Bridge - The Scotsman 02/05/13
Scotland bid more ambitiously to the vulnerable game, but Diane Greenwood found the best lead of a trump. Declarer won, took a diamond finesse, and ducked a heart to West. Diane saw no reason to change her plan and led a second trump. Declarer crossed to the ace of diamonds to lead another heart, but Diane won again and led a third trump. Declarer cashed one more trump to reach this position, where she could afford to lose one more trick:
She cashed the last trump, discarding a diamond from dummy, and East threw a club (now that declarer had no trump left she could afford a heart). Declarer woodenly took the club finesse, going two down when it failed. A seeker after style exits with a heart in the diagrammed position. West wins and exits with a diamond, ruffed. At this point a double squeeze has taken effect. West has kept a diamond, so has only two clubs; and East must keep a heart, so she too has to come down to two clubs. Declarer cashes three clubs from the top to make her game and gain 9 imps instead of losing 9.