Study 9J01 Main

Two-Suit Squeeze

by Richard Pavlicek

A two-suit squeeze is a squeeze that involves two threat suits. A third suit provides a squeeze card that forces an opponent, usually a defender but not necessarily, to unguard one of the threats allowing the remaining tricks to be won. A squeeze that does not win all the remaining tricks is called a “strip” squeeze, covered as a separate category.

1.  Positional squeeze

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

2.  Split positional squeeze

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

3.  Automatic squeeze

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

4.  Twin-entry squeeze

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

5.  Threat unblock squeeze

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

Commonly called a Vienna coup.

Study 9J01 Main

Top Two-Suit Squeeze

6.  Crisscross squeeze

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

7.  Show-up squeeze

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

8.  Count squeeze

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

Same as show-up except South knows K offside.

9.  Count rectification before squeeze

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

General tactic that may precede many squeezes.

10.  Threat isolation before squeeze

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

General tactic that may precede many squeezes.

Study 9J01 Main

Top Two-Suit Squeeze

11.  Transfer squeeze

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

12.  Squash squeeze

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

Same as transfer squeeze but other hand on lead.

13.  Twin-entry transfer squeeze

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

14.  Twin-entry squash squeeze

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

Same as transfer squeeze but other hand on lead.

15.  Overtake squeeze

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

Study 9J01 Main

Top Two-Suit Squeeze

16.  Jettison squeeze

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

Variations possible but grossly unrealistic.

17.  Entry squeeze

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

Squeeze fails if K and Q are switched.

18.  Pseudo squeeze (one of many)

NT win 5	A 9		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
not	A 4		1. S	A!	6?
	—
	2
K J		10 4 2
10 7 6		Q J
—		—
—		—
	Q
	K 9 5
	—
South leads	A

Success booster: Exclaim “The rest are mine!”

19.  Unknown card pseudo squeeze

NT win 2	2		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
not	—		1. S	A
	—
	2
A		K
A		—
—		—
—		3
	—
	K
	—
South leads	A

South hand must be hidden (not dummy).

20.  Memory pseudo squeeze

NT win 5	K		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
not	—		1. S	5!	9	K	7
	—		2. N	2	8	Q	10
	A K 4 2		3. S	6!	2	A	J
2		A	4. N	4	A?	3
3 2		A
—		—
10 9		J 8 7
	—
	K
	—
South leads	Q 6 5 3

Play assumes South hand is hidden (not dummy).

Study 9J01 Main

Top Two-Suit Squeeze

21.  Dual transfer squeeze

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

22.  Two-suit squash double squeeze

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

23.  Extended threat crisscross squeeze

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

24.  Overtake gambit entry squeeze

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

25.  Doubly extended threat crisscross

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

Study 9J01 Main

Top Two-Suit Squeeze

26.  Inseparable winners crisscross squeeze

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

Variations are possible but grossly unrealistic.

Anti two-suit squeeze

27.  Entry removal anti squeeze

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

If A and 4 switched, must lead K.

28.  Tempo duck anti squeeze

NT win 2	K Q		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
auto bi	A		1. W	K	3	2	9!
	—
	3
4		A J 10
K		—
—		—
K Q		2
	—
	—
	—
West leads	A J 10 9

29.  Tempo double duck anti squeeze

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

30.  Tempo denial anti squeeze

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

Study 9J01 Main

Top Two-Suit Squeeze

31.  Holdup anti threat unblock squeeze

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

32.  Cover refusal anti threat unblock squeeze

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

33.  Winner retention anti fraticide squeeze

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

34.  Winner retention anti suicide squeeze

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

Note Q lead fails.

35.  Stopper retention anti squeeze

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

South must lead heart but retain 10.

Study 9J01 Main

Top Two-Suit Squeeze

© 2014 Richard Pavlicek