Study 9L65   Main

Two-Suit Strip Squeeze

by Richard Pavlicek

A two-suit strip squeeze is a common technique that comes in many varieties. An opponent with a critical holding (stopper or exit card) in two suits is squeezed into a predicament where he can be thrown in for material gain, typically to lead from an honor. Note that a strip squeeze, by definition, always involves the loss of at least one trick. About the Techniques

1. Fork strip squeeze

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

2. Establishment strip squeeze

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

3. Dual establishment strip squeeze

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

4. Finesse trim strip squeeze

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

5. Trim fork strip squeeze or establishment I

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

6. Trim fork strip squeeze or establishment II

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

Two heart winners needed without spade control.

7. Dual fork duck strip squeeze

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

8. Submarine positional squeeze

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

9. Submarine automatic squeeze

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

10. Submarine crisscross squeeze

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

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11. Submarine establishment squeeze

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

If 9 and 2 switched, squeeze is positional.

12. Submarine trim squeeze

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

Auto case is simple heart finesse.

13. Double fork strip squeeze

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

14. Double trim fork strip squeeze

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

15. Combined finesse strip squeeze

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

If West pitches a spade, lead J from South.

16. Guard strip squeeze

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

17. Crisscross strip squeeze

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

18. Fratricide squeeze or establishment

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

If West ducks K, pitch J and establish heart.

19. Fratricide squeeze or throw-in

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

20. Dual establishment strip squeeze

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

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21. Two-suit establishment strip squeeze

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

If A not cashed defense can win three tricks.

22. Stepping-stone squeeze

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

23. Vice squeeze

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

Automatic because only option is to lead to K.

24. Split vice squeeze

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

25. Split vice or fork strip squeeze

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

Does not work if A and K are switched.

26. Vice duck strip squeeze

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

East must shed long club to prevent heart duck

27. Vice duck double strip squeeze I

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

28. Vice duck double strip squeeze II

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

29. Winkle squeeze

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

Does not work if A and K switched.

30. Forced duck fork strip squeeze

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

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31. Establishment fork strip squeeze

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

Gains 2 tricks.

32. Forced finesse unblock strip squeeze

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

If South had A, cashing it wins 4 tricks.

33. Establishment or fork strip squeeze

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

Crucial to lead 10 not queen.

34. Squash establishment strip squeeze

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

35. Guard establishment strip squeeze

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

36. Establishment dual fork strip squeeze

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

Gains 2 tricks.

37. Seesaw strip squeeze

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

Also works if South void in spades ( A-10-4-3).

38. Unblock seesaw strip squeeze

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

Also works if North void in hearts ( A-10-4-3).

39. Overtake seesaw strip squeeze

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

40. Gambit finesse seesaw strip squeeze

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

Also works if South void in hearts ( A-10-6-5).

41. Unblock overtake seesaw strip squeeze

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

42. Seesaw jettison strip squeeze

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

43. Extended seesaw jettison strip squeeze

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

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Anti two-suit strip squeeze

44. Winner jettison anti fork strip

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

45. Winner jettison anti forced duck fork strip

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

46. Winner jettison gambit anti fork strip

NT win 2 not	K A 4 A —			Trick 1 W 2 W	Lead A K?	2nd A!	3rd Q	4th 2
A 4 — K A			Q J K Q — —
West leads	10 3 2 2 — —

North hand must be hidden

47. Fork removal anti fork strip squeeze

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

48. Timing duck anti establishment squeeze

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

49. Entry committal anti vice duck squeeze

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

50. Finesse kill anti seesaw squeeze

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

51. Entry spoil anti seesaw squeeze

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

Note that a low club seesaw-squeezes North.

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© 2014 Richard Pavlicek