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. About the Techniques

1. Positional squeeze

NT win 3
S A J
H K
D
C
Trick
1 S
Lead
C A!
2nd 3rd 4th
S K Q
H A
D
C
Table S 3
H 3 2
D
C
South leads S 4 2
H
D
C A

2. Split positional squeeze

NT win 3
S A 5
H K
D
C
Trick
1 S
Lead
C A!
2nd 3rd 4th
S K Q
H A
D
C
Table S 10 9
H 2
D
C
South leads S J 4
H
D
C A

3. Automatic squeeze

NT win 3
auto bi
S A J
H
D
C 2
Trick
1 S
Lead
C A!
2nd
H 2
3rd
2
4th
S 3 2
H 2
D
C
Table S K Q
H A
D
C
South leads S 4
H K
D
C A

4. Twin-entry squeeze

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

5. Threat unblock squeeze

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

Commonly called a Vienna coup.

6. Crisscross squeeze

NT win 4
auto re
S J 4
H A
D
C 2
Trick
1 S
Lead
C A!
2nd
H 2
3rd
2
4th
S 3 2
H 3 2
D
C
Table S K Q
H K Q
D
C
South leads S A
H J 4
D
C A

7. Show-up squeeze

NT win 3
S A Q
H K
D
C
Trick
1 S
2 S
Lead
C A!
S 2
2nd
S 5
K
3rd
H K
4th
H 2
S K 5
H A
D
C
Table S J 10
H 2
D
C
South leads S 4 2
H
D
C A

8. Count squeeze

NT win 3
auto
S A Q
H K
D
C
Trick
1 S
2 S
Lead
C A!
S 2
2nd
S 5
J
3rd
H K
A!
4th
H 2
S J 5
H A
D
C
Table S K
H 3 2
D
C
South leads S 4 2
H
D
C A

Same as show-up except South knows S K offside.

9. Count rectification before squeeze

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

General tactic that may precede many squeezes.

10. Threat isolation before squeeze

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

General tactic that may precede many squeezes.

Study 9J01   MainTop   Two-Suit Squeeze

11. Transfer squeeze

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

12. Squash squeeze

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

Same as transfer squeeze but other hand on lead.

13. Twin-entry transfer squeeze

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

14. Twin-entry squash squeeze

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

Same as transfer squeeze but other hand on lead.

15. Overtake squeeze

NT win 3
auto re
S A 10
H
D
C 2
Trick
1 S
2 S
Lead
C A!
S K
2nd
H 2
2
3rd
2
A!
4th
S J
S 3 2
H 2
D
C
Table S Q J
H A
D
C
South leads S K
H K
D
C A

16. Jettison squeeze

NT win 3
S A
H K 4
D
C
Trick
1 S
Lead
C A!
2nd
S J
3rd
S A!
4th
S Q J
H A
D
C
Table S 2
H 3 2
D
C
South leads S K 10
H
D
C A

Variations possible but grossly unrealistic.

17. Entry squeeze

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

Squeeze fails if H K and H Q are switched.

18. Pseudo squeeze (one of many)

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

Success booster: Exclaim “The rest are mine!”

19. Unknown card pseudo squeeze

NT win 2
not
S 2
H
D
C 2
Trick
1 S
Lead
C A
2nd 3rd 4th
S A
H A
D
C
Table S K
H
D
C 3
South leads S
H K
D
C A

South hand must be hidden (not dummy).

20. Memory pseudo squeeze

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

Play assumes South hand is hidden (not dummy).

Study 9J01   MainTop   Two-Suit Squeeze

21. Dual transfer squeeze

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

22. Two-suit squash double squeeze

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

23. Extended threat crisscross squeeze

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

24. Overtake gambit entry squeeze

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

25. Doubly extended threat crisscross

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

26. Inseparable winners crisscross squeeze

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

Variations are possible but grossly unrealistic.

Study 9J01   MainTop   Two-Suit Squeeze

Anti two-suit squeeze

27. Entry removal anti squeeze

NT win 1
auto bi
S 3 2
H 3 2
D
C
Trick
1 S
Lead
H K!
2nd 3rd 4th
S 4
H A J
D
C 4
Table S A J
H 4
D
C A
South leads S K Q
H K Q
D
C

If C A and C 4 switched, must lead S K.

28. Tempo duck anti squeeze

NT win 2
auto bi
S K Q
H A
D
C 3
Trick
1 W
Lead
C K
2nd
3
3rd
2
4th
9!
S 4
H K
D
C K Q
Table S A J 10
H
D
C 2
West leads S
H
D
C A J 10 9

29. Tempo double duck anti squeeze

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

30. Tempo denial anti squeeze

NT win 2
auto bi
S K Q
H A
D
C 2
Trick
1 S
Lead
C 9!
2nd 3rd 4th
S 4
H K
D
C A 4
Table S A J 10
H
D
C 10
South leads S
H
D
C K Q J 9

31. Holdup anti threat unblock squeeze

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

32. Cover refusal anti threat unblock squeeze

NT win 2
bi
S K Q
H K J
D
C K J 5
Trick
1 W
2 W
3 N
Lead
C Q
C 7
C K!
2nd
5!
J
3rd
8
9
4th
2
3
S A 4
H A Q
D
C Q 7 6
Table S J 5
H 4
D
C A 10 9 8
West leads S 3 2
H 3 2
D
C 4 3 2

33. Winner retention anti fraticide squeeze

NT win 2
auto bi
S K Q
H A
D
C
Trick
1 S
Lead
S 5!
2nd 3rd 4th
S 6 3 2
H
D
C
Table S A J
H K
D
C
South leads S 5 4
H
D
C A

34. Winner retention anti suicide squeeze

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

Note H Q lead fails.

35. Stopper retention anti squeeze

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

South must lead heart but retain 10.

Study 9J01   MainTop   Two-Suit Squeeze

© 2014 Richard Pavlicek