The Inominate Squeeze

Consider the following hand, which is an improved version of a problem composed by Paul Barden which appeared in an early Newsletter:

3s by S
S K1098
H Q1064
D -
C A9543
sA led
S A
H J987
D KQ65
C K876
N
W         E
S
S J65
H AK5
D 10843
C QJ10
S Q7432
H 32
D AJ972
C 2

The defence finds the annoying line of sA followed by h9 to the 10 and K, and a low trump from East, on which West throws h7. Declarer is now a trick short, but finds the brilliant shot of a low club from dummy, won by East. A club is returned to dummy (sJ squeezes West!) a club is ruffed in hand and a diamond in dummy, leaving the position on the front cover:

Spades trumps
S K
H Q64
D -
C 95
N on lead
S -
H J8
D KQ6
C K
N
W         E
S
S J
H A5
D 1084
C -
S Q7
H 3
D AJ9
C -

North leads a club and East is subjected to what Paul Barden reliably informs us is a `new squeeze', which has not been seen before in Bridge literature. Another world exclusive for the CH Newsletter!

(a) Clearly trumping is hopeless as we make 3 trumps, dA and the long club.

(b) If East throws h5, we ruff and duck a heart to the bare ace. A trump is returned, but we cash dummy's winners and exit with a heart. West must lead to our dA.

(c) So East throws a diamond. We ruff, play dA and ruff a diamond. North leads a winning club in this 3 card ending:

Spades trumps
S -
H Q6
D -
C 9
N on lead
S -
H J8
D K
C -
N
W         E
S
S J
H A5
D -
C -
S Q
H 3
D J
C -

East must ruff, we overruff and West, caught in a vice, must throw a heart. A heart lead now establishes dummy's h6.

If you managed to analyse that out from the diagram on the cover, you have my (JM) sincere congratulations! There are many subtleties in the play of the full hand. In particular, note that playing dA too early fails, as East throws a heart at the end and then forces dummy.