[GaryFisch]

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This is a www.playbridge.com deal, and not actually played; however, I found it interesting.

You, West, open 3rd seat with 2♣, partner answers 2♦, and you say 2NT. After a checkback Stayman, you end in 3NT.

The defense starts with two rounds of diamonds, South unblocking the king. How do you proceed?

You have 7 high, but the defense will surely cash 3 more diamonds if they get on lead. You can get 2 more in ♥ if the Q drops singleton or via finesse if South has Qx - both unlikely. You can't get a 4th heart via finesse due to the blockage; South is not going to "cover an honor with an honor" seeing the 1085 still in dummy with no other entries. So the best play is to cash ♥AK and hope for the Q to fall - or other chances ....

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Both follow low to two rounds of hearts, so you cash a high spade, cross to the ♣K, and take the ♠ finesse.

Pity poor North!

No matter whether South covers or not, North is squeezed in three suits on the 3rd spade. The ♥Q or a club is immediately fatal, so North throws a diamond. But now you just exit in hearts or diamonds. The defenders get 3 diamonds and a heart, but then North must lead away from the J4 up to the A10. A 3-suit strip squeeze!

GaryFisch

Note: If South plays an honor when you play a club to the king, and North throws a low heart on the 3rd spade, you can try to drop the QJ doubleton. If on the other hand, North plays a club honor, you're best off taking the club finesse (giving you 5 clubs if it wins, and heavily favored via restricted choice).

That puts North in a rather interesting position if you switch one of North's low clubs with the club Q !

[bridgeboy]

The idea is good, but I'm not so sure the strip sq works When North is thrown in with Jx south have a singleton Q, so the throw in is invalid.

Maybe if it's double dummy and North starts with QJx clubs then it'll probably acheive the ending you have in mind. (North have to split when you lead a club to dummy)

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NB: It is worth noting that double dummy, North probably have to unblock the D so that he can put South in with the third D to escape a endplay. Declarer can prob endplay North if he doesnt do so, (I might be wrong about this)

[GaryFisch]

You are right. I plead lateness of hour for not checking that, sorry. North with QJx has an interesting choice of risks. Either play low and risk the 9 holding, or split the honors and risk declarer playing spades, which would, in fact, squeeze North in that case. Declarer can't make the game by playing spades (since with 4 of them West would have bid 3♠ in response to Stayman), and this argues in favor of splitting the honors. Declarer will almost certainly play the club finesse rather than try to come up with a squeeze by playing spades. But if you're playing North at a real table, better play that card smoothly!