Study 9Q53 Main

Trump Strip Squeeze

by Richard Pavlicek

A trump strip squeeze (as used here) is a generic description for any strip squeeze in which the trump suit plays a significant role. Most notrump-feasible strip squeezes have a counterpart with ruffing involved. Note that each technique described here loses at least one trick, else it would be a trump squeeze.

1.  Ruffed squeeze card

win 2/3	—		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	A J		1. S	A!
	K
	—
—		A
K Q		5 4
A		—
—		—
	—
	3 2
	—
South leads	A

2.  Ruffout strip squeeze

win 4/5	2		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
bi	—		1. S	A!	2	3
	K 9 5
	3
—		—
3 2		A K
3 2		A J 10
2		—
	—
	Q 4
	Q 4
South leads	A

3.  Discard-or-ruff strip squeeze

win 3/4	2		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
auto?	4 3 2		1. S	4!	7	2!	A
	—
	—
—		—
A K		—
K 7		6 5 4
—		A
	—
	—
	A Q 2
South leads	4

If West pitches heart, ruff and lead heart.

4.  Loser-on-loser ruffout strip squeeze

win 3/4	K		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	4		1. S	4!	K	4!	A
	Q 4		2. E	J	A	A	4
	—
—		—
A K		—
A K		J 10 9
—		A
	A
	Q 5
	—
South leads	4

If West pitches a heart, ruff and lead 4.

5.  Forced-duck establishment strip squeeze

win 5/6	—		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
auto	A 5 2		1. S	K!	3	2	J
	K Q 8		2. S	J!	2	8	9
	—
—		—
7 6 4 3		K Q J
3 2		A 10 9
—		—
	A K
	10 9 8
	J
South leads	—

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6.  Forced-duck fork strip squeeze

win 4/6	—		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
auto bi	K Q J		1. S	A!	6	4	2
	4		2. S	4	6	K	2
	5 4		3. N	5!	K	K	7
—		—	4. S	5
A 6		3 2
A Q		—
7 6		A K 3 2
	A K
	5 4
	K 5
South leads	—

7.  Elopement fork strip squeeze

win 3/5	3		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
bi	10 4		1. S	4!	2	3	K
	5 4		2. N	4	K	2	A
	—
A		—
A J 9		2
2		A K
—		A K
	2
	K Q 5
	—
South leads	4

Bi case (diamond ruff first) trivial.

8.  Lunar ruff strip squeeze

win 5/6	—		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
bi	—		1. S	4!	Q	A	2
	A Q 5 2		2. N	K	3	4!	K
	A K		3. N	2!	8	2	6
A		—	4. S	A
K Q		—
K 7 6		J 10 9 8
—		3 2
	2
	A J 10
	4
South leads	4

If West pitches a diamond, South pitches a heart.

9.  Ruff or double squeeze

win 4/5	3 2		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
bi	K		1. S	K!	10	2	A
	A 9		2. E	9	J	2	3
	—		3. S	Q!
10		A 9
A 2		—
J 10		K Q
—		A
	K Q J
	—
	4
South leads	K

If East does not return a trump, ruff the club.

10.  Threat transfer fork strip squeeze

win 5/6	A K		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	—		1. S	K!	A	K	7
	J 6 5		2. N	A	8	2	2
	2		3. N	5	9	K	4
2		—	4. S	J!	9	2	Q
A 10 9		Q 8 7
—		Q 10 9
5 4		—
	—
	K J 2
	A K 4
South leads	—

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11.  Crossruff strip squeeze

win 2/4	2		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
auto	4		1. S	K!	A	4!	K
	Q J		2. W	Q	J!
	—
—		A
—		A
—		A K
A Q J 10		—
	3
	K
	4
South leads	K

12.  Crossruff fork strip squeeze

win 5/6	A 2		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
auto?	A Q 10 2		1. S	4	Q	2!	A
	—		2. E	J	4	A	A!
	—
Q		—
J 5 4		K 9 8
A Q		J 10
—		A
	K
	—
	K 5 4
South leads	K 4

13.  Nonmaterial ruff-sluff strip squeeze

win 5/6	A		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
bi	A 6 5 4		1. S	4!	A	K	K
	K		2. W	Q	4	7	2
	—		3. S	Q	K	A	8
—		—	4. N	A!
K 2		10 9 8 7
A Q J 10		—
—		A K
	2
	Q J 3
	4
South leads	Q

14.  Ruff-sluff strip squeeze

win 6/7	A K		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
bi	A 4 3		1. S	4!	A	K	Q
	K		2. W	Q	2	K	3
	2		3. S	Q	K	A	7
—		—	4. N	A	8	5	9
K 2		10 9 8 7	5. N	K!
A Q J 10 9		—
—		A K Q
	3
	Q J 6 5
	4
South leads	J

If West exits in hearts, same squeeze develops.

15.  Entry ruffout strip squeeze

win 6/7	—		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
auto bi?	K Q 10 9 3		1. S	A!	2	3	J
	A 10		2. S	K	2	A!	Q
	—		3. N	9!	J	K	6
—		—	4. S	5
A 8 7 6 2		J 5 4
3 2		Q J
—		A K
	A K
	—
	K 5
South leads	Q 5 4

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16.  Delayed elopement fork strip squeeze

win 3/5	4		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
bi	—		1. S	4!	Q	9!	K
	K J 10 9		2. E	A	2!
	—
A		—
A Q		J 10
A Q		3
—		A K
	3 2
	K 4
	—
South leads	4

Bi case (diamond-heart crossruff) trivial.

17.  Lunar threat transfer fork strip squeeze

win 5/6	A K		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	A K 5		1. S	K!	A	K	7
	—		2. N	A!	Q	2	8
	K		3. N	K!	A	2	9
—		—
3 2		Q 10 9
A 10 9 8		Q 7
—		A
	—
	J 4
	K J 2
South leads	2

18.  Ruff step-winkle

win 4/6	—		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
auto bi?	A 4		1. S	K	J	5	9
	Q		2. S	2!	8	A	10
	K 6 5		3. N	Q!	K	A	4
—		—	4. S	4	Q	6!
K J 8		10 9
4		A K
Q J		A 10
	A K
	Q 3 2
	—
South leads	4

19.  Crossruff step-winkle

win 5/6	3		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
auto?	J 10 2		1. S	4!	A	3	A
	A 4		2. N	2!	Q	2	9
	—		3. S	K	3	4	9
—		—	4. S	5	7	A	10
A 9		K Q 8	5. N	J
Q 8 7 3		10 9
—		A
	2
	—
	K J 6 5
South leads	4

To avoid throw-in, E-W must let heart set up.

20.  Vice forced-duck establishment squeeze

win 5/6	—		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
auto	A 5		1. S	K	9	K!	8
	K		2. S	Q!	10	8	6
	K 9 8		3. S	2	J	A	10
—		—	4. N	5
K J 9		10 8
A		Q
J 10		A 7 6
	A K
	Q 3 2
	—
South leads	Q

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21.  Elopement establishment or squeeze

win 6/7	A 2		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	K 4		1. S	4!	Q	4!	Q
	J 5 4		2. W	Q	5	A	3
	—		3. S	4	K	A	J
K Q		J	4. N	2!	2	5
Q J 10		3 2
K Q		A
—		A K Q
	4 3
	A 9 6 5
	—
South leads	4

22.  Elopement or double squeeze

win 4/5	K Q		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
bi?	4 2		1. S	A!	J	Q	Q
	K		2. N	K	Q	10	A
	—		3. S	A	10	2	K
A J		2	4. S	J!
J 10		K Q
A		—
—		K Q
	10
	A 9
	—
South leads	A J

If West ruffs high, must return J to stop ruff.

23.  Establishment triple strip squeeze

win 5/6	—		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
auto	K		1. S	A!	2	2
	4 2
	A K 9
—		—
Q 3 2		A
K		A Q
3 2		Q J 10
	A K
	4
	J 10
South leads	4

24.  Knockout strip squeeze

win 3/4	A Q		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	Q 5		1. S	4!	K	Q!	A
	—		2. N	5!	2	4	A
	—
J		10
A K		—
A		3 2
—		A
	K
	4
	K
South leads	4

25.  Extended knockout strip squeeze

win 3/5	A Q		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	Q 5		1. S	4!	K	A!	2
	4		2. N	4
	—
J		10
A K		—
A K		3 2
—		A 2
	K
	4
	Q 5
South leads	4

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26.  Trump extended knockout strip squeeze

win 3/5	K J 3		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	Q 5		1. S	4!	A	3	2
	—		2. N	5!	2	4	K
	—		3. W	A	K!
A 10		9
A K		3 2
A		—
—		A 2
	Q 2
	4
	K
South leads	4

27.  Knockout trim fork strip squeeze

win 4/5	A K		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
auto	6 5 4		1. S	4!	4	K	A
	—		2. N	A	J	2	Q
	—		3. N	4	2	J
Q		J
K Q 9		3 2
4		A
—		A
	2
	A J 10
	—
South leads	4

28.  Knockout fork strip squeeze

win 4/6	A K 4		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
auto?	5 4 3		1. S	4!	4	4	A
	—		2. N	K	10	2	J
	—		3. N	A	A	3	Q
Q J		10	4. N	3	J	K	A
A Q 9		J 8 7
4		A
—		A
	3 2
	K 10 6
	—
South leads	4

29.  Backwash strip squeeze

win 4/5	A		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	A J		1. S	4!	Q	A	K
	Q J		2. N	Q!	A	4	2
	—		3. E	K	5	2	A
—		Q	4. N	J!
2		K Q
3 2		A K
K Q		—
	K
	—
	5 4
South leads	A 4

Same play is required if South held A-K.

30.  Extended backwash strip squeeze

win 5/6	A K J		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
auto	10 6 5		1. S	4!	A	K!
	—
	—
9		10
2		K Q J
2		A K
A K Q		—
	Q
	A 4
	Q 4
South leads	4

Auto case becomes the knockout variety.

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31.  Trump extended backwash strip squeeze

win 3/5	K J 10		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
auto	Q 5		1. S	4!	A	J!	A
	—		2. N	5	K	4	2
	—		3. E	A	2	7	K!
8 7		A 9
3 2		A K
—		A
A		—
	Q 2
	4
	K
South leads	4

Auto case becomes the knockout variety.

32.  Backwash fork strip squeeze

win 4/5	A 2		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
auto bi?	Q 4		1. S	4!	Q	A!	5
	4		2. N	2	J	K	Q
	—		3. S	A!
—		Q J
—		K J
A K Q		5
K Q		—
	K
	A 5
	—
South leads	A 4

Auto case becomes the knockout variety.

33.  Backwash trim fork strip squeeze

win 4/5	A Q		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	A 7 6		1. S	4!	K	Q!	4
	—		2. N	A	J	K	2
	—		3. N	6!
—		J
3 2		K Q 10
A		4
A K		—
	K
	J 5 4
	—
South leads	4

34.  Backwash ruffout strip squeeze

win 5/6	A		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
auto	A J 2		1. S	4!	Q	A!	K
	Q 4		2. N	4!	A	2	5
	—		3. S	K	10	2	J
10		Q J
3		K Q
5		A K
A K Q		—
	K 3 2
	4
	—
South leads	5 4

35.  Backwash extended ruffout strip squeeze

win 6/7	A		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
auto bi?	Q 5 4		1. S	A!	2	A!	K
	A K 9		2. N	4	A	2	2
	—		3. S	K	10	9	J
10		Q J	4. S	5	2	K	10
3 2		A K	5. N	Q
4 3 2		Q J 10
2		—
	K 2
	—
	8 7 6 5
South leads	A

South’s club immaterial ( A shown for emphasis).

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36.  Backwash ruffout fork strip squeeze

win 5/6	A		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
auto bi?	Q 4		1. S	A!	2	A!	K
	A K J		2. N	4	A	2	2
	—		3. S	5	2	A	9
—		K	4. N	Q!
3 2		A K
4 3 2		Q 10 9
2		—
	2
	—
	8 7 6 5
South leads	A

South’s club immaterial ( A shown for emphasis).

37.  Seesaw ruffout fork strip squeeze

win 5/6	A 4		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
auto?	—		1. S	K!	7	A!	Q
	Q 5 4		2. N	4	6	2	10
	2		3. S	Q!	K	2!	Q
—		Q
A K 10		—
K 10 7		A 6
—		A K Q
	K 3 2
	Q J 4
	—
South leads	—

38.  Seesaw ruffout guard strip squeeze

win 5/6	A 4		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
auto?	—		1. S	K!	K	A!	Q
	Q 4		2. N	4	2	2	A
	Q J
—		Q
A K Q		—
A K		3 2
K		A 5 4
	K 3 2
	J 5 4
	—
South leads	—

39.  Seesaw ruffout fork strip triple squeeze

win 5/6	A 3		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	K J 4		1. S	K!	4	3	Q
	—		2. S	K!	A	2	5
	2
—		Q
A Q		3 2
A Q		—
A 4		Q 6 5
	K 2
	—
	K J 4
South leads	K

40.  Seesaw ruffout fork strip squeeze

win 5/6	A 3		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	—		1. S	K!	Q	A!	Q
	J 10 9 8		2. N	8	2	4!	K
	—
—		Q
A J 9		—
A K Q		3 2
—		9 8 7
	K 2
	K Q 10
	—
South leads	4

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41.  Seesaw ruffout fork strip triple squeeze

win 5/6	A 3		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
bi?	K Q 10 2		1. S	K!	5	A!	Q
	—		2. N	K	3	4!	4
	—		3. N	Q	6	4	A
—		Q
A J 4		3
A Q		—
5		9 8 7 6
	K 2
	—
	K J 4
South leads	4

42.  Elopement or seesaw ruffout squeeze

win 4/5	A Q 10		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
bi?	—		1. S	4	Q	Q!	K
	Q 4		2. E	9	J!	K	A!
	—		3. N	4
—		K 9
A K Q		—
A K		—
—		4 3 2
	J 2
	J 5 4
	—
South leads	—

Curiously with K onside (auto) you can’t win 4.

43.  Crossruff or seesaw ruffout squeeze

win 4/5	K 3		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
bi	Q 4		1. S	5!	J	4	10
	4		2. W	Q	K!
	—
Q		—
K		A J
K J		A Q 10
2		—
	A 2
	—
	7 6 5
South leads	—

44.  Trump triple strip squeeze

win 2/3	J 2		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
auto bi	—		1. S	A!
	K
	—
—		K Q
A		—
A		4
A		—
	A
	K
	—
South leads	K

Don’t leave home without it.

45.  Triple squeeze ruffout step-winkle

win 6/7	—		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
auto	K Q		1. S	A!	2	6	Q
	—		2. S	5!	3	A	8
	A K Q 7 6		3. N	K	9	4	4
—		—	4. N	K!	A	K	2
2		A	5. S	4!
A 10 8		K Q
4 3 2		J 10 9 8
	A K
	4
	J 9 4
South leads	5

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46.  Multiple sluff knockout squeeze

win 4/6	3 2		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	—		1. S	10!	J	4!	2
	6 5 4		2. W	5	5!	3	Q!
	K		3. W	6	6!
—		Q
J 9 8 7 6 5		3 2
—		A K
—		A
	A K
	10
	Q J
South leads	Q

If West ducks 10 pitch K instead.

47.  Backwash dual fork strip squeeze

win 4/5	A		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
auto bi	A Q		1. S	A	2	A!
	A Q
	—
—		K
—		K J
—		K J
6 5 4 3 2		—
	—
	—
	—
South leads	A K Q J 10

South’s clubs immaterial (all could be low).

Anti trump strip squeeze

48.  Tempo denial anti fork strip or squeeze

win 2/6	—		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
auto bi	10 4 2		1. S	Q!	K	2	5
	7 6		2. W	7	10!	2	6
	A
—		A 2
K 9 8 7		5
A 5		Q 4
—		Q
	—
	A Q J 6
	K J
South leads	—

Auto case trivial; bi wins 3 tricks.

49.  Trump deluge anti backwash strip squeeze

win 3/6	7 6 5		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
bi	A		1. S	A!	8	5	J
	3 2		2. S	3	9	6	2
	—		3. W	4	A	10	A!
Q 9 8		K J 10 2
4		—
4		Q 5
K		—
	A 4 3
	—
	A K
South leads	A

Note that a low trump first does not work.

50.  Winner retention anti knockout strip squeeze

win 3/7	5 4		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
auto bi	—		1. S	2!	Q	4	10
	K Q J
	A 2
K Q		A J 10
5 4		6
6 5		A 10 7
K		—
	3 2
	A K
	4 3 2
South leads	—

Auto case anti backwash strip squeeze.

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© 2015 Richard Pavlicek