BRIDGE MASTERCLASS CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
YOU are still on course for 6NT from yesterday, and you require five of the remaining tricks, with the lead in dummy (East).
CAN you see how critical it is to be in dummy at this stage, and therefore how important it can be to play your cards in a specific order?
When you lead dummy’s diamond, South has to make a fatal discard; either major will set up yours, so he throws ♣J, and you play ♦8, allowing North to win the trick! Remember that for a squeeze to take effect, we have first to ‘rectify the count’ which means to lose the trick we can afford to lose. North is obliged now to play back a diamond, on which dummy discards a club, and South is powerless; whatever he does sets up winners for declarer.
ACROSS
1 Hotels thugs vandalised? That’s inconsiderate (11)
9 Snack with Italian wine kept in part of golf club (7)
10 Eccentric temping in ochre, perhaps (7)
11 Note uniform and coin from the past (3)
12 Secures quickly three different points (7)
13 Fuss shown by friend with a retired priest (7)
14 At intervals, reveal source of jellied dish (3)
15 Pair facing fuss in Spanish museum (5)
17 Second Australian went into union and worked in carpentry? (5)
18 Hard-wearing fabric exploited after setback (5)
20 Working on stage overlooking street in Italian city (5)
22 Conditions provided by last of insurers (3)
24 Daily situation for ineffectual type (7)
25 King, say, importing old metal largely in vital carrier? (7)
26 Expression of surprise, for example, in turn by European (3)
27 Formal line in posh area for plant (7)
28 Appearance publicly revealed for observation post (7)
29 Hotel in French city to advertise for a specialised type of clientele (5,6)
DOWN
1 Shift to another place process for recovery? (15)
2 Improving, like a hiker approaching a hilltop? (2,3,2)
3 Estimate party attendees with little time gone (5)
4 Financial aid ahead accepted by platoon in trouble (3-2,4)
5 Overwhelms English soprano nursing flu badly (7)
6 Garment twelve associate with embroidery (6,9)
7 Hold back fancy tiles to cover front of fireplace (6)
8 Leading journalist had a fixed look (6)
16 Get gear mended to clothe leader of group with a cluster? (9)
18 Director in front of a top circle gives musical instruction (2,4)
19 Criminal’s partner for all to see starts to seem creepy slug, maybe (7)
21 Excellent plumber ultimately gets to confine problem in a pipe? (7)
23 Rather dull case for some romantic acquaintance (6)
25 Some parcel I accepted for woman (5)