West
North
East
South
1
Pass
1
Pass
3NT*
Pass
6NT
Pass
Pass
Pass
Opening lead HK
One of the greatest the greatest thrills in bridge is to successfully execute a squeeze. Most squeezes are executed accidentally. It happens every day.
You can increase your chances of executing a squeeze by knowing the basic requirements for a simple squeeze. There are three. (1) Reduce your losers to one by 'rectifying the count'. What this means is that if you are in a four heart contract and you have lost two tricks and have two more to lose you must lose one more trick before you can execute a simple squeeze (a double or triple squeeze is different). (2) Have 'threat' cards in at least two suits. If after cashing all of your winners you have only one suit to play no squeeze is possible. (3) Play the cards in the proper order - this can be done accidentally if you have two threat cards and you have rectified the count. Here is an example of a simple squeeze.
| Dealer: South | VUL: none | ||
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1 |
Pass |
3NT* |
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Pass |
6NT |
Pass |
Pass |
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Opening lead HK | ||
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North |
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8 6 4 |
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A 6 4 |
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A K Q 2 |
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8 6 4 |
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West |
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South |
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A K 2 |
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10 3 2 |
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4 3 |
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A K Q J 10 |
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*20 hcp balance or 18-19 with a good 5 card suit.
You are South and West leads the heart king. You can see that you have only 11 winners and the chances of a 12th are slim.
Lets see if a squeeze develops. First we 'rectify the count' by playing low to the heart king. West continues with the queen and we win it. Now we look for our two threat cards. If either opponent has both four diamonds and the jack of hearts he will not be a happy camper. A second and less likely possibility is that either opponent may have five spades and four diamonds (If either opponent follows twice to spades and pitches three spades the spade deuce will be good)
If we are lucky when we cash the ace and king of spades and four clubs (pitching a spade on the fourth club) we will be left with:
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6 |
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A K Q 2 |
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J |
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East hand is |
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J 8 6 5 |
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irrelevant |
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South |
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2 |
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10 |
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4 3 |
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10 |
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When you lead your last club and pitch the heart from dummy neither opponent can save both 4 diamonds and the jack of hearts.
Here is the full deal: full deal
