothig but a crisscross squeeze using the last trump as a super ACE of spades

Quiz 1.2.2 Matchpoints VUL= N/S	♠ ♥ 6 ♦ T ♣ A 7 5 3
♠ K J ♥ ♦ ♣ Q T 6 4		♠ T 7 4 ♥ ♦ 7 ♣ 9 8
	♠ Q 8 5 ♥ ♦ ♣ K J 2

After the club jack loses, WEST must return a club, win ACE to arrive at this ending.

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Quiz 1.2 Matchpoints VUL= N/S	♠ ♥ 6 ♦ T ♣ 7 5
♠ K J ♥ ♦ ♣ T 8		♠ T 7 6 ♥ ♦ 7 ♣
Lead ♠2	♠ Q 8 5 ♥ ♦ ♣ K