Squeeze Play! by Dennis Sorensen

There is no greater thrill than to execute a squeeze to make a contract. My partner had the opportunity not once, but twice. In both cases, Richard Katz of Palm Springs, negotiated squeezes in slam contracts.

Dlr: North S KQ2
Vul: Both H JT7
D KJ2
C JT42
S T986 S J7
H 2 H K964
D 864 D T973
C AKQ97 C 865
S A543
H AQ853
D AQ5
C 3

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
Becker Sorensen Rubin Katz
Pass Pass 1H
2C Dbl Pass 3C
Pass 3NT Pass 4S
Pass 6H All Pass

Michael led the CA and Richard ruffed the CK continuation. He crossed to dummy with the S3 in order to finesse for the HK. Ron ducked the HJ but covered the HT. Richard crossed back to dummy by overtaking the DQ with the king to complete his finesse against the H9. Meanwhile, Michael had shed a club and two small diamonds to reach the following end position.

S Q2
H --
D J2
C J
S 986 S J
H -- H --
D -- D T97
C Q9 C 8
S A54
H --
D A5
C --

Richard now cashed the DA and Michael had a club to spare. However, on the diamond to the jack, he was squeezed. If he parted with the CQ, dummy's jack would become the slam-making trick. Releasing a spade does no better. Unfortunately for our side, Richard's fine play did not overcome the opponent's exceptional play as they went on to win the KO event.

The second hand occurred in the Spingold against the Hampson team.

Dlr: North S K2
Vul: E-W H KJ2
D AJ82
C AQ86
S T864 S QJ975
H Q83 H --
D T7 D Q965
C JT75 C K943
S A3
H AT97654
D K43
C 2

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
Sorensen Katz
1D 1S 2H
Pass 2S Pass 3D
Pass 4H Pass 4NT
Pass 5C Dbl 5NT
Pass 6H Pass 7H
All Pass

The 5C response showed three keycards. 5NT asked for specific kings. I finally decided not to risk 7 or show the SK since we might be too high. Richard took it on to 7H with his strong hand. His subsequent play validated his judgment.
West led the CJ in response to his partner's lead-directing double. Richard reasoned that he might be able to ruff out the K-x-x of clubs, but he must first draw trumps. If there did exist Q-x-x of hearts, the likely candidate was West since East had shown more black cards than red. Consequently, Richard led the HJ off dummy and was rewarded when East discarded a spade. He now drew trumps.
His next move was to try and ruff out K-x-x of clubs, so he ruffed two clubs to reach the following position:

S 2
H --
D AJ86
C Q
S T86 S Q
H -- H --
D T7 D Q965
C J C K
S A
H 97
D K43
C --

Richard played two rounds of trump, pitching a spade and diamond from dummy. East released a diamond and the SQ while West played a spade and the CJ. Richard had to decide on a simple diamond finesse or a squeeze against East. With the release of the CJ by West, he chose to play East for a 5-0-4-4 pattern. He next cashed the SA, shedding a diamond from dummy but more importantly posing an unsolvable dilemma for East. If he played the CK, then dummy's queen would be good. On the other hand, discarding a diamond would establish the 4 as the slam-going trick. Unfortunately as well, we were overpowered in our match with the Hampson team. Nonetheless, these were two beautifully executed squeezes.