In Bridge there are quite a number of various squeeze plays that bring about the desired result - the final contract made on a squeeze. But what is the essential requirement for a successful squeeze is the awareness at the start of the play that the best chance and odds for the contract lie in a squeeze rather than the other options available like a finesse or an end play situation.
Of course is any Game or little slam contract there is the vital technique play that enhances the declarer's odds to a successful contract and without which the squeeze position would never come to the surface and be executed successfully.
Let us learn by 2 illustrations. The first one is of a little slam bid by NS as under.
The bidding:
The opening lead is the spade deuce, six from dummy and JS from east winning. East returns the SQ which is ruffed by south with the AC. As south, how would you proceed to make the little slam in clubs?
The vital ingredient in squeeze has already been achieved at trick with the rectification of the count. You now need to take the remaining tricks. Of course all those declarers who have the immense table presence give a great importance to the opening lead and pick the right inference from the bidding. Here the 4S bid by east has made the squeeze play a little easier as there are only 5 other cards beside spades to be deciphered as on the second spade which you as south ruffed with AC, west discards a diamond. This brings us to some logical conclusion that with 5 other cards, east cannot safe guard 3 suits including the spades besides the 2 other red suits. So the declarer can hope to either bring the 5 diamond tricks somehow and then spring a further squeeze on east between spades and hearts on the run of the clubs. But the essence of any squeeze lies in its early awareness and possibility. Suppose, of the 5 cards remaining outside spades, east voids on the first trump leaving him with either 3 hearts and 2 diamonds or singleton diamond and 4 hearts or 4 diamonds and singleton heart. Of course if he holds QJ of diamonds blank plus 3 hearts, declarer can cash 3 diamonds and run the clubs. If east holds singleton 9D plus 4 hearts declarer can lead 10D, unblock diamonds, if west ducks, and then run clubs. In the likely event that east follows to the first trump, declarer should do what? Yes, immediately lead the 10D as his only chance lies in east holding an 8-3-1-1 distribution with the singleton being the 9D. If west covers, dummy wins and declarer returns to hard with dummy's club.
After all the trumps, declarer finesse the 8D, squeezes east. If the 10D holds, declarer can finish the trumps, then run dummy's diamonds, squeezing east successfully as the actually east west hands were as under:
Our second illustration being a grand makes the squeeze play based on better odds to a finesse option. NS are in 7C on the following hand. Opening lead is a trump 3: 5, from dummy deuce from east.
As South, plan your play. Here with 12 top tricks the grand can come home on any of the 2 red suit finessesor is there a better line. Yes - a squeeze which has a 70% to 50% success ratio compared to the finesse. The 2 red kings, if divided (a 50% + chance) will make the squeeze work. If in the same hand, squeeze will work if the hand holds the 4 spades. So the likely chance of odds favouring a squeeze are alittle over 70%. If you add a technical combination of chances, recognising west's likely red king, then the top spades can bring the squeeze with the final decision in the red suit to be taken.
Here are the west east cards:
On trick 1, declarer begins the run of the trumps. The 6 clubs makes west who must retain 4 spades, to hold to 3 red cards. Obviously K 10 of hearts with JD. In other words, discarding 3 diamonds and 2 hearts, east holds on to 3 diamonds and 4 hearts throwing spades. Dummy will keep AKQ3 of spades, a heart and 2 diamonds.
On the last trump, west is further squeezed to keep K10 H dropping his JD, the 4th discard in diamonds east will hold on to K10 of diamonds and the J 7 4 5 of hearts. As KS, will make east shed 2 more hearts. By now it would be obvious that east is likely to hold the diamond king, so that on Q spades, when east throws another heart, declarer can give up on hearts and finesse east for the KD to bring home the grand slam - all because you placed your trust on squeeze.
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North South North South
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K 9 6 8 A K Q 3 5 2
K 7 6 3 2 A 8 4 8 5 3 A Q
A K 8 10 5 2 6 4 2 A Q
10 5 A K Q J 9 8 K 10 5 A Q J 9 8 6 4
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West East
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2 A Q J 10 7 5 4 3
Q 10 A 9 5
Q J 7 6 4 3 9
7 6 4 3 2
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S W N E
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- - 1H 4S
6C ALL PASS
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West East
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J 9 7 6 10 8 4
K 10 9 6 J 7 4 2
J 9 5 3 K 10 8 7
3 7 2
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