BRIDGE

South, a good technician, knew all about criss-cross squeezes. The only trouble was that he found himself the victim on this deal - as declarer!

South opened One No-trump (16-18 points) and, after this was passed out, West led _2. Declarer was off to a good start when, after winning East's king with his ace, he led a diamond which East won and returned the jack of hearts. Another diamond put West in and South won the third round of hearts with his 10.

Next he led the queen of spades, which was allowed to win, and followed with his established diamond winners, on the last of which both West and East discarded clubs. That was six tricks in the bag, and South was left with ]K9 [KJ3. He got off lead with [3 in the vague hope that the defenders might have to give him another trick at the end.

They did not, for West won with the 10 of clubs and cashed the thirteenth heart on which East threw a spade. Now South was in trouble - if he parted with ]9, a spade to East's ace would leave West with the last two tricks, and a club discard proved no better, for now his king fell under West's ace.

The end position was rather odd. Instead of the three of clubs, South would have done better to exit with any of his other four cards. Then he comes to a seventh trick at the end.