1 - Simple Squeezes Squeeze Classifications (mostly from Clyde E. Love’s Bridge Squeezes Complete)
1 - The Simple Squeeze A two suit squeeze against one defender
The most common type of squeeze, a simple squeeze, is an endgame position in bridge whereby a defender is forced to make a discard from one of two suits and whichever he chooses will yield a winner for declarer.
Terminology − Threat: A card held by declarer or dummy that could be promoted to a winner. − Guard: A card held by the opponents that currently prevents a threat card from becoming a winner. − Idle card: A card that can be safely discarded. − Squeeze card: The card that, when played, will force an opponent(s) to discard a guard as they have no idle cards remaining, thus promoting one of declarer’s threats. − Upper/lower hand: The hand that lies to the left/right of the opponent to be squeezed respectively. − Automatic squeeze: A squeeze that will work against either defender. − Positional squeeze: A squeeze that will work against only one defender.
Conditions There are four necessary conditions for a simple squeeze. These can be remembered with the mnemonic BLUE: B: A single defender is busy guarding both threat suits. L: There is only one outstanding loser (which the squeeze will promote into a winner). U: At least one threat lies in the upper hand. E: There is an entry to the established threat after the squeeze.
We will always assume that South is declarer and holds the squeeze card. The squeeze card is coloured green and the threats are underlined. Idle cards are blue.
Types There are three main types of simple squeeze. These are classified by how the entries are positioned.
1) Long-threat entry: North has an entry in his own threat suit. 2) Opposite-threat entry: North has an entry in South’s threat suit. South has a re-entry in the same suit. 3) Criss-cross: Both threat suits are blocked but North has an entry in South’s threat suit and South has an entry in North’s threat suit.
The Long-threat and Opposite-threat types can be automatic or positional. The Criss-cross is always automatic.
Tips • Before the squeeze, the loser count must be correct or the squeeze will not function. “Rectifying the count” involves losing the correct number of tricks in order to set up the squeeze position. • Cash any outside winners and all extra winners in one of the threat suits before executing the squeeze. This makes it easier to follow which guards to watch for as the opponents discard.
1 - Simple Squeezes 1A) Long-threat Entry Aut A J North has an entry in his own threat suit. There is a threat in both hands so this squeeze is . 2 automatic; if West held East’s cards, the squeeze would operate the same way. K Q
A Cash AC, watching what is discarded by the defender. If he pitches AH, cash KH and AS; if he pitches QS, use the 2S . . entry to cash both AS and JS. 2 K . A NT
1P) Long-threat Entry Pos A J North has an entry in his own threat suit. K Here both threats are in the North hand, so the U in BLUE . is only satisfied when West is the victim. The squeeze will not work if East holds West’s cards. K Q
A Cash AC and discard in the opposite suit to West’s discard. . . 3 2 . A NT
2A) Opposite-threat Entry Aut K North has an entry in South’s threat suit. South has a re- K 3 entry in the same suit. . 2 For the squeeze to be automatic, North needs a small card and South a winner to reach his threat. A
Q J 4 Cash AC and then cash KH. On the first trick, East must discard AS or a heart. If he discards the latter, the 3H . . provides a re-entry back to the South hand. A 10 2 . A NT
1 - Simple Squeezes 2P) Opposite-threat Entry Pos K North has an entry in South’s threat suit. South has a re- A 3 entry in the same suit. . When South’s re-entry is not an immediate winner but the threat itself, the squeeze will function only against West. A
K Q 10 9 8 On cashing AC, either the KS threat or the 3H re-entry is discarded depending on West’s discard. . . Observe that if East has no hearts then behaves the same J 2 as the long-threat entry automatic squeeze. This squeeze differs when only South’s highest heart is good enough to . A NT also beat East’s once West has been squeezed.
3) Criss-cross Aut J 2 Both threat suits are blocked but North has an entry in A South’s threat suit and South has an entry in North’s threat suit. . 2 Cash AC and then the winner in whichever suit East K Q discards from. K Q . . A J 2 . A NT
Extended Squeeze Aut A K 9 2 Any squeeze can be extended by simply adding extra cards to the threat suits. For example, in this diagram an extra heart and spade has been added to each hand from . 2 the long-threat entry automatic squeeze. South can cash surplus winners such as AH and AS first without changing Q J 10 the position, or play the squeeze card first. K Q
. . 3 2 A J . A NT
1 - Simple Squeezes Squeeze Techniques
Vienna Coup A J The Vienna Coup is an unblocking play to ensure that A entries are handled carefully. . 2 When the threats are split between North and South and South holds the squeeze card but no winners in either K Q threat suit, South’s threat suit must be unblocked before K 5 the squeeze trick. . . If you cash AC first then East can safely pitch a heart 2 because the suit is blocked. Hence, South must cash the Q 3 AH first and then play 2C back to his hand, establishing a long-threat entry automatic squeeze. . A NT
Transferring a Stopper A J This is a technique that transfers a guard from one Q 2 opponent’s hand to the other in order to create a squeeze position. . West guards spades and East guards hearts, but when QH K Q is led from North, East must cover with KH to promote J 5 K 3 2 West’s JH or else declarer has the remaining tricks. However, on cashing AC, West is now the victim of a long- . . 2 threat entry automatic squeeze. 2 A 10 Before the count is rectified, transferring a stopper may also be done earlier by taking a losing finesse a particular . A NT way around when the opponent’s honours are split.
Count Squeeze Aut A Q A Count Squeeze is different in that a defender isn’t forced to give up a guard in a threat suit, but instead useful information about the distribution of the hand. . 2 Suppose South knows that West has AH and there are 3 4 3 K spades remaining between the defenders. If he cashes AC A and West discards AH, he simply cashes KH and AS. 3 2 . . If however West discards an “idle” spade on AC, then 2 when South leads 2S and West follows, East must be left K with only KS which can now be dropped under AS saving declarer from the losing finesse. . A NT
Show-up Squeeze: A small variation to the count squeeze is when the KS and 4S are swapped between the defenders. Now when West discards a small spade on the squeeze trick and a spade is lead at trick 2, the KS will “show-up” and save declarer guessing whether to finesse or play for the drop.
1 - Simple Squeezes Other Two-Suit Squeezes Against a Single Defender
Blocked Simple Squeeze Aut K 2 This squeeze is a special type of opposite-threat entry K automatic squeeze where each hand has exactly one less card in South’s threat suit. The nuance is that South has . no outright losers but also no way to cash them separately. A
Q J On cashing AC, if East discards a spade the 10H threat is used as an entry to North. If West discards a heart, AH is . . cashed with the KH falling under it, with the 10H being won at the end. A 10 It is possible to apply the blocked threat (threats of the . A NT form Ax opposite K or equivalent) to many types of squeeze.
Jettison Simple Squeeze Pos K 2 Similar to the blocked simple squeeze, South has three A winners but insufficient entries to cash them all. . After leading AC, pitch 2S if West discards AS, thus winning AH and KS. A
Q J If West discards a heart however, the AH winner must be jettisoned in order to win KH and 10H in the South hand. . . K 10 . A NT
. . . . 2 - Double Squeezes 2 - The Double Squeeze Two simple squeezes, one against each defender
A double squeeze is essentially two simple squeezes, one against each opponent. The opponents may be squeezed either simultaneously or sequentially. Typically, there are three threats and one will materialise into a trick. Of the three threat suits, each defender guards two: one suit shared by both and the other two suits guarded by one defender each. It’s impossible to have all three threats in one hand, so we assume that South always has the single threat and North has the other two.
Terminology − Left/right threat: The threat guarded by West/East respectively. − Common threat: The threat guarded by both defenders. − Left/right/common suit: The suits of the respective threats. − Free suit: The fourth suit where there is no threat. − Simultaneous/Sequential squeeze: The defenders are squeezed on the same/a different trick respectively.
Conditions For a double squeeze to function, each defender must be susceptible to a simple squeeze if his partner’s help guarding the common suit is withdrawn. This means BLUE must be satisfied for each defender.
Generally, a double squeeze will fail if the winners in the free suit, left suit and right suit are cashed in the wrong order. All winners in the common suit are normally cashed last, after the squeeze card has been played.
The common threat must contain an entry in its own suit once the squeeze position is reached. Additionally, if the hand opposite the common threat has no winner in the common suit to serve as an entry, the (second) squeeze card must be played from that hand.
Types There are two main types of double squeeze. These are classified by the type of single threat held by South.
1) Type R: South holds the right threat. 2) Type C: South holds the common threat. There are three types of Type C double squeeze: 2a) Type C2: South has two or more winners in the common suit. 2bi) Type C1: South has only one winner in the common suit and North has one or more winners in this suit. 2bii) Type RFL: A subtype of C1. South has one winner in the common suit but North has none in this suit.
Observe there is no “Type L” double squeeze; if South holds the left threat, then the U in BLUE is not satisfied for East as the threats for both of his suits are in the lower hand, North.
We will use the following convention for examples: Right Suit Common Suit Left suit . Free suit
2 - Double Squeezes 1) Type R Double Squeezes
Type R Conditions • South holds the right threat. As the left and common threats are in North, the simple squeeze against West is positional (long-threat entry). The squeeze against East is automatic (either long or opposite-threat entry). • There must be an entry to North in the common suit. • South holds a winner in the free suit or right suit - this will be the squeeze card against West. • If South has neither a common suit winner nor the last left suit winner, then all of North’s winners outside the common suit must be cashed while South still has an entry in the free or right suits.
A Type R double squeeze may be simultaneous, sequential, reciprocal or recessed, but these are all small variations of the same theme. Moreover, extra winners can be added or moved between suits without changing the basic idea, so long as they are cashed in the correct order. Most often, cashing left suit winners first and common suit winners last is correct.
Type R - Simultaneous Sim In the Simultaneous Type R squeeze, all winners outside A 9 of the free and common suits are cashed first so that both K defenders will be squeezed simultaneously on the last . free winner.
A Observe that the left and right winners have been cashed; K Q J 10 North has an entry in the common suit; South has no A entry in the common suit so must play the squeeze card. . . K South plays AC and West is squeezed in hearts-diamonds. 2 If he pitches a heart, East is now squeezed in hearts- spades. . A NT
Type R - Sequential (Long) Seq 2 In the Sequential Type R squeeze, the last free winner is A 9 cashed while there are still winners remaining in the left K or right suits (but not both). One defender will be . squeezed on the free winner while the other will be later squeezed on the last winner in the left or right suit. K Q
K Q J 10 If the contract is NT then when South leads AS, everyone A can safely discard and the hand is reduced to the . 2 . Simultaneous Type R squeeze. However if clubs are 2 A J trumps then South must cash AC (the last free suit 2 winner) first. This forces a Sequential Type R squeeze where East is (long-threat entry) squeezed before West. . A1 .
By exchanging the left and right suits above as appropriate, we can make a similar sequential squeeze where West is squeezed before East.
2 - Double Squeezes Type R - Sequential (Opposite) Seq If the contract is NT, simply cash AD followed by AH to K 6 3 reduce to a Simultaneous Type R squeeze. However if A2 J clubs are trumps, the AC must be cashed first. . This example has a few interesting properties: A - Namely, the squeeze against East is now an opposite- Q J 10 9 8 7 threat entry. K Q - South has the first squeeze card; West is squeezed by . . 2 South and then East is squeezed by North, therefore… K - … South needs an entry in the common suit. A 2 - In this example, the last winner cashed outside the 2 common suit must be the left suit winner. . A1 .
Type R - Reciprocal Rec In the Reciprocal Type R squeeze, the last free winners are A 9 cashed while there are winners remaining in both the left J 2 and right suits. The opponents will be squeezed non- . simultaneously: the right opponent on the last left winner and vice versa. K Q
K Q J 10 South begins by cashing both aces in either order. If he K Q cashes the left winner first, then East will be squeezed . . first and vice versa. A J 2 A . NT
Type R - Recessed Res 2 In the Recessed Type R squeeze, the last free or left suit A 9 winner is with North so that East is always squeezed K before West. After playing this winner, the South hand . A1 must then be entered via any threat suit, where finally West is squeezed on a right winner. 4 3 Q J 10
K Q J 10 North plays AC and East is squeezed in hearts-spades A while South while West can safely pitch idle spades. Now . . the South hand is entered via the AS entry and on the lead 2 A K 9 of the KS, West is squeezed in hearts-diamonds. 2 . 2 NT
There are many variations to the Recessed Sequential Type R squeeze: • The entry to South can be in any of the threat suits. For example, in the diagram above, change one of each hand’s spades to a heart so that South has an entry in the common suit. • The first squeeze card can be in the free or left suit. For example, in the diagram above, change North’s KD, AC to AD, JD and West’s 4S, AD to KD, QD. Then East is squeezed on the last left suit winner.
2 - Double Squeezes 2) Type C Double Squeezes
Type C2 Conditions • South holds the common threat and it is accompanied by two winners. • North holds the left and right threats. The squeeze against both defenders is a long-threat entry automatic squeeze. This type is the only truly automatic double squeeze; the hand opposite the squeeze card(s) has an idle card(s) to discard while the opponents are squeezed. • There must be an entry to South in the common suit. • The winners in the other suits can be cashed in any order and the squeeze card played from either hand. However, If South has the squeeze card, there must be a small card and winner in either the left or right threat suit to reach North’s hand.
Type C2 Sim K In the simplest Type C2 double squeeze, both defenders 2 are squeezed on the last free suit winner. If neither the K right nor left suit guards are discarded, the common suit is . A entered and cashed.
A Like the Type R squeeze, it is possible to construct Q J 10 9 8 7 sequential, reciprocal and recessed (where the first A squeeze card is with South) versions of the Type C2 . . squeeze. A K 6 . 2 NT
Type C1 Conditions • South holds the common threat and it is accompanied by one winner. North holds one winner in the common suit. • North holds the left and right threats. The squeeze against both defenders is an opposite-threat entry, positional against West and automatic against East. • There must be an entry to South in the common suit. • The last right suit winner must be cashed before the last free suit winner. • The last free suit winner must be with South (simply because there is no room left in the North hand, who is already holding the left and right threats, a common suit winner and common suit small card for entry to South).
Type C1 Sim K Although in isolation the squeeze against West is an K 3 automatic opposite-threat entry (like against East), the K fact that North holds the right threat means he can’t hold . an idle card. The C1 squeeze is therefore positional against West; either the KD threat or 3H (used to re-enter A South) must be discarded depending on his discard. Q J 10 9 8 7
A Note that any outstanding left suit winners can be cashed . . at any time. In fact, these can be in either hand and if played after the last free/right suit winner, will be the A 6 2 squeeze card against East, making a sequential Type C1. . A NT 2 - Double Squeezes Type RFL Conditions • South holds the common threat and it is accompanied by one winner. North holds no winners in the common suit. • North holds the left and right threats. The squeeze against West is positional long-threat entry and the squeeze against East is automatic long-threat entry. • South must have a free suit winner. This is the squeeze card against West. • North must have an entry in the left suit. This will be the squeeze card against East. • The winners must be cashed in the order RFL: right - free - left.
Type RFL Seq K The most restrictive type of C1 squeeze. The winners must 2 be cashed in the correct order. This squeeze is always A2 J sequential with West squeezed before East. . In this example the right winners have already been A cashed. It remains to cash the free winner followed by the K Q J 10 left winner. K Q . . 2 While extra winners in the other suits have no effect on the mechanics of the squeeze, observe that extra winners A 9 in the common suit make this into either a C1 or C2 type. 2 . A1 NT
Other Double Squeezes
Jettison Double Squeeze Seq A J It’s possible to apply the blocked threat (see blocked A simple squeeze) to double squeezes too. K . 2 A jettison double squeeze however only works when the setup is similar to a Type C2 double squeeze. As the K Q simple jettison squeeze is positional against West and J 10 9 8 7 6 keeps declarer in his own hand, East must necessarily be A squeezed before the jettison trick. . 3 . On cashing a club, East must forfeit hearts in order to stop K Q 5 declarer winning two clubs, a heart and two spades. On the second club, West is jettison simple squeezed. . A K NT
4a - Elimination Play 4a – Elimination Play A brief description of some endplay techniques
The general idea of an endplay is to force a defender into an unfavourable position by putting him on the lead at a certain moment. Typically, his next lead will be into a tenace or concede a ruff and discard.
No-trump Strip A Q South needs all but one of the remaining tricks. If the last 4 3 2 three hearts are split between the two defenders, then 3 there is no problem. If after leading AH either defender . 3 shows out, then both spades but be won. If East shows out of hearts, the finesse is the only possibility. However if K J West shows out then we are home. Q J 10
2 First, the opponent’s other suits must be eliminated: if . . 2 South concedes a heart to East before cashing the minor 3 2 suit Aces, the East can simply return a minor suit loser and A K 5 win a spade later. So South cashes the minor suit aces and A top two hearts (strip or elimination), concedes a heart . A NT (throw-in) and then East must lead a spade into AQ.
Trump Strip 5 4 When playing with a trump suit, the defender who is thrown-in may alternatively have to concede a ruff and A discard. This involves eliminating specific plain suits so . 3 2 that if one is returned by a defender, you can make a trump and discard a loser on the same trick. There must K be a trump in both hands after the throw-in.
K Q South needs all but one of the remaining tricks. He must . K 3 . lose the KS so cannot lose the club finesse. The contract is 3 2 secure with a trump strip; remove all the diamonds first and then concede to the KS. If West now plays a club, you 2 will win AC and QC. If he returns a diamond, ruff in one . A Q hand and pitch a club from the other.
Elopement Play 2 An elopement play is simply a trump promotion by 2 declarer. By leading from the correct hand, a trump can be A promoted into a winner. . 4 3 South needs three of the remaining five tricks. There is a A K winner in diamonds and clubs, and South hopes to A promote his trumps into a third trick. South begins by 2 cashing the minor suit aces, first clubs and then diamonds, . . 2 ending in North – he must end in North or else South loses Q J the last three tricks to East. K 3 Simply lead North’s last club. If East ruffs, discard KH and . A win the QS at the end. If East discards, win the QS now. 4 - Two-Suit Strip Squeezes 4 - The Two-Suit Strip Squeeze A combination of a squeeze and elimination play
The two-suit strip squeeze is a squeeze followed by a throw-in. It is essentially a simple squeeze but with two or more losers - the extra busy card held by the victim isn’t a guard but an exit card; once squeezed out of it, the defender can be endplayed.
Strip squeezes appear in many forms and be applied to various of the simple and double squeezes classified above. Rather than attempt to classify strip squeezes, only some general notions and common types are given here.
Terminology − Surplus winners: Winners that the defender can cash after being thrown-in. − Fragile stopper: A potential winner that will not win a trick if led away from, for example Kx into AQ.
Against One Defender
Types There are many types of strip squeeze. We will look at the three most common types.
1) Surplus Winner Strip-Squeeze: Declarer has two or more losers but enough free winners to squeeze a defender out of surplus winners (or busy cards guarding a fragile stopper). 2) Two-loser Fragile Stopper: Declarer has exactly two losers and the last free winner will squeeze a defender out of a safe exit card (or winner or guard from a fragile stopper). 3) Two-loser Delayed Duck: Declarer has exactly two losers and wants to set up a trick in a particular suit - the “target suit”. However, he can’t simply duck in this suit or else the defence may be able to cash too many winners. On the squeeze trick, a defender is then forced to pitch an exit card (or a winner/guard) so that declarer can then safely duck in the target suit.
1) Surplus Winner Strip-Squeeze Declarer has two or more loses and the victim has a fragile stopper with surplus winners. Declarer needs enough winners to extract all the exit cards from the victim and . force him to discard surplus winners. The defender is then finally thrown-in.
2 South has potentially three losers in clubs and diamonds. A K Q First he strips West of any exit cards by cashing AH. Then . K 3 . he cashes AS. If West discards a club, South can take all 2 A but one of the remaining tricks by cashing clubs. Hence A1 West must discard one of his diamond winners. Finally 2 South throws-in West with a diamond and scores four . A Q J NT tricks when West is endplayed.
Observe: if South’s AS was instead a diamond or club, this hand is a pure strip and throw-in (Chapter 3) as West is not squeezed out of any surplus winners.
4 - Two-Suit Strip Squeezes 2) Two-loser Fragile Stopper Declarer has precisely two losers and the victim has a fragile stopper, one winner and no surplus winners. . South cashes AH and West follows. On cashing AS, West is squeezed: if he pitches AD, South only loses QC; if he 3 2 pitches a club, South can cash both clubs only losing KD; if 3 2 K Q J he pitches his “idle” heart, he will be thrown in with the A AD and South will win both clubs. . K 2 . 2 A West’s heart isn’t an idle card at all then, but a busy card A1 guarding West against an endplay. This type of squeeze K could even be regarded as a form of triple squeeze. . A Q NT
Observe: if South’s AS was instead the KH, this hand is a pure strip and throw-in (Chapter 3) as West simply follows suit and is not squeezed on a free winner.
There are four important components to the fragile-stopper strip squeeze: the squeeze card (above, the AS), throw- in card (KD), and the upper and lower cards of the tenace (AC, QC). The squeeze card must either be accompanied by the throw-in card or there must be an extra entry in the tenace suit to the throw-in card. The tenace cards can be in either hand, together or split (if split, each is accompanied by a small card).
3) Two-loser Delayed Duck Declarer has two losers and wants to set up a trick in the target suit, diamonds. He also has a threat in another suit K Q with the master card in that suit. . A J Requirements: CLE 2 C: Companion. The card we want to establish in the target 3 A K Q suit has another card accompanying it. (QD) A L: Lead. Another card in the target suit that is lead after . K Q . the squeeze trick; this could be the same as the A companion. (2D) E: Entry. There must be an entry to the hand with 2 established card in the target suit. (2C-AC). . 3 2 NT
Observe: if South’s AS was instead AH, then the hand is a simple ducking play. If we remove a diamond from North and South and a heart from West, the hand becomes a simple long-threat entry positional squeeze.
Tips • Suppose that the conditions are almost ready for a simple squeeze but the count is not yet rectified. If there is a worry that in rectifying the count, a defender could take too man tricks or kill one of the squeeze conditions, look to see if there is a fragile stopper and try to execute a strip squeeze instead. • Important at matchpoints: suppose that a single duck will set up the conditions for a regular squeeze while an untested suit under a favourable break may produce an overtrick. If a strip squeeze will serve as well as simple squeeze, then delay the duck; if the good break occurs, the extra winner will rectify the count for the simple squeeze and an overtrick.
4 - Two-Suit Strip Squeezes Against Two Defenders
Losing Squeeze Card A J The Losing Squeeze Card can be applied to most types of 2 squeezes. Simply, it is a strip squeeze where the losing trick will squeeze the other defender. . 2 While conceding the 3C to West’s AC, East is the victim of 3 K Q a long-threat entry simple automatic squeeze. 4 3 K Q . A . 2 A J . 3 NT
Vice Squeeze K 10 2 A Vice Squeeze involves one defender holding two cards of equivalent rank which split two cards of declarer’s while the other defender holds a winner in the suit. If the . first defender can be squeezed out of one of these guards, then the defenders will only take on trick in the suit. Q J A 9 8
A Again, there are many variations to the vice squeeze. . . On cashing AS, West is squeezed. He must throw a spade 2 to guard against KH, but this means declarer’s 10S will K score after losing to East’s AS. . A NT