This week’s hand was reported by the excellent Phillip Alder in The New York Times and features a ... wait for it and don’t tremble ... squeeze! I very rarely cover squeeze plays in the column as players are usually intimidated by them and mentally switch off, but this hand was too good to pass up as a great and simple demonstration of the technique.

Sitting North South were Doug Doub and Frank Merblum of Connecticut who won the gruelling and high class Von Zedwitz Life Masters Pairs, an event spread over three days and six intense sessions. Merblum was South.

South Dealer, Neither side Vulnerable

? K93

?AQJ

•KQJ109

?83

? 104 ?QJ87

? 98653 ?K72

• 75 • 432

? 9764 ? 1052

?A652

?104

•A86

?AKQJ

The Bidding:

South North

1C 1D

2NT 6NT

Pass

Merblum’s jump to 2NT showed 18-20 and Doub made the “most reasonable contract” bid of 6NT.

West led the heart nine and Merblum quickly saw two things ... he had 12 tricks no matter what, and that based on the lead the heart finesse was not working as no good player would lead the nine away from the King against a slam! So instead of making the useless play of the finesse Merblum decided to play East for the heart king and possibly four or more spades — look what happened.

Merblum won the heart Ace at trick one and immediately cashed his clubs and diamonds — this was the position with one diamond left to cash:

? K9

?J

•K

?None

? 104 ?QJ8

? 98 ?K

• None • None

? None ? None

?A652

? None

• None

? None

Now when the last diamond is played from dummy East is dead as any card he throws away gives declarer the remaining tricks ... a simple and successful squeeze!

Take a good look at this and try and get a feel for this play — I believe the Bridge Club is planning a session on squeezes and it would certainly be time well spent for all advanced players.