Deal 7	♠ A K J ♥ K 7 3 ♦ A 6 5 2 ♣ 8 6 4		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT 2♥ pass 4♥ pass pass pass South is to play 4♥. West leads the ♣J. East wins ♣ A K Q then switches to a trump. Make a Plan, then click NEXT .
	♠ 8 7 ♥ A Q 9 8 6 2 ♦ Q 7 ♣ 7 5 2

 

Deal 7 4♥ OL: ♣J	♠ A K J ♥ K 7 3 ♦ A 6 5 2 ♣ 8 6 4		East takes ♣ A K Q then switches to a trump. You must win the next 10 tricks but you only have 9 winners. East opened 1NT, showing 15-17 points, and West has already produced 2 Jacks. So both the ♠Q and ♦K are with East and you will have to put the squeeze on him.  NEXT
♠ 6 5 4 2 ♥ J ♦ 9 8 4 3 ♣ J 10 9 3		♠ Q 10 9 3 ♥ 10 5 4 ♦ K J 10 ♣ A K Q
	♠ 8 7 ♥ A Q 9 8 6 2 ♦ Q 7 ♣ 7 5 2

 

Deal 7 4♥ OL: ♣J	♠ A K J ♥ 7 3 ♦ A 6 5 2 ♣		You are in dummy, having won their trump exit with the ♥K. Since you need all the tricks the count is already rectified. You plan to squeeze East by running the long ♥s in your hand, but the problem is that the ♦Q is not a Threat card yet. To make it a Threat you need to unblock dummy's ♦A. So play the ♦A, then pull trumps with the ♥ A Q.  NEXT
♠ 6 5 4 2 ♥   ♦ 9 8 4 3 ♣ 10		♠ Q 10 9 3 ♥ 10 5 ♦ K J 10 ♣
	♠ 8 7 ♥ A Q 9 8 6 ♦ Q 7 ♣

 

Deal 7 4♥ OL: ♣J	♠ A K J ♥   ♦ 6 5 2 ♣		Unblocking the ♦A to make your ♦Q a squeeze Threat is called the Vienna Coup. With 6 cards left to be played you are ready to apply pressure to East. Play the ♥ 9 8, discarding ♦s from dummy. East is not troubled yet, he can discard the ♦J and the ♠3.  NEXT
♠ 6 5 4 ♥   ♦ 9 8 4 ♣		♠ Q 10 9 3 ♥   ♦ K J ♣
	♠ 8 7 ♥ 9 8 6 ♦ Q ♣

 

Deal 7 4♥ OL: ♣J	♠ A K J ♥   ♦ 6 ♣		East is now looking a little nervous, like he has a big target on his back! Play the ♥6 and throw dummy's ♦6. East can choose his fate. If he throws the ♠9 you will know that his ♠Q will drop since his third card MUST be the ♦K. So you would just play to the high ♠s and the ♠J would be good. Or, he can throw his ♦K which makes your ♦Q a winner.  NEXT
♠ 6 5 ♥   ♦ 9 8 ♣		♠ Q 10 9 ♥   ♦ K ♣
	♠ 8 7 ♥ 6 ♦ Q ♣

 

Deal 7 4♥ OL: ♣J	♠ A K J ♥   ♦ A 6 ♣		That worked great, right? Let's back up and pretend you had NOT unblocked the ♦A. We will just add one ♦ to everybody's hand and look at the ending. Now when you play your ♥6 as a squeeze card you have a problem. You are squeezing dummy, not East. If you discard the ♦6 East will throw his ♦J, then sit back and wait for his ♠Q trick. But if you discard dummy's ♠J instead, East will match that by throwing his ♠9, then sit back and wait for his ♦K trick. Only by visualizing the ending and using the Vienna Coup can this hand be made.  Deal 9
♠ 6 5 ♥ ♦ 9 8 4 ♣		♠ Q 10 9 ♥ ♦ K J ♣
	♠ 8 7 ♥ 6 ♦ Q 7 ♣