THE last two weeks at the Bridge Club have attracted a lot of players to the STAC games and I see that some players have had impressive scores and earned bushels of points! Results are included with this column.One word which is guaranteed to make the average bridge player’s eyes glaze over quickly is ‘squeeze’. Most players see this as something only the experts do and are really not prepared to put in the effort to learn even the basics of squeeze play.

Squeezes are often complex but sometimes they aren’t and often fall right into your lap if you simply play out some winners. Take a look at today’s hand.

Dlr South, E/W Vul:North <$>

[spade]Q 9 2

[heart]A J 5 3

[diamond]Q 4

[club]Q 9 8 2

West East<$>

[spade]A 10 7 5 3 [heart]K 6

[heart]10 9 [heart]8 7 4 2

[diamond]A 2 [diamond]10 9 8 7 6

[club]J 10 7 4 [club]6 5

South

[spade]J 8 4

[heart]K Q 6

[diamond]K J 5 3

[club]A K 3The bidding was simple:

South North

INT 3NT

Pass

North could have bid stayman to look for a heart fit but with a lot a ‘soft’ values (queens and jacks) nine tricks at 3NT is often easier than the major suit game.

West led a low spade which East won and returned a spade. West craftily ducked this and more cleverly played the seven, looking like a man with no entry trying to keep communication.

Declarer noticed all this and played a low diamond — West grabbed this and cashed three more spades for down one! Was there anything South could do?

South’s play was not unreasonable but it really doesn’t harm to play four rounds of hearts first. Look what happens to West! One discard, a diamond, is easy — but what about the second one? West is squeezed! A club discard will allow declarer to win four club tricks so West had to part with a precious spade. Now declarer can safely knock out the diamond and make the contract — a perfect simple squeeze! Bet you didn’t know you were that good!LATEST RESULTS

District 1 And Unit 198 STAC

June 6-12: Monday afternoon, Open Pairs: Vera Petty-Roman Smolski 68.25%, Julia Lunn-Erica Hendricks 61.42%.

Monday evening, Open Paris: Lynanne Bolton-Linda Pollett 63.89%.

Wednesday afternoon, Open Pairs:<$> Greta Marshall-Lynanne Bolton 65.77%, Vera Petty-Roman Smolski 65.48%.

Wednesday evening, Open Paris:<$> Vera Petty-Roman Smolski 77.08%, John Glynn-Bill Bare 66.86%.

Friday evening, Open Paris: Alan Douglas-David Cordon 60.27%, Richmond & Marilyn Simmons 58.80%, Kevin Comeau-John Hoskins 55.35%, Harry Kast-Michael Bickley 51.22%, Sheena Rayner - Audrey Smith 50.52%, John Glynn-Bill Pare 49.48%, Julia Lunn-Alice Palmer 49.02%.Bermuda Bridge ClubMonday afternoon, June 6, N/S:<$> 1. Tommie Ryan-Ann Sims, 2. Pat Siddle-Vivian Siddle, 3. Gwen Christensen-Alice Palmer. E/W: 1. Vera Petty-Roman Smolski, 2. Julia Lunn-Erica Hendricks, 3. Gillian Gray-Peggy Thompson.

Monday evening, N/S:<$> 1. Anthony Saunders-Charles Hall, 2. John Glynn-Bill Pare, 3 (jt.) David Sykes-Sally Sykes and Lyn O’Neill-John Hoskins. E/W: 1. Lynanne Bolton-Linda Pollett, 2. Vera Petty-Roman Smolski, 3. Kevin Comeau-David Cordon.

Wednesday afternoon, N/S: 1. Greta Marshall-Lynanne Bolton, 2. Lyn O’Neill-Barbara Huntington, 3. Gwen Christensen-Enid Hyland. E/W: 1. Vera Petty-Roman Smolski, 2. Brenda Gordon-George Gordon, 3. Elizabeth McKee-Mona Marie Gambrill.

Wednesday evening, N/S: <$>1. John Glynn-Bill Pare, 2. Wendy Gray-Richard Gray, 3. Lyn O’Neill-John Hoskins. E/W: 1. Roman Smolski-Vera Petty, 2. Jim Leitch-Trish Moody, 3. Erica Hendricks-Julia Lunn.

Friday, N/S: 1. Richard Strauss-Janie Strauss, 2. Roman Smolski-Vera Petty, 3. Kevin Comeau-John Hoskins. E/W: 1. Alan Douglas-David Cordon, 2. Richmond Simmons-Marilyn Simmons, 3. David Pereira-Anthony Saunders.