A The Silly Squeeze s — 10 s 5 4 3 h — East Deals h A 8 d K Q 8 5 4 Both Vul d K J 8 5 4 c Q 10 c Q 10 3 s — s Q s K J 9 s Q 10 8 6 N N h Q 2 h K 9 5 h Q J 6 2 h K 9 5 4 3 W E W E d A J 6 d 10 7 d A 10 6 d 9 7 S S c A J c 5 c A 5 4 c J 6 s — s A 7 2 h — h 10 7 d 9 3 2 d Q 3 2 c 9 8 7 2 c K 9 8 7 2 2 h by West West North East South Pete Stew Consider this end position. West declares, with the Pass Pass lead in dummy. West has all the tricks, but one. 1 NT1 Pass 2 c Pass Whenever this is the case, consider a squeeze. 2 h All pass While a club could produce the extra trick, 1. 14-16 balanced. suppose you suspect North of harboring the cQ. 2 h by West For a simple squeeze to function, one opponent must be busy in (guard) two suits. South wins the of the s5 (West dropping the jack) and returns the s7, won by West Switch the North and South hands, and playing off with the sK. West leads a sneaky hJ, trying to all the winners would squeeze South, avoid an apparent spade . When this holds, because West will discard after seeing South's another round of hearts clears trumps. North leads discards. West must read the position correctly; the c3. Declarer stops to consider. With the minor cashing the ace of clubs before the majors would suit aces, dummy is good, with two losers. After solve that problem: if you don't see the cQ by the calling for the c6, West ducks South's cK last winner, discard the cJ. However, that won't smoothly to rectify the count for what I call a silly squeeze North, who discards after South. Try it! squeeze. Your garden variety squeeze can only gain one trick. To have any chance for such a squeeze to Dummy has a great card, the d10, which we can work, you must have only one loser. A silly use as the diamond threat. Cash the dA, then run squeeze meets all the requirements for a real the major suit winners, discarding dJ6 from hand. squeeze, but the threats are dubious. When Now the squeeze operates automatically, if either defenders come under pressure, they sometimes opponent holds all of the dKQ and the cQ. Once make mistakes in discarding. the dA is cashed, there is no guessing, when the squeeze is working. The end position will be Run the silly squeeze just like the real squeeze. Cash the dA (Vienna ), to establish the d9 as d d 10 a threat. Then rattle off the major suit winners, c A J c 5 discarding the d 10 6, and reducing to:

Neither opponent (North here) can retain both cQx d d 9 and a diamond honor. If the d10 is good, cash it. c A 5 c J If not, lead to the cA and fell the queen. If the d9 is good, cash it. Otherwise, lead to the Reference: , Clyde Love cA and see if the 5 is good. Guess what? Both (c) 1959. Updated version available; old one is fine. opponents kept diamonds, and it is good!

https://3nt.xyz (c) Pete Matthews Jr