Declarer cashed a second spade (both opponents following, West with the ♠T), played 3 rounds of diamonds pitching a club (all follow, no ♦J). He then led a low club from the table, East playing the ♣J as he ruffed. He then exited a trump to East, to this ending:

A complex ending to be sure. If East gets out the JD, declarer is more or less compelled to play for a club/heart squeeze against West. If East doesn’t get out a diamond, then declarer has a number of options, ranging from playing East to be endplayed to a simple diamond/heart squeeze against West to many more complicated squeezes against either or both opponents. This can also lead to some interesting deceptive options for the defence.

Consider this East hand:

If you exit the ♦J when you are on lead with the ♠Q, declarer has no real choices other than the (winning) heart/club squeeze. If, however, you exit with a low club, declarer may go wrong in a number of ways. (Discarding, playing for the wrong squeeze, etc.)

No guarantees that declarer will go wrong, of course, but it always pays to consider alternative defences, even when an ‘obvious’ play is available.

Post Mortem: East did not hold the diamond at the table, and my friend got the ending right to make the rest of the tricks.

Post from: YouHold

	A75
	76
	AQJT42
	52
		962
4		AT532
		73
		K96

Normally after partner leads 4th best, if you win the trick and return the suit, you return your original 4th best as well. However, this hand is a good exception to keep in mind. If you return the 3 of hearts at trick 2, partner may need to decide if you have 3 or 5. If you have 3, they need to switch immediately to try to get you back in to lead another heart through declarer. If you have 5, the suit is running. Return the 2 of hearts instead. If partner thinks you have 4, they will continue the suit anyway, “knowing” that declarer’s last card is dropping.

The whole hand:

	A75
	76
	AQJT42
	52
QT9		962
KJ94		AT532
96		73
T843		K96
	KJ83
	Q8
	K85
	AQJ7

Looking at 11 points in the dummy, 6 in their hand, and 15-17 by declarer, partner knows we have between 6 and 8 HCP. We’ve already won the Ace of hearts, but we could still have either the Ace of clubs or the King of diamonds. Partner might switch to a club at trick 3 if we aren’t careful with the heart spots.

Post from: YouHold

The have a simple auction, 1NT (15-17 HCP) by South, 3NT by North. You are in the East seat. Partner leads the 4 of hearts playing 4th best leads. This is what you see.

	A75
	76
	AQJT42
	52
		962
4		AT532
		73
		K96

Plan your defense. Be specific.

Post from: YouHold

This deal is an actual hand from the Vanderbilt Knockout Teams at the Dallas NABC.

You hold:

A843 873 — J86432

Partner leads the K against 3NT, which you play asks for an attitude signal.

Dummy hits with:

QT75 Q9 QT952 A7

Playing standard signals, you play the 3…or do you?

The whole hand:

	QT75
	Q9
	QT952
	A7
J6		A843
AK6542		873
74		—
Q95		J86432
	K92
	JT
	AKJ863
	KT

If you play the 3 at trick 1, you block the heart suit. You can no longer beat 3NT.

Post from: YouHold