[inquiry]

In the advanced/expert discussion group I have a thread on identifying advanced squeezes by pattern recongition. That thread will eventually wind its way through backwash, steppingstone, winkle, guard, clash, compound, entry-shifting, and many more advanced squeezes. The assumption in that thread is that the reader already knows all the basics of squeeze plays.

In response to a question in the middle of that thread (made as a joke), I began explaining the basic squeeze position and some of the terms used. That answer was short, and no real examples where given. It is not entire clear if the experts are getting much out of the advanced squeeze ending (and identifying them), so I thought maybe introducing the basic concepts to beginners and intermediates might be at least as good an idea.

First, some background on my approach to squeeze plays. There are many different types of squeezes, each with its own name, such as simple squeeze, double squeeze, crisscross squeeze, hedgehog squeeze, backwash squeeze, entry-shifting squeeze, delayed-duck squeeze, and many, many more. The sheer number of different squeeze endings that has been described overwhelms many players, who might otherwise seriously study squeeze play. Even more overwhelming is the exhaustive information on the strict requirements for each of these types of squeezes. The daunting task of memorizing these requirements force many people to forgo serious study of squeeze techniques. However, while the rare, extremely-serious bridge student should purchase several different books on squeezes and use them as textbooks to memorize every nuance of each squeeze ending, the vast majority of students would benefit from a less-memorization intense illustration of squeeze technique. My approach to teaching squeezes is designed primarily for this latter group of players, but its logical approach to identifying squeeze ending should be useful to all.

Introductory material on squeeze play inevitably covers only a few types of squeezes, most notably the simple squeeze and the double squeeze. The logic behind this approach is to avoid the complexity associated with discussions of the depth and breath of squeeze play. When I teach squeezes, I choose a different tack: I undertaken to provide an overview of a vast number of squeeze plays and helpful ways to recognizing the more exotic squeezes at the table when they occur.

SQUEEZE FORMAT AND JARGON
Since there is more than enough squeeze technique-specific jargon in the literature, I will try not to add to the confusion by creating a lot of new terms. However, I have ventured away from the usual approach in organizing squeeze material. Essentially, my description of squeeze plays will start with one of the basic positions known as a simple squeeze. I will then show how to identify one or more irregularities in that simple position that give rise to the other types of squeezes. I refer to these as "defects" in the "basic ending" and then describe the possible plays available to compensate for each type of defect. These maneuvers typically lead to other increasingly more complex squeeze endings

While several authors have coined pneumonic to help remember the basic squeeze requirements, none seem so practical as Clyde Love’s B.L.U.E. (those "experts who hate the use of BLUE are invited not to participate, this isn't open for discussion in my thread as I base my lessons and descriptions on violations of BLUE). Where the letters in BLUE stand for:[list]
[*] B: all the cards in the victim of the squeeze play is busy (against “both” threats)
[*] L: the loser count is correct (generally one loser, but not necessarily)
[*] U: at least one threat is in the upper hand
[*] E: the hand threat in the hand opposite the squeeze card has an entry to it.

When all four BLUE requirements are “right”, the squeeze moves forward more or less naturally in one of just a few routine squeeze endings. Its when something goes wrong with one or more of these BLUE requirements, that gives rise to all the variations on the squeeze theme that makes studying squeeze play seem so overwhelming. I hope to show that by identifying the deficiencies in one or more of these four basic requirements, you can often find plays that might compensate for these defects (and this is the theme of the pattern recognition thread on the advanced/expert discussion group). It is the identification of defects in the basic ending that will be the theme that moves us forward from the study of elementary squeezes to advanced squeeze techniques throughout our studies. But in this thread we will spend most of our time on the identifying basic squeeze positions.

[inquiry]

A Simple Beginning: The Finesse Ending
Although this is a thread on squeeze technique, we will begin with a brief study of endings featuring the "lowly" finesse. These finesseable positions will be used to illustrate three of the four BLUE squeeze requirements (some of this repeats what was in the expert thread). These first few endings are well known examples of how identifying defects in a basic position can lead to the adoption of alternative lines of play to compensate for the "defect."

We will examine BLUE on every hand in which a squeeze might be possible. Thus, you will quickly become very familiar with BLUE. To help with the understanding of BLUE, three of the four BLUE concepts are illustrated in the following non-squeeze endings.

Example 1

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This common two-card ending is familiar to all bridge players. South has all the remaining tricks (the Ace) but one off the top. Thus, the LOSER count ("L"-requirement) is one: if you think the loser count is not "one," imagine that it was North's lead in this ending.

However, consider this position with it being South's lead. When South plays a Spade, West is obligated to play before North. West's obligation to play first assures both tricks for North: if West plays low, North play the Queen then Ace; if West plays the King, North plays the Ace then Queen. Thus, North-South will win the remaining tricks because the hand with the threat (Q) has the advantage of playing after West has chosen which card to play. This obligation on West, and North's freedom to see West card before he plays is exactly what is meant by the "U"-requirement in BLUE: the ♠Q lies in the Upper hand. The upper hand play after the opponent has been forced to choose a card to play. You can see what a tremendous advantage having a card in the upper hand is!!!!

Finally, since South must have the lead in this ending to win the last two tricks, this lead is necessary for the ENTRY ("E") requirement to get from the south to the north hand. Thus, this simple ending illustrates the concept of LOSER count, UPPER hand, and ENTRY.

Let us agree that example 1 is a generalized form of the basic finesse ending. The next few endings will illustrate minor changes in this ending. With each change, we will discuss ways you might play the hand to "correct" for the alterations from this basic ending.

Example 2

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This ending is very similar to Example 1, but with one minor alteration that is not truly a defect, but rather a slightly more advanced form of the same ending. "L" is still one, and the "E" requirement is met in that it is south's lead. However, at first glance there might appear to be no threat card in North over WEST's King in example 2. However, all bridge players recognize a lead of either honor from South and the play of either the ace or deuce depending upon West's plays will win both tricks. So in fact, the ♠2 combined with the ♠QJ with South serve the same "U" function that the ♠Q alone served in example 1.

While it can be argued that examples 1 and 2 are identical "basic" finesse positions, not having the Q and A in the same hand has raised the minimum "strength requirements" for the ending. That is, in this ending in addition to the Q, N/S must also possess the J. Inexamination of squeeze positions, we will discover that minor hand pattern modifications also cause similar increases in the strength requirements.

To continue our investigations of the ending, lets examine a minor change in this ending see by removing the J from the NS holding (example 3). With this change we obtain the first real "defect" or "FLAW" in the basic finesse position. This ending lacks an obvious threat card in the upper hand and the "extra values" found in example (i.e. the ♠J).

Example 3

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A quick look at might lead you to conclude that N/S must lose a trick in spades, which is true if it is either North's or South's lead. However, if West has the lead, he is endplayed. If he leads a low ♠, South wins the ♠Q then north the ♠A, and if West leads the K, North wins the A followed by South's Q.

Early in the play of the hand represented by example 3, the declarer should have been able to identifying the defect in the basic finesse ending in spades. This defect can be viewed as either the Queen being in the wrong hand, or not having a strong enough holding (missing the Jack). If he did, perhaps he was able to carry out a standard "throw-in" maneuver against West one trick earlier. Such a throw-in compensates for this "defective" basic finesse position by endplaying WEST on the trick immediately preceding the given ending. One such example is shown in example 4.

Example 4

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Notice that in this ending it doesn't matter whether North or South has the lead. Either N/S hand will play a ♥, which forces the lead into West's hand giving rise to the two card ending seen in #3. Even without knowing the terminology for this endplay, most players can find and execute this play. They can do this because they can readily identify the "defect" in the basic positions (represented by examples 1 and 2) and they can find the obvious compensating response. It is hoped that by the time we finish this thread (and the one in the advanced/expet discussion group), you will be able to just as easily find defects from the basic squeeze endings and compensate for them just as readily.

You should also note the extra flexibility in the ending 4 that was unavailable in the basic endings (1 and 2). In the first two endings, South had to be on lead to win two ♠ tricks. However, in ending 4 the lead could be in either hand! This is because the exit card in ♥'s solves both the entry problem ("E") and upper hand problem ("U") for N/S. A similar exit card could overcome the ENTRY problem in the 1 if the lead was in the North hand, as shown in the following ending (5). In this ending when West wins the ♥A, he is forced to lead a ♠. This solves the problem of the leading being in the wrong hand for basic squeeze ending. This shows that an exit card can be used to overcome entry problems in the basic finesseable ending.

Example 5

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Thus, in ending 4, the exit card overcame both the lack of E and U, while in ending 5 the exit card compensated for the lack of E. You will see later how having an "extra loser" can be used to your advantage in overcoming defects in "BLUE" in many squeeze positions.

Finally, let's imagine a finesse position which is fatally flawed in that the key card (♠K) is offside (that is, the UPPER requirement can never be met).

Example 6

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Perhaps you were able to diagnose the fact that the ♠K is offside may from clues from the bidding. This defect (no Upper threat) however can be overcome once again by the flexibility provided by the ♥ exit card in both N/S hands. Since East will be forced to win with the ♥A, N/S will win the ♠Q after all. Even if you were not able to diagnose the position of the ♠K in ending 6 (or in 5), with only one ♥ outstanding, you should exit with a ♥. If East has the last ♥, N/S are sure to win the last two tricks; regardless of the ♠K's location. If West wins the ♥A, North can still try the ♠ hook on the forced ♠ return.

There are other ways to compensate for defective finesse conditions, but these few examples are sufficient for our purpose of illustrating the general approach that will use to study squeeze techniques. First we will examine the most basic of all squeeze endings and establish the need for each of the BLUE components. Then we will introduce "defects" in one or more of the BLUE components and show the endgame techniques available to try to compensate for each defect.

This approach is referred to as "defect-identification", or flaw identification, or pattern recognition. Call it what you like, but as such, I will not put nearly the emphasis on the exact requirements for all the squeeze variants found in the literature, but rather emphasize identifying a logical sequence of options to consider depending upon the type of defects found in the basic squeeze positions. Thus, instead of grouping squeeze material into organized chuncks starting with the simple squeeze, then the double squeeze, then more advanced squeezes; I present material group by the nature of the defects in the BLUE requirements normally found in the basic squeeze position. Using this approach, I often teach more advanced endings, such as guard, trump, entry-shifting, and clash squeezes as corrective technique for minor defects in the simple squeeze ending well before discussions of such elementary plays as double squeezes. However, learning to identify and compensate for flaws in the basic squeeze position is a better approach than a memory intensive approach of studying each class of squeezes individually.

Next time: THE BASIC SQUEEZE ENDING.. in my mind there is only one. :-)

[inquiry]

Introduction to the the Simple Squeeze

The Basic Squeeze Ending
The simplest of squeeze ending, aptly enough, is one of several variants known collectively as simple squeezes. While there are four different simple squeeze endings, I will refer to the simplest of these four endings as the "basic squeeze ending." Then, we will examine other simple squeeze positions (and in fact all other squeeze endings) as logical variants based upon irregularities from this basic squeeze position.

The basic squeeze ending has the following requirements:

• 1. BLUE must be satisfied;
• 2. the threat suits are split between your two hands;
• 3. the threat suit in the hand opposite the squeeze card contains an entry in its own threat suit

This ending is very typical of what I call the basic squeeze ending...

1.1.1 BASIC SQUEEZE ENDING

Requirement 1
B: ♣A and ♥KQ in one hand
L: 1 loser in 3 card ending
U: ♥J lies over ♥KQ
E: ♥A entry to hand opposite squeeze card

Requirment 2: ♣K and ♥J is seperate hands

Requirement 3: entry to ♥J in its own suit

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Let's examine BLUE in this ending. In our examination of finesse endings, we didn't deal with the "B" requirement. A general requirement is that one opponent be "busy" guarding against "both" threats. In this context, a threat is a card that will become a winner if the opponent throw away his guard in this suit. On this hand, we have two clear threats: HJ and CK. If West were to discard his club ACE or either heart, then one of these threats would become a winner. The "B" requirement has several facets. First, our side must hold both threats and one defender must be BUSY guarding against BOTH threats. The "B" requirement is fulfilled since only one opponent (in this case, West) guards against both HJ and SK from becoming winners. After examining this hand, you should note that that if one opponent had the HKQ and the other had the CA that you would have to lose a trick because no squeeze exist since one opponent would not be Busy ("B"-requirement) in two suits.

Next, in this three card ending there are two obvious winners: the ACES. Three cards left, minus the two sure winners, leaves us with one one potential "loser." This satisfies the basic squeeze requirement calling for one-and-only-one loser left in the ending (the "L" requirement). The upper hand requirement ("U") is also fulfilled, because the threat suits are divided between the N/S hands. In this case, the ♥ threat is "above" (in the "Upper hand") West's guard in ♥'s
.
Finally, in this ending the "E" requirement is also satisfied. The lead is currently in South's hand, and when he is ready, he can enter the North hand with the ♥A. It is the presence of this ace that allows entry to the other hand, which meets the "E" requirement. Entry management is clearly the most complicated concept in advanced squeeze play, so we will elaborate more about the "E" requirement in the next post. But first, we have to introduce one additional squeeze concept, the squeeze card.

In a squeeze ending, you generally possess a winner in a side-suit. This side-suit winner is referred to as the squeeze card, because when you win the trick with it, your victim is squeezed out of his stopper in one or the other of the threat suits. In this ending, the ♠A is "the" squeeze card. In virtually all squeeze positions (some modest exceptions will be shown later) it is critical important that there be an entry to the hand opposite the squeeze card. Since the squeeze card is with South, the ♥A serves this purpose.

So to repeat: We noted that in this, the basic squeeze ending, that three general requirements exist. The first was that BLUE is satisfied. As noted above, BLUE is satisfied. The second is that the threat suits be divided between the two hands. Since the ♥J and ♣K are in separate hands this is met. Finally, that the threats suit in the hand opposite the squeeze card have an entry in its own suit. In this case, the ♥ suit is the threat suit in the hand opposite the squeeze card, and the ♥A fulfills this last requirement of the basic squeeze position. Please note that other types of simple squeezes will be studied in the later post in which BLUE is met, but these later two requirements are changed. That is, both threats can be in the same hand, or the entry to hand opposite the squeeze card is not in its own suit.

Since BLUE is met in this ending, West is squeezed when the ♠A is played. If he discards the ♣A, the next two tricks will be the ♣K and ♥A in that order. If he keeps the ♣A, he must discard a ♥, allowing North to win both the ♥A and ♥J.

That is all there is to the basic simple squeeze position. As an exercise, you should quickly review the individual requirements of BLUE. First you have two threats and West alone is Busy in both (B-requirement). Second, you have only one loser in the hand (L-requirement). Third, one threat (the ♥J) is in the upper hand (U-requirement). Finally, the ♥A is an entry (E-requirement) to the hand opposite the squeeze card (which was the ♠A).

The entry requirement plays a major role in most squeeze endings, primarily because as the number of cards remaining dwindles, the entries available to get back and forth between hands decrease. In post in the advanced/expert section. we will investigate how changing entry conditions effect advanced squeeze techniques. But in future post here in the beginner section, we will focus on how changes in the entry conditions associated with the basic squeeze position (1.1.1) gives rise to two of the other three simple squeeze endings.

Your first goals in virtually any squeeze is to identify potential threats and the entry to the hand opposite the squeeze card. For the sake of brevity, we will refer to the entry to the hand opposite the squeeze card as the primary entry. It is primary because every squeeze hand requires an entry to the hand opposite the squeeze card (again there is a very small group of exceptions to list requirement that will be shown in a expert thread). In some endings, there is also a need for a re-entry to the hand from which the squeeze card is played. In these cases, we will refer to this re-entry as a secondary entry. It is secondary, for two reasons. First, it is usually used after you have used the primary entry. Second, you do not always need a re-entry, so it is of secondary importance (of course if you need it, and don't have it, the squeeze will fail).

1.1.2 BASIC SQUEEZE ENDING

Requirement 1
B: ♣A and ♥KQ in one hand
L: 1 loser in 3 card ending
U: ♣k lies over ♣A
E: ♥A entry to hand opposite squeeze card

Requirment 2: ♣K and ♥J is seperate hands

Requirement 3: entry to ♥J in its own suit

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Ending 1.1.2 re-examines the basic squeeze position with emphasis towards identifying primary and secondary entries. As you can see by comparing 1.1.2 to 1.1.1, the basic squeeze position (which is often referred to as the automatic squeeze) works equally well against either opponent, as long as he is Busy in both threat suits. For instance, in 1.1.2, the E/W hands have been reversed without altering the result when N/S plays their ♠. Once again the squeeze card is the ♠A, and the primary entry (that is, entry to the hand opposite the squeeze card) is the ♥A. The same two threat exist, and one opponent, this time East, is busy guarding both threats. At first glance you might think that the U-requirement has violated, since the ♥KQ are behind the ♥AJ. However, South's ♣K is now in the "Upper" hand, and this is sufficient to meet the U-requirement. Thus, in 1.1.1, the upper threat had an entry in its own suit, while in 1.1.2, the lead was already in the hand with the upper threat, so an entry in the "upper threat suit" (this time, ♣'s) was not necessary. If East discards the ]♣A when the ♠A is taken, South takes the ♣K, if he discards the ♥K or ♥Q, North wins the last two tricks in ♥'s.


What have we learned: [list]
[*] The meaning of individual terms in BLUE
[*] The importance of an entry to the hand opposite the squeeze card (primary entry)
[*] The "pattern" (or requirements) for the basic squeeze ending (also known as an automatic squeeze)
[*] That the basic squeeze ending works against either opponent

Next time an example "basic squeeze hand".. then we will begin changing the entry conditions (introducing minor FLAWS in entry conditions) to see how that affects the minimum strength requirements for the squeeze play to work (remember the basic finessee position where you moved the queen from one hand to another, and how that increased the requirement, requiring then in addition to the queen, also the jack?)

[inquiry]

Your FIRST SQUEEZE: identifying the "BASIC SQUEEZE ENDING"

Let's examine a hand in which an automatic squeeze wil come to your rescue (P1.1). This hand arose late in a matchpoint game, in which south felt that he needed one more top score for a chance for first overall. South's 5NT bid was grand slam force, asking North to bid a grand slam with two of the top three ♠ honors: North's 7♠ bid confirmed that he held two of the top three ♠ honors.

With fewer than two top honors, South would not have bid higher than six ♠'s. South realized that everyone would bid at least 6S and many would probably bid 7S, decided to try to risk the small slam and try for matchpoint top in 7 NT. West's opening lead was the ♥J. For those of you unfamiliar with matchpoints, or why someone would risk the Grand Slam Bonus for a measly 10 points extra, should search this forum for an explanation of matchpoint scoring and strategy.

Scoring: matchpoints


P1.1 Play problem #1
Silent opponents...

4S 5NT (1)
7S 7NT

(1)="grand slam force"
Opening Lead ♥K

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Let's quickly examine the hand to count our winners and determine our potential losers. We have 7♠, 1♥, 1♣, and 3♦ tricks off the top for a total of 12 tricks: hence one loser. SO "L" is correct (counting sure winners is so easy).

What chances do you have to make all thirteen tricks? One chance is the ♣K is singleton; another is that someone has the ♦JT9 tripleton (so that cashing the ♦AKQ sets up the ♦8). Combined, the odds that either of these distributions exist is approximately 4%, so that if you know nothing about squeezes the chances of making this grand slam would appear to be very poor indeed. However, since "L" is right for a squeeze (one loser), let's also examine if the other BLUE requirements to see if an automatic squeeze might be possible.

You have two obvious threat cards, the fourth diamond (♦8) and the ♣Q. These threats, by being split between the two hands, satisfy the UPPER requirement against either opponent, and the requirement for the "basic squeeze ending" that threats be split between the two hand.

The next question is what will be the primary entry? Since you are very short of entries to dummy, its last ♠ winner will serve as the squeeze card, so you will need an entry to the hand opposite that spade. The "best" primary entry (entry to the hand opposite the squeeze card) in all squeeze ending is in the threat suit that hand contains (more on this later). Therefore, the primary entry to South's ♦ threat will be a high ♦, thus "E" is satisfied.

Since "LUE" is satisfied, the only other requirement is that one and only one opponent guard both threat suits. Clearly, only one opponent can hold the ♣K. Likewise, since E/W have only seven ♦'s between them, thus only one opponent can hold as many as four (or more) ♦'s. If the hand with four plus ♦'s also hold the ♣ King "B" will be satisfied and the ending is automatic squeeze.

So now you should be able to visualize the ending. South's hand should come down to some diamonds, and the dummy a good spade (squeeze card), a diamond (or two) for entry, and the club Q.

Having "imagined" the basic squeeze ending, you now play to reach the ending you visualize. Win the ♥A, cash ♠J, ♠K. On the second ♠ West throws a ♥. Take ♣A (after all, someday the ♣K will be singleton, but not today). Then overtake the ♠Q with the ♠A and play three more ♠'s, discarding three ♣'s from North to reach this position.

P1.1.1

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On the last♠ South will discard the ♥2. If either opponent started with exactly the ♦JT9 South's hand will be good after taking the top diamonds. In addition, if either opponent held the ♣K plus any 4♦'s (as shown for West in this ending), he will be squeezed out of one of his minor suit stoppers. The odds that the ♣K will be in the hand with long ♦'s is approximately 50%, so the overall chance of making this slam by either the squeeze or by the remote lucky drop of honors in one or the other of the minor suits is slightly higher than 50%.

That is essential all there is to the automatic squeeze! You should make a mental note that in this hand, it was necessary to cash the ♣A while you still have an entry to the North's hand. If the ♣A was not taken prior to winning your last trump, the ending would have been quite different from the basic squeeze position ([see 1.1.1 or 1.1.2 in last post).

P1.1.1

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When the last ♠ is played, South must discard before West. Whatever suit South discards, West can safely discard too. If both discards are ♣'s, cashing the ♣A makes the ♣Q high, but there is no entry back to North's hand to win it, and N/S will lose a ♦ to West.

If the E/W hands in P 1.1.2 were reversed, East would have to discard first, but South would need to guess whether West keep four ♦'s or one ♣, and discard accordingly. Cashing the ♣A early prevented this problem and cashing winner in the squeeze hand's threat suit to avoid this re-entry problem when the squeeze card is played has a special name: VIENNA COUP. There are a number of rules to help you remember to cash the side-suit winner to effect this play. However, the good news is that while you were asked to note this problem, you don't have to worry a lot about it!! All you need do is remember the basic squeeze position, and strive to reach it, and you will cash winners like the ♣A in this hand automatically. Thus, by simply play to reach the basic squeeze end position, your hands requiring the Vienna coups will take care of themselves!

What have we learned?

• Identifying losers, entries, and threats is really not hard
• That there is something called a vienna squeeze, but if you play to reach the basic squeeze ending, vienna squeezes take care of themselves.
• Hopefully, that simple squeezes are not so hard after all (more to play coming later, with much less words).
  
  Next time.. minor "alterations" in entry conditions that change the basic squeeze ending to other forms of simple squeezes.

[sceptic]

Quote

In response to a question in the middle of that thread (made as a joke), I began explaining the basic squeeze position and some of the terms used. That answer was short, and no real examples where given. It is not entire clear if the experts are getting much out of the advanced squeeze ending (and identifying them), so I thought maybe introducing the basic concepts to beginners and intermediates might be at least as good an idea.

excellent idea

[inquiry]

Entry Alterations to the Basic Squeeze Ending: Primary Entry in the squeeze hand's threat suit.

We will eventually examine defects that exist in the one or more of the BLUE conditions. Such defects include having more than one loser, inappropriate entry conditions, the lack of an threat in the upper hand, or one opponent may not be busy in both threat suits. However, we will begin by investigating how a minor alteration in the basic squeeze ending affects the requirements. Such a minor change is when the primary entry (remember that? The entry to the threat opposite the squeeze card) is no longer in its own threat suit, and how this change affects the squeeze endings. It is important to realize that if "B," "L," and "U" are all correct, that there must be a primary entry to the hand opposite the squeeze suit, or there is no way to avoid losing a trick.

The first alterations in the basic squeeze position we will examine is that the primary entry will be in the threat suit held by the squeeze hand, without changing any of the other BLUE requirements. This small change leads to the other three simple squeeze variations. Such a change is not a true "defect" in the simple squeeze position, just as finessee ending 2 (with QJ in south) in the earlier post was not a true defect in the finesseable position. However, the changing entry condition puts an extra burden on the ending, just as moving the ♠Q in first example of basic finessee position from the North hand to the South hand in example 2 added the extra burden on the position by requiring N/S to also hold the ♠J. The extra burden in the case when the primary entry is in the threat suit held by the squeeze hand is that the squeeze hand, in most cases you will need a secondary entry back to its own hand after the squeeze card has been played.

The following two endings will illustrate the point concerning the secondary entry. In both endings, only one opponent is busy guarding both threat suits ("B" is correct), there is only one loser ("L" is correct), and the threat suit (♥'s and ♣'s) are divided between the N/S hands (thus "U" is correct). However, the basic squeeze position is altered in that the threat suit (in this case ♥'s) opposite the squeeze card lacks an entry in its own suit, but instead the entry is in the threat suit held by the squeeze hand (in these examples, ♣'s).

Ending 1.3 Flaw from basic squeeze position:
Primary Entry not in its own threat suit

Analysis of Blue
B: ♣JTx+♥A in one hand
L: 1 – loser left in 4 card ending
U: ♥K – lies over the A
E: see below

Squeeze Card: ♠A
Primary entry: ♣A
Secondary entry: ♣K

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In ending 1.3 the ♥K and ♣9 are threats against West: taking the ♠A squeezes West. If he throws the ♥A, you win ♠K, then ♠A and ♥K. If West throws a ♣, you win three ♣ tricks starting with the ♣A. This squeeze works equally well against East if the E/W hands were reversed. Thus, if you can not reach the basic squeeze position (1.1.1 in earlier post) because of a lack of entry to the hand opposite the squeeze card its own threat suit, redundant entries to both hands in the threat suit in the hand with the squeeze card comes to your rescue. This squeeze ending is automatic against either opponent.

Notice, however, that the minimum requirements for 1.3 are higher than that for 1.1.1 in that the threat suit with the squeeze hand must be strong enough to allow entries to each hand. The re-entry to the squeeze hand in its own threat suit was the secondary entry. The squeeze also occurs one trick earlier, in the four-card ending as opposed to the three-card ending.

What if the hand opposite the squeeze card has an entry only in the threat suit from the hand with the squeeze card, but there is no re-entry to the squeeze card hand in its own threat suit? That is, the secondary entry is not in its own suit? In this case, there are two possible remedies. The first is that a re-entry exists in the threat suit in the opposite hand. This gives rise to something called a crisscross squeeze: a name derived from the fact that after the squeeze card has been played, the player must carefully crisscross between each hand using the winners in the opposite threat suit to cash his winners.

Ending 1.4 Flaw from basic squeeze position:
Primary Entry not in its own threat suit

Analysis of Blue
B: ♣K+♥K in one hand
L: 1 – loser left in 4 card ending
U: ♣Q – lies over the K
E: see below

Squeeze Card: ♠A
Primary entry: ♣A
Secondary entry: ♥A

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The ♠A squeezes East in ♥'s and ♣'s. On a ♣ discard, North win the ♣A (dropping the ♣K), and South ♥A and established ♣Q. On the other hand, if East discards ♥J on the ♠A, South cashes the ♥A (dropping the ♥K), then enters North with the ♠A to cash the ♥Q.

Once again, this squeeze is automatic since it work against either opponent if the hands were reversed. However, in this ending, the side suit Ace's must be cashed in precisely the correct order, or the squeeze fails. A good defender will try to mislead you by making it hard for you to determine which suit he has abandoned. The potential ambiguity that arises in the crisscross squeeze ending, makes it a much less desirable ending than the basic squeeze ending or the ending both the primary and secondary entries in the squeeze hand's threat suit. Also, you should note that once again, that without the primary entry in its own suit, the minimum requirement is once again higher, in the form of the required secondary entry.

Positional Simple Squeezes
Finally, the hand with the squeeze card may not contain an obvious re-entry card in either threat suit. This does not have to be fatal to the squeeze position, as long as the hand opposite the squeeze card contains a winner and small in the squeeze hand's threat suit. The specific endings are all similar to that shown in 1.5.

Ending 1.5 Flaw from basic squeeze position:
Primary Entry not in its own threat suit

Analysis of Blue
B: ♣KQ+♥A in one hand
L: 1 – loser left in 3 card ending
U: ♥K – lies over the A
E: see below

Squeeze Card: ♠A
Primary entry: ♣A
Secondary entry: NONE

---

When South leads the ♠A, West must choose between throwing away the ♥A or a ♣. In the first case, case North will discard a ♣ and wins the remaining tricks with ♠A and ♥K. If the latter case, North discards the ♥K and the ♣AJ wins the last two tricks.

There are two important requirements in this end position that need to be noted. First, unlike the earlier simple squeeze hands, the squeeze will not work if the E/W hands were reversed. This type of squeeze works only against one opponent, and is often referred to as a POSITIONAL SQUEEZE. A less obvious requirement is that there must be an entry to the hand with the squeeze card one trick earlier so that the squeeze card can be played (in this case, the ♠A). In the earlier squeeze examples were arranged so that the lead could be in either hand since both hands contained a card in the squeeze suit. In the positional ending, every card in the hand opposite the squeeze card is busy threatening against West in the squeeze ending, so that there is no room in North's hand for a card to lead to the squeeze card.

It turns out that this last ending (1.5) is just a variant of another ending also referred to as a positional simple squeeze. In describing the basic squeeze position, we said the threat suits were divided between the two hands. It is, however, possible for both threat suits to reside in one hand as long as the squeeze card is in the opposite hand. In this case, there is no "U" threat against the opponent behind the hand with both threat suits, but there are two "U" threats against the other opponent. By simply exchanging the ♣J and ♣5 in example §1.5 we arrive at the positional squeeze position given in §1.6.

Ending 1.6 Flaw from basic squeeze position:
Primary Entry not in its own threat suit

Analysis of Blue
B: ♣KQ+♥A in one hand
L: 1 – loser left in 4 card ending
U: ♥K – lies over the A (jack clubs over KQ TOO)
E: see below

Squeeze Card: ♠A
Primary entry: ♣A
Secondary entry: NONE

---

When South plays the ♠A to trick 11, West has the same discard problem he had on the previous ending. For all practical purposes, these two ending are identical. While such positional squeezes only work against one opponent or the other, you will be amazed how frequently they will come to your rescue when you need just one more trick

What have we learned?

• An entry to the hand opposite the squeeze card must be in one of the two threat suits
• when the entry is in the threat suit opposite the squeeze card, the squeeze is "basic" and automatic
• If the entry is in the threat suit held by the squeeze card, then a secondary entry is needed to the hand with the squeeze card or it is either flawed or is just a positional squueze

That is it. These are the simple squeezes... easy huh? Next a series of post to let you practice identifying BLUE and simple squeeze endings.

[inquiry]

Scoring: IMP

West North East South

 -     -     Pass  2NT
 Pass  5NT   Pass  6NT
 Pass  Pass  Pass  

---

Now is the time to see if you can apply the lessons and find things like losers, threats, primary entries, secondary entries, and squeeze cards. Where is a better place to try in a beginner/intermediate thread than a hand that a BIL (beginner, intermediate lounge member) found and executed his first squeeze. The declarer here? Bladderzboy... See how you do.

The play went,
T1. ♠J around to the ACE
T2. ♣A both followed, east with the ♣T
T3. ♣x to King, EAST discards a small heart

Identify potential threats, identify squeeze card (last free winner), what will be your primary entry? As we will see later this hand has other options than a simple squeeze, but here, we will play for that.

Ben

[xx1943]

inquiry, on Nov 20 2004, 06:04 AM, said:

Scoring: IMP

West  North East  South

 -     -     Pass  2NT
 Pass  5NT   Pass  6NT
 Pass  Pass  Pass  

---

Now is the time to see if you can apply the lessons and find things like losers, threats, primary entries, secondary entries, and squeeze cards. Where is a better place to try in a beginner/intermediate thread than a hand that a BIL (beginner, intermediate lounge member) found and executed his first squeeze. The declarer here? Bladderzboy... See how you do.

The play went,
T1. ♠J around to the ACE
T2. ♣A both followed, east with the ♣T
T3. ♣x to King, EAST discards a small heart

Identify potential threats, identify squeeze card (last free winner), what will be your primary entry?  As we will see later this hand has other options than a simple squeeze, but here, we will play for that.

Ben

Hi Ben

Very cute example. But perhaps it may help the beginners to have one more hint:

hidden.

Spoiler

Imagine the lead is from a 4-card or longer spade-suit.

Regards

Al

[inquiry]

Hi Al,

This is a problem about visualization. You need to visualize the numbe of winners. You need to visualize the POTENTIAL squeeze threats and the potential squeeze card. This hand was played, successfully, by BIL member so it can be done. But we have not yet covered the badic manuever of "correcting the count" when "L" is two...so I guess I will give the next two tricks as played by bladderzboy...but, there is a big assumpton that has to be applied (for simple squeeze) after the next trick...

At trick four, he lead a spade to his hand, then he lead a diamond and when WEST played low, he played the diamond ten, losing to a diamond honor; East returned the spade 8, and west played the spade 9 (only one spade out and it is the TEN).

[ack_hh]

11 top tricks - 3 ♠, 3 ♥, 2 ♦, 3 ♣
Threats: 4th ♠ or 4th ♣

If West holds 4-4 in the black suits (we already know he has 4 clubs)
he will be squeezed after 6 rounds of red suits.

We have 5 top tricks in the red suits, so we will have to concede
one trick (in diamonds), thus rectifying the count.

Line of play:

Exit with a low diamond.

1) If opps return a spade, cash 2 diamond tricks (discarding ♣ from South),
then 3 heart tricks, ending in South.
If West discards a spade, cash 2 spades (South) and the remaining club from dummy.
If West discards a club, cash Q♠ and the remaining clubs in dummy.

2) If opps return a heart, cash 2 diamond tricks (discarding ♣ from South),
then 2 heart tricks, ending in South.
If West discards a spade, cash 3 spades (South) and the remaining club from dummy.
If West discards a club, cash the remaining clubs in dummy, then cash spades.

3) If opps return a diamond --> 1)

4) If opps return a club, cash 2 diamond tricks (discarding ♣ from South),
then 3 heart tricks, ending in dummy.
If West discards a spade, cash 3 spades (South).
If West discards a club, cash the remaining club in dummy, then cash spades.

Hope I got it right

[inquiry]

In the last "lecture" post we talked about positional simple squeezes, and how while they work only against one opponent (or one position), that they are frequently very helpful to you. Here is an example

Scoring: matchpoints

West    North    East    South
         1 ♣     Pass    1 ♠
Pass   2 ♠     Pass    4 NT
Pass   5 ♣    Pass    5 ♦
Pass    5 ♥    Pass    6 ♠
All Pass

Lead: ♦K

---

By now, you should be getting use to counting both your winners and losers. Outside of trumps, you have seven winners, eight if hearts split 3-3. If you have only seven winners in the side suits, you need five trump tricks to make your slam. Next, evaluate your losers. With the ♦ lead you have a potential ♦ loser and missing ♠Q-J-3-2 you may have a trump loser as well.

The question is can the slam make if you have a natural trump loser with East or West having ♠Q-J-x? Yes, as long as hearts split 3-3 and the player with the winner spade also has at least three clubs. You plan to win ♠A-K, followed by ♣K-A-Q discarding a ♦, then 4 rounds of ♥s discarding South’s last ♦.

With this line in mind, you play ♠A on which West plays the ♠J. Three possibilities exist; West may hold

• ♠J
  
• ♠Q-J or
  
• ♠Q-J-x.

You play ♣7 to ♣J and lead ♠10. If East shows out, you will win the ♠K and try to cash ♣s then ♥s. However, East follows with the ♠3. Based upon the principle of Restricted Choice (see footnote if this is new to you) you play low as West discards a small club. One more spade from dummy collects East's Queen, giving you five spade tricks to go along with your sure seven sure side card winners. Now the question is can you see a way to make an extra trick if Hearts are not divided 3-3?

Let's check BLUE. You have 12 tricks, so the loser count is just one, so L is right. West's opening lead marks him with the ♦Q making North's ♦J a threat against him. Further, the ♦J is in the "upper" hand, so U is right. If hearts are 3-3, you have 13 tricks, or if West holds four or more hearts he is busy in the two red suits, making “B” right. Finally, the ♥K provides the necessary entry to either the long heart or long diamond after you play your squeeze card, so “E” is right. You need to unblock your spade suit, cash ♣A Q, ♥Q, and then lead to the ♥A to reach the following position.

Scoring: matchpoints

---

The ♠6 crushes West. If he discards a diamond, North's Jack will be good, but to keep the ♦Q will allow North to win the last two hearts. Note this is a positional squeeze, because both threat cards are in the same hand. However, since you already know that only West can stop diamonds, this is no real limitation at all.

What have we learned?

• Positinal squeeze can work against one opponent.
  
• having both threats in one hand (as here), results in a positional squeeze

Next time, some "quiz" hands for you to practice and an answer to Badderzboy squeeze hand.

---------------------------------------
FOOTNOTE: The principle of Restricted Choice is a statistically-based theory on suit combinations that suggest that an opponent who plays one of two missing touching honors in situations like the spade suit in this hand is more likely not to have had a choice than. In this ending when East plays low on the second spade, the possibilities are that West originally held the stiff ♠J or double ♠QJ.

[inquiry]

Scoring: MP

You get to 6♠, no opponents bidding. Openign lead ♥J won by ACE in dummy. Spade to king, loses to the ACE.

---

Spades are 3-2. This was played in an event with pressumably 300 master points minimum back in the 70's (when 300 masterpoints were a lot harder to win than today). In a 13 table section, 9 played in 6♠ and only two made (lucky for me, I defended and my opponent didn't make).

Now that you have studied BLUE, can you do better. than 7 of the 9 experienced tournment players?..

Without playing a card (but knowing spades 3-2), what are the two threat suits? What is the primary/secondary entry (if both are needed), what is the squeeze card? Can you suggest the final ending to play for?

This is a visualize BLUE requirments and that they can't be broken no matter what return at trick three...

[inquiry]

inquiry, on Nov 20 2004, 12:04 AM, said:

Scoring: IMP

West  North East  South

 -     -     Pass  2NT
 Pass  5NT   Pass  6NT
 Pass  Pass  Pass  

---

Now is the time to see if you can apply the lessons and find things like losers, threats, primary entries, secondary entries, and squeeze cards. Where is a better place to try in a beginner/intermediate thread than a hand that a BIL (beginner, intermediate lounge member) found and executed his first squeeze. The declarer here? Bladderzboy... See how you do.

The play went,
T1. ♠J around to the ACE
T2. ♣A both followed, east with the ♣T
T3. ♣x to King, EAST discards a small heart

Identify potential threats, identify squeeze card (last free winner), what will be your primary entry?  As we will see later this hand has other options than a simple squeeze, but here, we will play for that.

Ben

Spoiler alert. Blue analysis for last two "quizes" provided. If you are trying to learn about squeezes, try to solve the quizes before reading this post.

The problem that bladderzboy found is intersting because of the ability to win the last heart winner in either hand (with unblocking). The last free heart winner will be the squeeze card. There are three potential threat suits, dummies fourth ♣ is a threat against WEST. If West also has four spades, he will be busy in two black suits, and if West has four diamonds and four clubs, you can make him busy in clubs and diamonds. So you have two possible simple squeeze on WEST.

The trick here is to "correct the count" something we will cover in the along with trump squeezes in the next post or two on squeeze theory. But the idea of correcting the count is to lose the trick you must lose. By losing a diamond now, you will "correct the count" (that is make L = 1).

What will be the primary entry? Since South hand is short entries (when you lose a diamond, they will remove your spade entry), the primary entry will have to be dummies high club. We know that the threat cards are dummies fouth club and either your fourth spade or dummies fourth diamond.

Bladderzboy crossed to the spade King, and lead a diamond. The theory is an avoidance play, to prevent west from winning the diamond and playing a club to knock out the primary entry. When west played low, the diamond jack lost to an honor. Back came another spade (the eigth) and WEST played the nine as south won. Now there is no doubt that WEST has the spade TEN. Cash the top diamond and run the hearts, winning the last heart in south. WEST has to crumble. To see the full play, see bladderzboy entry in the hand of the week contest at, http://forums.bridgebase.com/ind...indpost&p=43781

---------------------------------

The second quiz is very easy.

Scoring: IMP

West  North East  South

 -     -     Pass  2NT
 Pass  5NT   Pass  6NT
 Pass  Pass  Pass  

---

Spades are 3-2.

You have 11 tricks, via 3♠, 2♥ 3♣, 2♦, and you can ruff either the third heart in south or the fourth club in north. Note, ruffing the club and the heart will not gain two tricks, as then you lose one of the "long" spade tricks.

One thread card will be a diamond, as only one opponent can have as many as 3 diamonds. Which is a better threat, the dummies third heart or your fourth club? Obviously, your fourth club. This is because if is VERY LIKELY, that both opponents will have three hearts or more with one higher than the dummies five. However, only one opponent can have four clubs (since you are missing only seven of them), and so only that opponent can stop the club threat. If the same hand has three diamonds and four clubs, they can be squeezed. Ruffing the third heart gives you your 11th trick to correct the count.

You imagine dummies last spade (or heart king) as the squeeze card, with your long club and north's long diamond as the threat card. After west wins the spade. Win the heart return, pull trumps, cash two diamonds, and play the last trump in this ending...

When north leads the last SPADE, WEST (who had three diamonds and four clubs) must crumble. South throws the last diamond. If WEST throws diamond, north wins diamond then three clubs. If West keeps the top diamond, then north wins the club queen and south the last three clubs with AKx. Switching the EW hands and the squeeze still works.

---

Did you see the long spade (or the heart K if you ruff the second heart and save the winner) as the squeeze card? Did you see the threats as heart in north hand and the long club in south hand? Did you see the primary entry to the hand opposite the threat suit as either club Ace or King? IS so, you found this squeeze as early as trick one, and you are on your way to finding squeezes without much problems. The only way to visualize such endings early in the hand is by practice, so more squeezes to come. When you get good at seeing these, you can switch over the advance/expert thread and see how to see more exotic squeezes early in hands as well.

Ben

PS - feedback on presentation style, length of post (should be longer, should be shorter, more simple squeeze or this is enough, move on to more advanced topics, would be helpful in deciding how to continue --or if to continue--). Just click on inquiry and send me PM's here with comments or suggestions, or to just let me know if it is helping at all.... this way I can decide if it is worth continuing to prepare such materials for the beginner/intermdiate discussion group.

[inquiry]

The only way to visualize these squeeze things is by practice, so here is another hand to have a go at.

Scoring: IMP

Quiz 2. With silent opponents, you stumbled your way to 7♥. West leads the ♦K

---

Evaluate BLUE... with regards to,

B: what are the threats?
L: What is the loser count?
U: With the threats identified, do you have U against one or both opponents
E: What is the primary entry and if necessary, the secondary entry

And of course, what is the squeeze card (must know tihs to evaluate primary entry).

Descibe the basic ending you will play.

(feel free to just do this on your own, no need to post your solutions.. the idea is can you see it now, at trick one? The sooner you can visualize such endings in play, the more likely you can pull them off. And if you can visualize such ending now, at trick one, you are ready to move on more complicated squeeze endings. )

[inquiry]

Feedback so far is for more simple squeeze quizes. To keep the lessons here from getting too long, I will start a new thread..... BASIC SQUEEZE QUIZES and stick the quizes over there... That way, we can move forward here with more new info on identifying squeezes... and you can work at your own pace.

Defects in the entry requirement of BLUE
Entry Defect in Basic Squeeze Position: No primary entry in either threat suit.A. Trump Squeeze

The basic squeeze position requires that the threat suits opposite the squeeze card have its primary entry in its own suit. In earlier post we found that simple squeezes still worked if the primary entry was in the threat suit held by the squeeze hand, provided that a secondary entry (a re-entry back to the squeeze hand) existed in either threat suit. Because of this requirement for an extra (secondary) entry, the simplest squeezes are ones in which the primary entry is in its own suit. In next series of post on squeezes, we will examine endings where the primary entry is not in either threat suit, and the significant extra values required compensating for the primary entry being outside of either threat suit.

Up to this post, the squeezes shown have all been played at notrump. The ability to use trumps to set up winners and to serve as a late entry in suit contracts can play a key role in compensating for defects in the basic squeeze position (as we will see later in more details when you have a defect in "both". The simplest use of trumps in a squeeze ending is known as a trump squeeze and is shown in ending 2.1. In a trump squeeze the ability to ruff one of the guarded suits severely threatens one opponent in two distinct ways. First, the ruff can be used to set up a winner in the suit that is trumped. Second, the ruff can be used as an entry to an established winner. In the following ending ♦’s are trumps.

§2.1 Trump squeeze ending.

Entry Defect in BLUE
B: ♠A+♥K
L: one
U: ♥Q
E: *basic ending defect

SC: ♣A
Primary entry: "Defective" as no entry to hand opposite squeeze card in own threat suit (♥) or squeeze hands threat suit (♣).
Secondary entry: ♥A

Lead: in South's hand with ♦'s as trumps

---

This ending shows how the trump can be used to either establish a winner (the ♠K) or to serve as a late entry to an established winner (the ♥Q). When the squeeze card is played (♣A), On the top club, West must discard from a major. If he discards a ♠, the ♠6 will be ruffed, dropping the ♠A, and the last two tricks will be the ♥A and ♠K. That is, the trump is used to establish the ♠K.

Instead, if on the club West discards the ♥5, South will cash the ♥A, then use the ♦3 to ruff a as an entry to ♥Q. This shows the second usage of the trump after the squeeze card as an entry to an established winner.

The ability of the trump to be used to establish a winner in the hand opposite it or to serve as an entry to a winner in the hand with it should look oddly familiar. In fact, if you could substitute the small trump (♦3) for a spade higher than Ace, you would have a crisscross squeeze similar to what was presented in ending 1.3 in an ealier post (look for one entitled criss-cross squeeze.

This is exactly the purpose of a simple trump squeeze: the ability to ruff after the squeeze card has been played replaces the FLAW of not having a primary entry in the threat suit held by the squeeze hand. Thus, just as in the normal crisscross squeeze, the secondary entry (entry to the squeeze hand) must be in the threat suit held by the hand opposite the squeeze card. Note, to overcome the defect of the lack of an entry opposite the squeeze card in the squeeze hand’s threat suit, we have increased the requirements to include a trump suit and require a two card threat suit (in this example, two spades) to allow ruffing to establish a winner.

This gives you two ways to view a trump squeeze. The first way is how a trump can be used as a “primary entry” to overcome the lack of the primary entry in either threat suit in a simple squeeze position. The other way often is to view a trump squeeze is as a means to solve a flaw in a crisscross squeeze position by substituting for the “Ace” of the threat suit held by the hand containing the squeeze card

Now for an example hand... this is from the BBO June 5, 2004. 18 table tournment

Scoring: IMP


West North East South

- 1♣ 1NT 2♠
Pass 4♠ Pass 4NT
Pass 5♥ Pass 6♠
Pass Pass Pass

Opening Leas CLUB JACK

---

1) 1♣ = quirky choice by partner, lead inhibitor?
2) 1NT = raptor, showing 5+ diamonds, exactly 4 hearts

This hand was posted by me and discussed already in the "interesting hand" section. Let's see how we beginners and intermediates can handle it now with this introduction.

You know EAST has four hearts (maybe five), so you think he has the heart queen (for his bid). So the heart JACK in your hand serves two purposes. First is a threat, second it is in the upper hand, fixing U. Since EAST has at least five diamonds, and maybe six, the long diamonds in dummy also threaten EAST, so Both is correct. Loser count, let's see.. we have at least 5♠, 3♣, 2♥ and 1♦ for 11 tricks. 12 if the spade hook is on. But do you want to risk a spade hook? The answer is no. East could easily be 2-4-6-1 and if the spade hook loses, he could ruff a club. So, you will play the spade ace. Nothing exciting happens on the spade ace, so now you know you have 11 tricks (after you knock out the spade King). What about your entry conditions?

What will be the squeeze card? It can be the last top club or the long spade, both in your hand. The heart JACK will be the threat card in your hand, and diamond in dummy. But to isolate the diamond threat against EAST, you will need to ruff at least one diamond (and when the spade king wins they will knock out your diamond entry perhaps anyway). Thus the entry to dummy will be the threat suit held by the hand with the squeeze card. Where is your secondary entry to your hand? Not in hearts, not is diamonds. This is the failing case for the simple squeeze. But here, a trump squeeze can work for you. Imagine your last trump as a super ACE of diamonds, that can be held to just the right moment.

So you exit a spade, WEST wins as east discards a club. West leads a diamond. You win the ace, ruff a diamond high and run all your trumps. EAST has to keep both three hearts (to stop your jack), and two diamonds (to prevent the diamond Ten from being good. That is five cards, but this is the four card ending.. with him to play (the GREEN CARDS have been played.

§2.1 Trump squeeze ending.

Entry Defect in BLUE
B: ♠A+♥K
L: one
U: ♥Q
E: *basic ending defect

SC: ♣A
Primary entry: "Defective" as no entry to hand opposite squeeze card in own threat suit (♥) or squeeze hands threat suit (♣).
Secondary entry: ♥A

Lead: in South's hand with ♦'s as trumps

---

As you can see EAST has real problems. If he throws a heart, your ♥J is established. If he throws a diamond, you play heart to dummy, ruff a ♦. ane heart back as entry to win the established diamond.

It wasn't too difficult to diagnose the problem with entries.. .especially now that you are learning to look for entries opposite the squeeze card, and entries back to your hand.

What have we learned?

• If there is no entry in either threat suit opposite the squeeze card, in suit contract, look for possible trump squeeze
  
• If there is no secondary entry to hand with squeeze card, at suit contracts, look for a trump squeeze
  
• The role of a true trump squeeze is to overcome lack of entries in either of the threat suits

Next time, we will get into "expert" field of squeeze play by looking for other ways to overcome the lack of either a primary entry or secondary entry in a flawed squeeze ending. You will soon find, even intermediate players can find our way through the maze of endings if we only have know the road signs of what to look for.

[inquiry]

Most squeeze books cover simple squeezes, and then, when you turn to chapter two, they go on to double squeeze. Some, clever authors, include trump squueze before double squeeze. For me the logical sequence is simple squeezes, showing how moving the "primary entry" around affect the simple squeeze. Then to move the entry one more time to create a FLAW to show how a trump squeeze comes to your rescue.

My presentation style of squeeze is very different. Now that we have learned the basics of the squeeze, how to identify each of the four basic requirements, and how changes in the PRIMARY entry change the way the squeeze is played. I think, once you start idenifying problems in the entry conditions, you should continue on that theme. So after showing trump squeezes, the next logical group of squeeze to teach beginners/intermeidates, advanced, or any other students learning about squeezes arre a cluster of squeezes that deal with defects in the basic entry condition. The type of squeeze we will show how to identify at the table include,

• Trunp squeeze
  
• Guard squeeze
  
• Clash squeeze
  
• Trump clash squeeze, and
  
• Entry-shifting squeeze

This is a formable sounding bunch of squeeze, especially when you consider most on squeeze faill to show one or more of these, and none of them in what is equavalent to an early chapter. But I am convinced that the best way to learn how to identify and play these squeezes at the table is to organize them in a logical sequence and use FLAWS in the basic squeeze position to execute them.

I know a lot of people will call me nuts for presenting such complicated material in a thread for beginners and intermediates, but I have faith many of you will benefit from this.. and who knows, maybe some advanced and expert players will too,. Next time guard squeezes.

Ben

[inquiry]

Entry FLAWS in BLUE, continued.

I am working under the assumption that by the time you get to this post, you have at least a fair working understanding of the term BLUE, and you know how to identify the various components of BLUE. Be sure to see the basic squeeze quizzes thread to practice identifying the simple squeeze endings.

We have talked a lot about primary entry in the earlier post. Remember that for a simple squeeze there must be an entry to the hand opposite the squeeze card in one of the two "threat suits." We then learned that a defect in the primary entry condition, or in some cases, the secondary entry condition can overcome by a "trump squeeze." That was the first new type of squeeze to make up for an otherwise fatal flaw in the simple squeeze ending. I am about to start a wandering trip through supposedly highly advanced or even exotic expert level squeezes designed to overcome the flaw of an appropriate primary entry necessary for a simple squeeze (or in some cases, a secondary entry). We will start this journey with the first of these new squeezes: the` guard squeeze.
Guard Squeeze

Due to the ability to ruff, a trump squeeze could be viewed as having its primary entry in the threat suit held by the squeeze hand. However, there are many endings in which you can squeeze your opponents even though your primary entry lays COMPLETELY outside the threat suits, and the ability to trump does not play a role in the squeeze. The first of these endings is shown in ending 2.2. At first glance, this ending looks very similar to the basic squeeze position with the exception that one side suit winner (♥A) has not yet been cashed. Examine this ending more closely looking at elements of BLUE.

Scoring:


2.2 Guard Squeeze Entry Defect in BLUE

B: ♥KQ + ♣A
L: one
U: ♦J
E: * defective

SC: ♣A or ♥A

Entry defect: North has no entry in either threat suits (♥ and ♦). Since this is a notrump contract, there is no chance for a trump squeeze.

---

By now, you should be able to quickly identify the threat suits in end-positions like the above. East is busy in ♣s and ♦s, there is only one loser, the threat suits are divided between North and South so upper is right, and a squeeze card exist (either the ♠A or ♥A). However, you should also be able to identify the entry defect in the basic squeeze position.

If you cash the ♠A and then use the ♥A as the squeeze card, there will be no entry to the South hand (check it). Likewise, if you cash the ♥A then use the ♠A as the squeeze card, there will be no entry to the North hand.

Thus, the entry defect here is that there is no entry to the hand opposite the squeeze card in either threat suit. You may have noticed that if North's ♥J was replaced by the ♦2, the hand would be the basic squeeze position by first taking the ♠A and then using the ♥A as the squeeze card since the ♦A serving as the primary entry to South's hand.

Fortunately, this ending contains yet another recovery manoeuvre that compensates for this "flaw" in the entry condition. The compensating value is that the entry to the hand opposite the squeeze card is in a side suit that is partially finessable. When the ♠A is played East is squeezed after all, this time not just in two suits, but in three!! If he discards a ♦, you win the ♦AJ, followed by the ♥A. If he discards the ♣A, you throw the ♥J on ♦A then win the ♥A and ♣K in North. Therefore, East is likely to discard the ♥K after which you discard the ♣K on the ♦A and then play West for the ♥Q by leading low towards the ♥A-J.

This use of a partially finesseable "primary" entry in side suit (that is non-threat/non-squeeze suit) to compensate for the lack of entries in the threat suits is called a guard squeeze. It gets it's name because the squeeze victim is busy in both normal threat suits but must also guard against a finesse through his partner, he is in effect busy in three suits. The guard squeeze is just the first of many ending we will examine where one or both opponents are squeezed in three suits, instead of two. Note, if you didn't (or couldn't) identify the presences of the entry defect, you may have cashed the ♥A earlier as part of a rule you read somewhere or the other about cashing all your side suit winners in a squeeze ending. Here the ♥A is obviously a very vital card

This example once again demonstrates that the lack of a primary entry in either threat suit dramatically increases the minimum requirements necessary for the compensating squeeze technique to work. In the guard squeeze, the minimum requirements are very high indeed. First, the primary entry must be partially finessable, something like the ♥AJ in this position, or ♥A10 if East held originally ♥KQ, ♥KJ, or ♥QJ (he will be squeezed out of both high honors). Second, the squeeze victim must stop both normal threat suits, and hold all but one of the partially finesseable cards. Finally, the threat suit held by the hand opposite the threat in which the finessee will be taken must contain at least one winner after the squeeze card has been played (in ending 2.2, this was the ♦A). This winner is necessary so that the non-established threat in the hand into which the finesse will be taken can be discarded after the squeeze victim gives up his guard. For example, in the above example had South won the ♦A prior to leading the ♠A, it will cost him a trick.

Sometimes, the primary entry will be a side suit, and there will be no re-entry to the squeeze hand outside of the same side suit. That is, entry to both hands is in the same side suit. In this case, there may still be a guard squeeze if the threat suit opposite the squeeze card has a winner (but no entry), and the secondary entry is partially finesseable.

2.3 Guard Squeeze Entry Defect in BLUE

B: ♥KQ + ♦A
L: one
U: ♥J
E: * defective

SC: ♣A

Entry defect: North has no entry in either threat suits (♥ and ♦). Since this is a notrump contract, there is no chance for a trump squeeze.

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In this ending West is busy in ♥'s and ♦'s, but no simple squeeze exist since neither hand has an entry in either threat suit. With the ♣A as the squeeze card, the secondary entry in ♠'s is partially finesseable, so the guard squeeze can still compensate for this entry defect. South cashes his ♣A, and West feels the pressure. A discards of ♥ or ♦ sets up the fifth trick automatically, so West will discard the ♠10. North may discard the now useless ♥J or, if he prefers, a ♠. However, if North discards a ♠, he must be very careful that it is specifically the ♠9 (do you see why?). North then wins the ♠A, dropping West's ♠J, followed by the ♥A on which South discards the ♦K. Finally the secondary entry spade entry is used to finesses East's ♠Q.

The need to unblock middle cards, such as the ♠9 in the last hand, is a common situation in such guard squeezes and often shows up in bridge problems. The discard of the ♠9 (if a ♠ at all) is necessary to avoid being locked in dummy if East refuses to cover the ♠9 with the ♠Q. Keep this unblocking play in mind whenever you identify the potential need for a guard squeeze.

The next example is a positional guard squeeze that you should have no problem identifying at the table (see the positional simple squeeze for comparison from 1.2 in an earlier post).

2.4 Positional Guard Squeeze Entry Defect in BLUE

B: ♥A+ ♦A
L: one
U: ♦K and ♥K
E: * defective

SC: ♣A

Entry defect: North has no entry in either threat suits (♥ and ♦). Since this is a notrump contract, there is no chance for a trump squeeze.

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In this position, the both threat suits (♥'s and ♦'s) are in the same hand, so this is a positional squeeze that works only against West. The simple squeeze position is also defective in that the primary entry is not in either threat suit. Fortunately, the primary and secondary entries are in the same suit, and this suit is partially finesseable. On the ♣A West will discard a ♠, and North can play either king. Now a ♠ to the ace and a ♠ hook through East's ♠J will win all the remaining tricks for N/S.

[inquiry]

Guard squeezes are easy to identify at the table because they all share the same features, the lack of a primary entry in either threat suit and at least a partially finessable side suit. Using the deficit identification method on the following hand should help the right line to be crystal clear to you.

Scoring: IMP

N   E   S   W
P   P   2♣  P
2♦  P   3♣  4♣
P   4♠  6♣  6♠
DBL P   7♣ all pass

4♣ was for majors
Opening Lead ♠KING

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You gambled that your partner would have something useful in ♦'s. You have 12 top tricks, so "L" is right. The ♠Q and ♥J are probably both working threats against West, so "B" looks good. Both the ♠Q and ♥J are in the upper hand with respect to West, so "U" is right for a positional simple squeeze against West. However, the simple squeeze fails due to an entry defect. What is this defect? It is that North lacks an entry in either of his threat suits.

Fortunately, the ♦ suit offers a slim ray of hope. Can you see the right sequence of plays? If you did, pat yourself on the back, for you have just passed the test for identifying guard squeezes.

After you cash all but your last ♣ and your two ♥ winners , both North and West will be reduced to 1♠, 1♥, and 2♦'s in an ending something like the following.

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On the ♣A West is in a quandary. If he throws a major suit card, he gives up the 13th trick immediately. However, if he discards the ♦9, he exposes his partner ♦ holding to a finesse. But note how important it was for you to save the ♦3 in dummy when as you discarded on ♣s. If you had not discarded the ♦10 and ♦8 from dummy. East could defeat you by refusing to cover the ♦10 or ♦8 when you lead it from the dummy at trick 12, and you can't afford to overtake with the ♦A. However, the discarding the middle ♦s allow you to use the ♦A-7 to finesse East's ♦Q-6.

Once you are fully familiar with guard squeezes as a mechanism to overcome the lack of a primary entry in a simple squeeze type ending, this type of double unblocking is automatic and you can see it at trick one. If, by the way, West held ♦Q-J-T this will merely have been a triple squeeze, a topic we will cover in a later chapter. West actually held ♠AKJ10xx ♥QT98x ♦J9 ♣void.

You should probably think of these as "simple guard squeezes," to differentiate these ending from a group of guard squeezes we will examine in a later post known as double guard squeezes. We have discovered that the simple guard squeeze is a way to compensate for entry defects in a simple squeeze. Later, we will learn that a double guard squeeze is a manoeuvre to compensate for entry defects in a double squeeze.

Ben

[inquiry]

Blocked entry conditions for simple squeeze: Another kind of FLAW in Entry conditions

So far we have studied the basic squeeze and how minor changes in the entry condition raise the minimum requirements. Then we saw how not having an entry in either squeeze suit to the hand opposite the squeeze card could be overcome with either a trump squeeze or a guard squeeze. We will next take a look at blocked entry conditions that also result in an entry flaw. The first of these will be the simple CLASH squeeze.

Clash squeeze


The clash squeeze can be identified because it occurs when the entry condition is blocked such that can not cash your free winners, and then return for the squeeze card. Examine the next ending with the lead in the south hand

Entry Defect in BLUE

B: ♦A + ♥KQ
L: one
U: ♥J
E: *defective

SC: ♣A, (no trumps)
Clash Menace: ♠Q

*Entry defect: North has no entry in either threat suits, and no re-entry exist to south in either suit.

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If the Spade Ace had been cashed earlier, and the lead was in the south hand, this would be identical to basic squeeze ending. As a matter-of-fact, if the ♠2 was the ♣2, you would lead to the ♠A and play the ♣2 to reach the identical position used to demonstrate the basic squeeze position. The position above, however, illustrates that entry defects can exist in which you can not cash your side suit winners and get back to play your squeeze card. In this ending, if you cash the ♣ A and use the ♠ A as the squeeze card, there will be no entry to the south hand.

Since this is notrumps, the idea of ruffing the spade is gone (thus no trump squeeze either). And the thought of a guard squeeze as the remedy for this situation is quickly discarded, since the ♠ suit is not even partially finesseable and there is no winner in the threat suit held in the south hand (♦s). However, this position contains sufficient compensating values to overcome the entry deficit in the form of the singleton ♠Q. When ♣A is taken, West comes under tremendous pressure. He must keep the ♥KQ and ♦A , so the ♠K will most likely be discarded. This makes the ♠Q a winner, so North can discard the useless ♥J, and the next three tricks will be won by the ♠Q, ♥A , and ♠A.

This singleton ♠Q serves as a menace against West, making him once again busy in three suits. The singleton ♠Q in an ending like this is known as a clash menace, and this type of squeeze is referred to as clash squeeze. Note that in this ending, if the East and West cards were reversed, no the squeeze would work. Also, notice that the requirements for this squeeze get very high again. You need winners in both side suits, a clash threat (in this case the singleton ♠Q), plus a primary entry. While this version of the clash squeeze is positional, if the threat in the hand with the clash menace (in this case ♦s) has a winner in its own suit, the clash squeeze works equally well against either opponent. Consider the next position, which is a minor modification to the ending from above.

Entry Defect in BLUE

B: ♦A + ♥KQ
L: one
U: ♦J
E: *defective

SC: ♣A, (no trumps)
Clash Menace: ♠Q

*Entry defect: North has no entry in either threat suits, and no re-entry exist to south in either suit.

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On the ♣A, North can safely discard a ♠, but what is East to play? If it is a red suit honor, N/S will win the AJ in that suit plus the other two Ace. If it is the ♠K, the ♦A and ♠Q are played from south, and the two Aces in North win the last two tricks.Thus having a winner in the side threat suit held by the squeeze card hand, which was necessary for guard squeeze, remember?, is also very useful for clash squeezes as well. But in this case, it simply turns a positional squeeze (only against the LHO of the hand with the squeeze card) into a squeeze that works eqaully well against both.

From these examples you should see that the clash squeeze compensates for a blocked entry position in the normal simple squeeze. If at possible during the play, you should avoid blocking the ending by cashing your free suit winners (not if spade ACE had been cashed and you were in south's hand, there would be no problems in either ending with the normal basic simple squeeze. However, this is sometimes not advisable or even possible. In these cases, the clash squeeze may see you safely home with all your tricks.

Next time, we will look at trump clash squeezes, a kind of squeeze where the trump suit plays a key role. Then some example clash squeeze hands.

What have we learned?

• That a blocked entry condition whre we can not cash our free suit winners before the squeeze care can be overcome with the aid of a clash menace
• That having a winner in the threat suit held by the had with the squeeze card (before squeeze card is played) is better than not having one
• This is another easy to spot ending because of a couple of facts.. a clash menace is very obvious to see, the lack of entry after the squeeze card is also easy to spot

[inquiry]

Trump Clash squeeze

Last post, we introduced the concept of clash squeeze. The clash squeeze comes about only because you had a blocked entry condition that prevented you from cashing your spade winner in "dummy" (north on those hands) earlier in the hand. If the spade ace could be won, and you magically in south to lead to the next trick, then the basic simple squeeze would have worked just fine.

This time, we will introduce the trump clash squeeze. I have read in a book somewhere that the only real trump squeeze in the criss-cross type ending I showed earlie for a trump squeeze.. and than any other one was just being played as a trump squeeze when it didn'thave to be. That is not true. We will eventually discuss a backwash squeeze for instance which is a squeeze that takes place with trumps, as well as some entry-shifting squeezes. This trump clash squeeze is just another example of how, sometimes, authors can be very wrong.

Let's eamine the

Entry Defect in BLUE
B: ♦A + ♠KQJ
L: one
U: ♠3
E: *defectiveS

C: ♣A, clubs are trumps
Clash Menace: ♥Q

*Entry defect: After ruffing a ♠, North will have no entry in either threat suits (clubs or diamonds), and no re-entry exist to south in either suit.

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Looking at this hand, you have a problem. East has a spade guard that has to be ruffed out (spade ACE and sapde ruff). But if you do that, then you have primary entry to north in either threat suit. We know this as the failing case. You might think to cash both your clubs and then use the heart ACE as the squeeze card, but then there is no entry to the south hand, and west can safely throw away the diamond ACE. As you can see the entry condition (entry in your threat suits) is well and truely killed (if east had only one spade, the squeeze would work, win heart ace, ruff the heart two, and play the last club.. but EAST second spade spoils that plan).

This ending however, has a clash menance that works its magic on WEST. When you lead your next to last trump, what is WEST to discard? If a diamond, that gives you your 5th trick, as does a heart (establishing your clash menance). And if he discards a spade? You throw a heart from dummy, cross to the ace of spade, ruff a spade and the heart ace and 13th spade are the last two tricks.

Some call this squeeze a triple squeeze. Well, west is squeezed in three suits, but the important feature is the clash menace, so this is a trump clash squeeze. If this ending was notrump, you would not be able to win all the remaining tricks. Also, like all true trump-related squeeze, the ruffing power of the trump is used AFTER the squeeze has had its effect.

What have we learned.

• There is a type of clash squeeze that requires trumps as well
  
• Once again the trump clash squeeze makes up for entry defect, here where you can't afford to ruff out EAST's spade stopper wihout killing your necessary primary entry in spades
  
• The clash menance (in this case stiff queen) is easy to identify in these endings.

Next time, a hand where you need a clash squeeze to make.