The "Impossible" 3NT: Hold-Up, Duck, and Squeeze for Game

Sometimes a seemingly impossible 3NT contract can be made with a bit of technical wizardry. In this deal, declarer uses three key advanced techniques in succession – a classic hold-up play, a well-timed duck, and a squeeze play – to secure a game that at first looked doomed. The play is instructional and shows how careful planning can create extra tricks out of thin air.

The Situation: An Unlikely 3NT Contract

Imagine you reach a 3NT contract that, on the surface, appears hopeless. The opponents have a long suit ready to run, and you only count eight top tricks. The bidding and early play suggest that one defender holds a dangerous long suit, and the other defender has an entry to that suit. If you blithely take your winners, the defense will gain the lead and cash enough tricks to beat you. To make this contract, you'll need to plan ahead and employ some advanced maneuvers.

South is declarer in 3NT. West leads the ♠5 (fourth-best, implying a likely five-card spade suit). Dummy and declarer hold:

North (Dummy):
♠ K 3
♥ 5 4
♦ A Q 8 6 5
♣ Q 10 5 2

South (Declarer):
♠ A Q 9 4
♥ K Q 6
♦ J 7 2
♣ K 7 3

West: ♠ 10 8 7 5 2, ♥ J 9 2, ♦ K 10 4, ♣ 8 6
East: ♠ J 6, ♥ A 10 8 7 3, ♦ 9 3, ♣ A J 9 4

Contract: 3NT by South
Lead: ♠5

The Hold-Up Play at Trick One

Declarer ducks the opening spade lead, allowing East to win the ♠J. East returns a spade, and declarer wins the ♠K in dummy. This is a classic hold-up maneuver to sever defender communication—especially if West holds long spades and East holds the outside entries.

By ducking the first spade, declarer prevents East from gaining the lead later and continuing the spade attack. This eliminates the danger of West running the suit once he regains the lead.

A Careful Duck to the "Safe" Defender

With spade communication disrupted, declarer turns to the heart suit. Needing a ninth trick, declarer leads a low heart from hand toward dummy’s low hearts. East rises with the ♥A. This is exactly what declarer wants—East is now on lead and has no more spades.

East returns a club. Declarer wins the ♣K in hand and begins to set up diamonds, leading the ♦J. West covers with the ♦K, and declarer wins dummy’s ♦A.

Now the stage is set for the squeeze.

Executing the Squeeze for the Ninth Trick

Declarer runs all of dummy’s diamond winners. West is forced to discard while guarding both hearts and spades.

• If West discards a heart, declarer’s ♥K Q become winners.
• If West discards a spade, declarer’s ♠Q becomes safe.
• If West discards a club, declarer’s ♣Q is promoted.

West cannot protect all suits. Declarer claims the ninth trick based on the discard and makes 3NT against all odds.

Key Takeaways

• Hold-Up Play: Ducking an early winner can break dangerous communication between defenders.
• Safe vs. Dangerous Opponent: Always know who you can safely lose the lead to.
• Rectify the Count: Sacrificing early tricks sets up squeeze positions.
• Squeeze Execution: Run long suits and force defenders into impossible choices.
• Planning Ahead: 3NT was won on trick one by imagining how trick thirteen would unfold.

This hand illustrates how thoughtful, technical play can rescue a vulnerable contract. With precise control, a difficult 3NT becomes not only makeable—but instructive.