Bridge Problem 1: Answer

 

North
63
4
AQJ53
Q7543
 

West
AQJ872
75
987
86
 

East
104
863
K1064
J1092
 

South
K95
AKQJ1092
2
AK
 

Dealer: West
Vul: North-South
WNES
2¹P4²5
PPP 
¹ Weak
² Preemptive
Opening lead: 9

Win the A and play the Q. If East doesn't cover, you have 11 tricks. Assuming East covers, ruff high, draw trumps, cash the A and K, and run the rest of the trumps. West has to hold on to three spades (or else East-West will have to let dummy score a minor suit winner at the end). But which three spades will West hold? This is the position at the tenth trick, before the lead of the last trump:

 

North
--
--
J5
Q7
 

West
AQJ8
--
--
--
 

East
104
--
10
J
 

South
K95
2
--
--
 

West is caught in a single-suit squeeze. If West keeps the AQJ, a low spade will force West to give you a trick with the K. If West discards the Q or J, South plays the K and has to score the last trick with either the 9 or one of dummy's winners.

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