BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

YOu are East, declarer in 6NT, doubled by South. South had doubled your cue bid of 5 on the way to the slam. He leads a low diamond, which you win with dummy’s 10. You then lead a club to your queen, which South wins, and plays another diamond. Plan the play from there. WIN the second diamond in hand, then cash dummy’s KQ, and play 6 to your ace. Next cash A, and run dummy’s remaining diamonds. It is certain from the bidding south holds K, and North is probably long in spades. so your only chance of making the contract is to squeeze south in hearts and clubs. Your earlier unblocking play of A is known as a Vienna Coup, which prepares the way for the squeeze position which now exists.

If your guess is right, south will have been reduced to K and Jx by the time you play the last diamond. While you are able to discard your low hearts and spade from hand, south has real problems and is helpless. If he discards K, dummy’s Q becomes established; so he must discard a club, and your K should hopefully drop the bare knave.

This line of play would be routine to the experienced declarer after the double, but it would have required a streak of brilliance for East to have played the same way if south had remained silent.