At some point, I offered the hand to Hugh Darwen, author of a great book and website on double dummy problems, both called Bridge Magic. I constructed the hand to demonstrate an interesting squeeze ending, but was interested to learn that to a problem connoisseur that was not enough: it lacks precision. He identified 2 problems:
1. There's some freedom to the order in which early major suit winners may be cashed.
2. More importantly, when North pitches a diamond on the 3rd heart the play becomes significantly more precise and interesting (i.e. wouldn't it be nice for the problem to be forced down this line).
Given this feedback, I tried to modify the problem somewhat, but was unable to address both issues at once. Of the 3 constructions (the original linked to above, and 2 below respectively addressing the above comments), I think the last one below is the most interesting.
In all cases, you're to make 6NT after the ♦Q opening lead.
| ♠ | A K 8 2 | ||||
| ♥ | A K | ||||
| ♦ | 3 2 | ||||
| ♣ | A 8 4 3 2 | ||||
| ♠ | J 9 7 6 5 4 | ♠ | |||
| ♥ | J | ♥ | 10 9 8 7 6 | ||
| ♦ | Q J | ♦ | 10 8 7 6 5 4 | ||
| ♣ | 10 9 7 6 | ♣ | Q J | ||
| ♠ | Q 10 3 | ||||
| ♥ | Q 5 4 3 2 | ||||
| ♦ | A K 9 | ||||
| ♣ | K 5 |
On a non-diamond lead, there's a red suit squeeze (duck a club). On a diamond lead, declarer must win, play ♠10, ♥A, ♥K, ♠Q, ♥Q. However, either a club or a diamond may be pitched on the last heart, and the diamond pitch is more interesting.
| ♠ | Q J 10 3 2 | ||||
| ♥ | A K | ||||
| ♦ | 2 | ||||
| ♣ | A 8 4 3 2 | ||||
| ♠ | 9 8 7 6 5 4 | ♠ | |||
| ♥ | Q | ♥ | J 10 9 8 7 6 | ||
| ♦ | Q J | ♦ | 10 8 7 6 5 4 | ||
| ♣ | 10 9 7 6 | ♣ | Q J | ||
| ♠ | A K | ||||
| ♥ | 5 4 3 2 | ||||
| ♦ | A K 9 4 3 | ||||
| ♣ | K 5 |
On a non diamond lead, there's a nice delayed-duck squeeze in the red suits. On a diamond lead, declarer must win, ♠A, ♠K, ♥A. Now, major suit winners can be cashed in any order so long as the last heart comes before the last spade (imprecise). This serves to make the play a little more interesting when East unguards hearts (♣A, ♣K, heart). Also, the diamond menace against West is a little more interesting, requiring a throw-in to give it full force.
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