Triple Squeezes

 

Here one defender is squeezed in three suits, not the usual two.  Sometimes, a Triple Squeeze will produce two extra tricks, the so-called Progressive Squeeze.

 

Related Extracts from Past Wednesday Games

 

 

2	♠ AK9 ♥ 4 ♦ J543 ♣ KQ543	From 22nd November, 2006
♠ QJ5 ♥ AKJ5 ♦ AKQ8 ♣ 98	North West             East           South	♠ 6 ♥ T987632 ♦ T7 ♣ AJT	Dlr       East Vul      N-S
© BES, Inc  All Rights Reserved	♠ T87432 ♥ Q ♦ 962 ♣ 762	West    North   East     South                         Pass    Pass 2NT     Pass    4♦        Pass 4♥        Pass    Pass    Pass

 

In the featured auction that 4♦ was a Texas Transfer.

 

If North is on lead she will no doubt start with the A♠, after which a simple Spade ruffing finesse nets 12 tricks.  But, suppose that South is on lead and she somewhat randomly starts with a Diamond.  Now, it’s 13 tricks for Declarer!  Yes, North is caught in a Progressive Squeeze … Declarer has 11 top tricks, but North is squeezed in 3 suits on the run of the trumps.  Dummy wins the opening Diamond lead, and cashes 7 Hearts.  Ouch for North!  She must come down to 5 cards and all variations lead to North being squeezed out of not just one, but two tricks.  Making 7!

 

Time for a reality check!  That Progressive Squeeze is pure fantasy, of course.  If the Spade honors are split, and likewise the Club honors, then this line of play is good for just 11 tricks.  The realistic line of play after the Diamond opening lead is to draw trumps, pitch a Spade on the Diamonds, concede a Club, and ruff the third round of Clubs on the board.  How mundane, the Progressive Squeeze was much more fun!

 

 

2	♠ 873 ♥ AQJ42 ♦ AQ ♣ AQ7	From 13th December, 2006
♠ QJ2 ♥ 8763 ♦ J4 ♣ T982	North West             East           South	♠ AT64 ♥ KT6 ♦ T7 ♣ K653	Dlr       East Vul      N-S
© BES, Inc  All Rights Reserved	♠ K95 ♥ 9 ♦ K986532 ♣ J4	West    North   East     South                         Pass    2♦ Pass    2NT     Pass    3♠ Pass    3NT     All Pass

 

East will probably lead a Spade, ducked on the board, won by West’s Jack.  The Q♠ is played, won by East’s Ace, followed by a 3^rd round of Spades won on the board.  With the Diamonds 2-2, Declarer has 10 cashing tricks at this point, but there’s a chance for a nice play.  Yes, Declarer must cash his A♣ before running the Diamonds!  In the 3-card entry, East will be squeezed in Hearts and Clubs and that will be 11 tricks for Declarer.  Note that the squeeze does not operate without cashing the A♣ early (the so-called Vienna Coup).

 

It was obliging of the defense to cash two Spades and tighten up the position so that the squeeze could take effect.  Is it better for East to duck the Q♠ continuation at Trick Two?  No, it’s even worse!  Dummy’s K♠ wins the trick, as before the A♣ is cashed, and 7 Diamonds are played.  East is caught in a progressive squeeze now!  He must come down to 3 cards, and is squeezed in 3 suits:

-         If he bares the K♥, Declarer will score two extra Heart tricks

-         If he throws his Spades, Dummy’s Nine will be good, and when that card is played, East is squeezed for the second time

-         If he throws his K♣, the J♣ is cashed and again East is squeezed for the second time.

In all cases it’s 12 tricks for Declarer.

 

The way to hold Declarer to 10 tricks is for East to shift to a Heart or a Club at Trick Two, but that’s not an obvious defense.  From West’s point of view, East might have the Ax of Diamonds, in which case it is essential to continue Spades and knock out Dummy’s entry.

 

 

2	♠ T6 ♥ JT64 ♦ AJT ♣ QT62	7th May, 2008
♠ 43 ♥ A7 ♦ Q9762 ♣ KJ85	North West             East           South	♠ AKQ8 ♥ KQ932 ♦ K3 ♣ 97	Dlr       East Vul      N-S
© BES, Inc  All Rights Reserved	♠ J9752 ♥ 85 ♦ 854 ♣ A43	West    North   East     South                         1♥        Pass 1NT     Pass    2♠        Pass 3NT     Pass    Pass    Pass

 

After East’s 2♠ reverse, West had more than enough points and stuff in the unbid suits for 3NT.  North’s obvious opening lead is a Club, won by South’s Ace.  The Club return is ducked in Dummy and won by North’s Ten, at which point North cannot profitably continue the suit, so she shifts to a Spade won by Declarer.  Now, Declarer can count 7 top tricks, with hopes of a 3-3 Heart break for 9.  Also, there is a Diamond trick that can be established, and that should be done right away while Declarer still has the A♥ entry to hand.  So, the K♦ is led, won by North’s Ace and another Spade comes back.  Now what?  Declarer is up to 8 tricks, and still hoping for a 3-3 Heart break.  However, the best chance to make the contract (but giving up on 10 tricks) is to duck a Diamond next, which makes the contract whenever either red suit breaks.

 

But perhaps Declarer will decide to go for the gusto, playing on Hearts before Diamonds, risking the contract while trying for 10 tricks.  After winning the second Spade return, he cashes three rounds of Hearts getting the bad news.  Now it looks as if Declarer is down one, but look what happens, this is the position before Declarer cashes the third Spade:

                                    North

                                    ♠

                                    ♥ J

                                    ♦ JT

                                    ♣ Q6

            Declarer                                  Dummy

            ♠                                              ♠ Q8

            ♥                                              ♥ 93

            ♦ Q97                                      ♦ 3

            ♣ KJ                                       ♣

                                    South

                                    ♠ J9

                                    ♥

                                    ♦ 85

                                    ♣ 3

When that Q♠ is cashed, Declarer pitches a Diamond and North is squeezed in three suits!  Whatever she pitches gives Declarer his 9^th trick (and a 10^th too if a Heart is pitched).  A rare Triple Squeeze!

 

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