Solution for 2/10/08

Problem 1 - Difficulty: ***
IMPs, NS Vul
Dealer: E

	9876 T98 8532 87
	8 AKQJ765 AJ4 AQ

West	North	East	South
1NT	P	2	4
All Pass

Dummy is pretty poor, but this was sort of expected. The K is led and you get a small spade continuation. You see that EW generally lead A from AK. How do you play?

It is clear that LHO has both the K and the KQ. In order to make your contract, you will have to play for a squeeze without the count. This is not tricky, but the only thing you have to note is that west must be the sole guarder of diamonds; this will require him to have four diamonds, not improbable given RHO's transfer.

After ruffing the spade and drawing trumps, play the J from hand. West must win, and he can make any return he likes (say a diamond). Win the A and then play off all your winners to reach this position in your hand with one heart left:

5
4
AQ

Play the last heart, and it should not be difficult to read the position here. If West decides to keep K Kx, lead your last diamond to endplay him in clubs; if he decides to keep Kx K, drop his stiff K.