[sceptic]

Scoring: IMP

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West North East South

 Pass  1♣    Pass  2♣
 Pass  2♥    Pass  2NT
 Pass  3NT   Pass  Pass
 Pass  

Hi, I was watching a squeeze hand tourney and I for the life of me cant see the squeeze, it looks like the lead makes or breaks this contract, where is the squeeze ?

[uday]

It is true that in 3N, there are no squeezes, the contract goes down when they cash 5 diamond tricks.

In 5C, though, you can squeeze East in the majors. One way would be:
let LHO cash 2D tricks, and switch. declarer draws trumps, ruffs his diamond loser, and runs winners coming down to

-
AT
-
-


J
x
-
-

East needs to come down to 2 cards, but needs to hold 3, he cannot hold the SQ as well as the HQJ. So declarers SJ will be good (if rho throws the SQ) or the HT will be good after cashing the HA.


There are other

[inquiry]

sceptic, on Dec 6 2004, 01:08 PM, said:

Scoring: IMP

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West North East South

 Pass  1♣    Pass  2♣
 Pass  2♥    Pass  2NT
 Pass  3NT   Pass  Pass
 Pass  

Hi, I was watching a squeeze hand tourney and I for the life of me cant see the squeeze, it looks like the lead makes or breaks this contract, where is the squeeze ?

Uday is right of course. In 3NT, you are down or make depending upon lead (you have nine top tricks in notrump, but five losers off the top).

But in 5♣, you have two sure losers (diamonds), and ten tricks (the nine top winners and the diamond ruff). So L=one after you lose two tricks and get your diamond ruff. The defense, if they start a spade instead of a diamond can prevail. Win spade ACE, play a diamond, they lead another spade, and you are toasted.

If the defense starts two diamonds, then switches, it is too late. What if the defenses starts one diamond, and then leads a spade? It is again too late. Win the ace, lead another diamond. Win the next spade, cross in clubs, ruff a diamond, run clubs... to reach.

Scoring: IMP

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Ben

[pclayton]

There's also a trump squeeze lurking in 5♣ if you choose not to unblock the A-K♠.

[inquiry]

Right you are. The opponents could force you into this a trump squeeze btw. The problem with a trump squeeze, is like a criss-cross squeeze you can misread the ending. But here is how they can force you to play it. West will cash diamond aCE and switch to 9 of hearts, you win king, and lead antoher diamonds. Here comes another heart, you win ace, you ruff your diamond, and run three clubs to this ending...

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On the next to last club, if EAST throws a heart, you play spade ace, heart ruff, cash your good heart and then spade. If he throws the the spade, you play spade AK, then ruff a heart and enjoy your spade jack. But east can make it hard for you.. he might throw his spade early so the ending is this...

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The trump squeeze, like the criss cross often has this kind of ambiguity, so you should try to avoid them if you can, and the defense should look for chances to fool you when they can.

Ben