Executing a simple squeeze.
Bridge Column for June 18, 2000, By HARVEY BERNSTEIN
Both sides vulnerable.  South deals.
                              NORTH
                              S: A 4 3           
                              H: 4 3         
                              D: K J 8 7     
                              C: A 8 5 4 
            WEST                             EAST
            S: Q 2                           S: 10           
            H: A K 9 7 5                     H: J 10 8 2   
            D: 10 9 6 5                      D: Q 4 3             
            C: 10 7                          C: K Q J 6 2   
                              SOUTH                         
                              S: K J 9 8 7 6 5
                              H: Q 6        
                              D: A 2       
                              C: 9 3      
          The Bidding://
                  SOUTH    WEST    NORTH    EAST                  
                    1S      2H      3H       4C 
                    4S     Pass     Pass     5H 
                    5S     Pass     Pass    Pass
     Thanks to Jim Bachelder of Columbus for this hand from a
pair event at the All American Regional bridge tournament held
last month in Independence.  
     It is very difficult to determine when it is right to double
the opponent's apparent sacrifice or to bid on to your own game. 
At matchpoints, the decision is more difficult because of the
method of scoring.  The worst case is to bid on, instead of
taking a sure plus, and then to be defeated in your contract.
     West led the ace and king of hearts to the first two tricks
against Bachelder's five spade contract.  The ten of diamonds
would have been an excellent lead to trick three, but for some
unknown reason, West selected the ten of clubs.
     Bachelder went up with the ace and then ran seven rounds of
spades.  The end position after the sixth spade looked like this:
                              NORTH
                              S: Void           
                              H: Void        
                              D: K J 8 7    
                              C: Void
            WEST                             EAST
            S: Void                          S: Void         
            H: Void                          H: Void       
            D: 10 9 6                        D: Q 4 3             
            C: 7                             C: K           
                              SOUTH                         
                              S: 6               
                              H: Void       
                              D: A 2       
                              C: 9
     The last spade simply destroyed East.  He eventually decided
to play for West to have the nine of clubs, based on the earlier
lead of the ten.  If this was the case, he would not need the
king of clubs to guard that suit, and so discarded it.      
     As a result, Bachelder was able to cash the nine of clubs
and then take the last two tricks with the ace and king of
diamonds.  Plus 650 was an excellent score that justified his
"bidding on".  
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