A Transfer Squeeze

"But, whiles he thought to steal the single ten, the King was slily fingered from the deck!" - HENRY VI, ACT V, SCENE 1, LINE 44, GLOUCESTER

I was playing at the Bridge Center on a Monday Night with Ruth Stearns against Al Schmidt and Arny Weiss when this unusual hand came up: a transfer squeeze. Almost all the field was in 6© , making seven with the ª Q opening lead. Al led the ¨ 7, however, and made me work for my average.

I won the ¨ A, drew three rounds of trump ending in dummy and led the § Q. It does Arny no good to duck, that just gives me three Club tricks right away. So, Arny covered and the Club threat was transferred to Al's hand.

I cashed the Ace and Jack of Clubs, the ª A and ran the Hearts. Al could not protect both the Queen and Jack of Spades and the § 10. Making seven!