Study 9K01   Main

Pure Squeeze

by Richard Pavlicek

A pure squeeze requires a basic threat behind one opponent, and two ambiguous threats (guarded by both opponents) each accompanied by an entry in its own suit. The term “pure” means that none of the threats requires joint protection and no ruffing is involved during or after the squeeze. The opponent with the basic threat is triple-squeezed to abandon one of the ambiguous threats, then the matrix transforms into a double squeeze. For a detailed study see Pure Squeezes.

1. Unrestricted pure squeeze

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

Clubs can be cashed in either order.

2. Semirestricted pure squeeze

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

3. Basic entry pure squeeze

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

4. Free-suit entry pure squeeze

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

5. Unrestricted split pure squeeze

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

Clubs can be cashed in either order.

6. Basic entry split pure squeeze

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

7. Ambiguous entry split pure squeeze

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

8. Alternate-threat pure squeeze (Axx)

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

South’s 8 serves as an alternate threat.

9. Alternate-threat pure squeeze (Ax)

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

South’s 8 serves as an alternate threat.

Study 9K01   Main

Top   Pure Squeeze

Anti pure squeeze

10. Lone-threat entry attack anti pure squeeze

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

11. LHO-stopper release anti pure squeeze

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

Study 9K01   Main

Top   Pure Squeeze

© 2015 Richard Pavlicek