Study 6D75   Main

Pure Squeezes

by Richard Pavlicek

The wide variety of squeeze positions in bridge would require volumes of analysis to be complete, and the practical benefit would be small. This study approaches the subject from a more realistic perspective that is inherent to all squeezes. Warning: This is for experts or “squeeze buffs” only.

I will define a “pure” squeeze as one in which threat cards require no special rank and each enemy stopper is independent; that is, a stopper held by one opponent does not require assistance from his partner. Further, it is assumed that the trump suit (if any) has no special role after the squeeze.

The Basic Threat

It is a fact of card play that every successful squeeze layout requires at least one isolated threat behind the defender who guards it. This is evident because if an isolated threat is in front of a defender (or if there is no isolated threat), the defense can foil any squeeze by retaining stoppers behind declarer’s threats. In other words, declarer must part with his threat before the defender parts with his stopper.

For the sake of discussion I will assume a standard layout in which North has an isolated threat against West. This will be called the basic threat since it is basic to all squeeze positions. It will further be assumed that declarer is able to win all but one of the remaining tricks.

This “basic threat” approach to squeeze analysis is also the most practical. Declarer often considers squeeze possibilities as soon as he discovers that a threat is held behind an opponent. The next thought in declarer’s mind is “What can I do about it?”

Ambiguous Threats

Besides the basic threat against West, it will be assumed that declarer has two additional threats (in separate suits) that are not isolated. These ambiguous threats can both be in the South hand or they can be split, but they cannot both be in the North hand. If North held both ambiguous threats, East could assume the task to protect them and there can be no squeeze because he will discard after the threats.

The reason for assuming two ambiguous threats is that with just one other threat, only a simple squeeze against West could exist, which is beneath the scope of this study.

The reason for assuming neither ambiguous threat is isolated is to consider the general case. When an ambiguous threat is isolated (or becomes so), the ending is a special case and the play is simplified.

The Free Suit

The remaining suit, besides the basic threat suit and the ambiguous threat suits, will be called the free suit. This must be the trump suit at a suit contract, and at notrump it is generally a solid suit. It is possible at notrump to have threats in all four suits, but this is rare and of little practical value.

In general it makes no difference, as far as squeeze requirements are concerned, which hand holds the free suit (or whether it is equally divided). Most often it is held in the hand with one threat as this conveniently fills out the missing cards. If the hand with two threats has equal or greater length in the free suit, this must be compensated for by a surplus winner in the opposite hand in its lone threat suit — else declarer could not win all but one trick.

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General Technique

The basic play of pure squeezes is to run the free suit but not its last card. This forces the hand guarding the basic threat to unguard one of the ambiguous threats, isolating it to his partner, while the other is guarded by both. Sound familiar?

Yes, a double squeeze! The suit guarded by both is the common suit; the suit guarded to the left of the common threat is the left suit; and the suit guarded to the right is the right suit. In the great majority of cases the rule to execute a double squeeze will work:

First cash all non-common-suit winners with the common threat, except if the opposite hand has no idle card to discard, then cash its right winner first.

1.	8 6 5 4 K 10 4 A 10 8 K 9 5
Q J 10 9 Q 8 5 2 J 9 7 4 3		A 2 J 7 6 3 Q 6 5 4 J 7 2
3 NT South Lead: Q	K 7 3 A 9 K 3 2 A Q 10 8 6

East wins the A and returns a spade, which you duck to rectify the count, then win the king. You next lead four rounds of clubs, pitching a diamond from dummy, since only dummy has a heart threat. The fourth club squeezes West in three suits.

If West unguards hearts, common suit is diamonds, spades left and hearts right. If you lead the fifth club next, dummy has no idle card to discard, so you must win its right winner ( K) first. Then return to the A and lead the last club.

If West unguards diamonds, common suit is hearts, spades right (relative to North) and diamonds left. First cash North’s non-common-suit winner ( A) then cross to the K or A to lead South’s winners.

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Pure Squeeze Types

To master the topic it is necessary to know when a pure squeeze can succeed (assuming best defense) and this requires a study of entry positions. Also, there are times when the entire free suit can be cashed at once, which may bring clarity to a fuzzy ending.

Pure squeezes are of two types per the location of ambiguous threats: (1) South has both or (2) North has one and South the other. Each type has several forms regarding entry conditions, but all require that each ambiguous threat is accompanied by an entry in its own suit.

Type 1-A

North has two winners in the basic threat suit (with small opposite) or an entry in either ambiguous suit.

Cash the entire free suit, then the winner(s) in the ambiguous suit West unguards before North’s winners.

2.	A K 9 2 2 K 3
Q J 10 Q 8 Q J —		— J 10 9 10 9 8 7 —
NT win 7 South leads	2 A 3 A 3 A 2

The clubs can be cashed ending in either hand. If West unguards hearts, continue with the A to squeeze West out of a diamond; then the top spades squeeze East. If West instead unguards diamonds, win the A for a mirror image.

You could also succeed by cashing just one club then the ace of the suit West unguards, or even by leading a spade first, but these are inferior because your decision comes a trick earlier.

3.	J 2 K 2 A K
K K Q Q J 10 —		— J 10 9 9 8 7 —
NT win 6 South leads	— A 3 A 4 3 2

Win the K and lead the A. If West has kept hearts and East keeps diamonds, South discards a diamond; then the A and K squeeze West in the majors.

If West instead has kept diamonds and East keeps hearts, South discards a heart; then the A squeezes West in spades and diamonds.

You could also succeed by cashing just one top club then following the double-squeeze rule. If West unguards hearts, win A, K and A; or if West unguards diamonds, win A, K and A. Nonetheless, running the entire free suit is better because you see one more discard before having to commit.

4.	A 8 6 2 7 2 K 8 4 K 8 4 2
K Q J 10 9 K J 6 5 Q 10 2 3		7 5 4 Q 9 8 4 3 J 9 7 5 5
6 South Lead: K	3 A 10 A 6 3 A Q J 10 9 7 6

Duck the K and ruff the continuation (not the best defense but certainly realistic) in order to keep both of South’s threats intact. Lead all the clubs throwing a heart and a diamond from North. If West gives up diamonds, cash the A and K to squeeze West out of his heart stopper; then the A squeezes East in the red suits. If West instead gives up hearts, cash the A to squeeze West out of his diamond stopper; then cross to the K and lead the A to squeeze East.

Type 1-B

North’s only entry is a single winner in the basic threat suit or the last free-suit winner.

Cash all but one free-suit winner to force West to unguard an ambiguous suit. Next cash the winner(s) in the suit West unguards before the last free-suit winner.

5.	A J 2 2 A K
K Q K Q Q J —		— J 10 9 10 9 8 —
NT win 6 South leads	2 A 3 A 3 2

Win the K then cash the red ace in whichever suit West unguards. Next cross to the A and lead the last club to effect a simultaneous double squeeze.

6.	A J 2 2 K 3
K Q K Q Q J —		— J 10 9 10 9 8 —
NT win 6 South leads	— A 3 A 3 A 2

Cash the A then the red ace in whichever suit West unguards. Cross to the K, squeezing West out of his red-suit stopper, then lead the A to squeeze East.

Each end position (6-7 cards) shows the simplest diagram of the squeeze. Deals 1, 4, 11, 13 and 15 follow the standard layout. Deals 7, 9 and 14 are flipped (basic threat South).

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7.	8 6 3 A K 6 A 7 6 A K 7 3
Q J 9 8 5 3 J 10 9 2 10 6 2		K J 9 5 4 2 Q 10 7 Q 8 4 3 —
6 NT South Lead: Q	A 10 7 4 2 K 5 Q J 9 8 5 4

South holds the basic threat ( 10) behind East who opened 2 , and North holds both ambiguous threats, so the layout is reversed per my discussion assumptions. Duck the first trick to rectify the count, then win the J shift with the king. Lead all but one club discarding a spade. If East unguards diamonds, win the A (optionally the A too) then cross to the A to lead the last club. If East instead unguards hearts, win A-K, cross to the A, etc.

Now consider Type 2 squeezes (ambiguous threats divided):

Type 2-A

South’s threat is headed by two winners (with small opposite).

Cash the entire free suit and any winner in the basic threat suit. Next cash the winner(s) in the suit West unguarded.

8.	J A 3 2 K 3
K K Q Q J 10 —		— J 10 9 8 7 6 —
NT win 6 South leads	— 2 A K 3 A 2

Cash the top clubs ending in either hand. If West unguards hearts, East must unguard diamonds, then the A squeezes West in the pointed suits. If West unguards diamonds, East must unguard hearts, then A-K squeeze West in the majors.

Other orders of plays will also work, e.g., if West unguards hearts on the A, you could cash the A before the K; but as always, running the entire free suit is superior if technically sound, because it gleans more information before you must decide who’s guarding what.

9.	9 10 6 4 3 A K 6 5 4 3 10 7
7 5 4 2 Q 9 2 J 9 7 9 6 5		A K J 10 3 J 7 5 Q 10 8 8 3
6 South Lead: 2	Q 8 6 A K 8 2 A K Q J 4 2

East wins the K and returns a trump to stop two spade ruffs. Win in hand, ruff a spade, cross to the K and lead all your trumps discarding three diamonds and two hearts. If East unguards hearts (after West has unguarded diamonds) cash the A to squeeze East. If instead East unguards diamonds (after West has unguarded hearts) win the top diamonds to squeeze East.

Another way of looking at it is that after all the trumps are led, West cannot protect both red suits, so whichever one he gives up allows East to be squeezed in that suit and spades.

Of course, it would all be a different story if West led a trump or a diamond against 6 to catch North-South for speeding.

Type 2-B

South’s threat suit is of the form A-x-x opposite K-x. South has an entry in one of North’s threat suits.

Cash all but one free-suit winner to force West to unguard an ambiguous suit, then follow the rule for double squeezes.

10.	J 2 A 3 K 2 4
K Q K Q Q J 10 —		— J 10 9 8 7 6 5 —
NT win 7 South leads	A 2 A 4 3 A K

Suppose West unguards hearts when you lead the K, making the common suit diamonds. Per the double-squeeze rule, if you next lead the A there is no idle card to discard from North, so you must win North’s right winner ( A) first. Return to the A and lead the A, which squeezes both opponents on the same trick.

If West unguards diamonds, the common suit is hearts. Now you just win the K (non-common-suit winner with the common threat) then all of South’s winners. Other sequences of plays will also work but offer no advantage, so there’s no reason to divert from the rule.

11.	8 6 5 4 A K 2 A J J 10 5 3
J 10 7 3 Q 8 5 3 10 9 4 7 6		K 9 J 10 9 6 Q 8 7 5 3 Q 9
6 NT South Lead: 3	A Q 2 7 4 K 6 2 A K 8 4 2

Duck East’s K, not only to rectify the count but to preserve a spade entry. Win the A at trick two and lead four rounds of clubs. If West unguards hearts, making the common suit diamonds, dummy has no idle card to pitch on the last club, which dictates winning A-K first. Return to hand with the Q to lead the last club.

If West unguards diamonds, the common suit is hearts, so you first cash the A (non-common-suit winner with the common threat) then cross to the Q (or K) to lead South’s winners.

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Type 2-C

South’s threat suit is of the form A-x opposite x. North has an entry in the basic threat suit, and South has an entry in either of North’s threat suits.

This is the most stringent kind of pure squeeze. Fortunately the rule for execution is the same as for Type 2-B.

Cash all but one free-suit winner to force West to unguard an ambiguous suit, then follow the rule for double squeezes.

12.	A J A 4 3 2 4
K Q Q J 10 Q J —		— 9 8 7 10 9 8 7 —
NT win 7 South leads	2 K 2 A 3 A K

On the K if West unguards hearts, the common suit is diamonds. Per the double-squeeze rule, if you next lead the A, North will have no idle card to discard, so win the A (right winner) and return to the K. Lead the A to squeeze West out of a diamond stopper, after which you let go the J from North. Finally, cross to the A to squeeze East in the red suits.

If West unguards diamonds, the common suit is hearts, and play is simpler. Win the A (non-common-suit winner with the common threat) then return to the A or K to lead South’s remaining winners.

13.	A K Q 5 K 6 4 9 3 10 9 6 2
J 9 7 6 4 Q 10 9 K 7 5 2 5		8 J 7 5 3 2 Q J 10 8 4 7 3
7 South Lead: 6	10 3 2 A 8 A 6 A K Q J 8 4

You win the Q (ducking is too risky), three trumps, K, then two more trumps discarding a diamond. If West unguards hearts, the common suit is diamonds. If you lead the last club now, dummy has no idle card to pitch, so first win the K (right winner) and return to the A. The last club forces West to unguard diamonds, then the A squeezes East.

If West unguards diamonds, the common suit is hearts. First cash North’s top spade (non-common-suit winner with the common threat) then return to the A to lead the last club, squeezing both opponents on the same trick.

14.	K J 2 3 2 A 4 Q 10 9 8 7 6
7 10 9 6 4 Q 9 7 3 2 J 5 4		A 10 9 6 5 K J 8 7 K 10 6 3
3 NT South Lead: 7	Q 8 4 3 A Q 5 J 8 5 A K 2

East takes the K with the ace and shifts to the 7, won by your queen. Lead five rounds of clubs (pitching two diamonds) forcing East to unguard a red suit. If East unguards hearts, the common suit is diamonds. Since you have no idle card to pitch on the last club, first win the A (right winner) then cross to the J. The last club forces East to unguard diamonds, then the Q squeezes West.

If East unguards diamonds, the common suit is hearts. Win the Q (non-common-suit winner with the common threat) then return to the J for crunch time.

Alternate Threats

An alternate threat is an extra card held by South* that can assume the role of North’s ambiguous threat if West elects to unguard that suit. This might save the day when a Type 2 pure squeeze would fail due to entry conditions.

*An alternate threat in North (for South’s ambiguous threat) has no benefit and is useless.

In order for an alternate threat to exist, North must have a surplus winner (not opposite a low card) in the basic threat suit, else declarer could not win all but one trick.

If West unguards North’s ambiguous threat, and South has an alternate threat in that suit, use South’s threat instead.

15.	A 7 3 2 A J 6 3 K 6 J 10 8
Q J 10 8 Q 10 2 J 9 7 5 9 5		9 5 4 K 9 8 5 Q 10 4 2 6 3
6 NT South Lead: Q	K 6 7 4 A 8 3 A K Q 7 4 2

Duck the first trick and win the second — and thank West for continuing, as a shift to either red suit would be fatal. Win five clubs pitching hearts. If West unguards hearts, the common suit is diamonds, but a Type 2-B squeeze will fail, because the right winner ( A) must be won before leading the last club, which leaves no way back to the South hand without disturbing the common-suit entry.

But wait! South’s 7 can serve as the right threat, so the J is an idle card and can be pitched on the last club. Finally, cross to the A forcing West to unguard diamonds, then the A squeezes East.

If West unguards diamonds, the common suit is hearts, so simply win the K and A (non-common-suit winners with the common threat) and return to the A to lead the last club.

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© 2023 Richard Pavlicek