Study 9Q53   Main

Trump Strip Squeeze

by Richard Pavlicek

A trump strip squeeze (as used here) is a generic description for any strip squeeze in which the trump suit plays a significant role. Most notrump-feasible strip squeezes have a counterpart with ruffing involved. Note that each technique described here loses at least one trick, else it would be a trump squeeze. About the Techniques

1. Ruffed squeeze card

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

2. Ruffout strip squeeze

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

3. Discard-or-ruff strip squeeze

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

If West pitches heart, ruff and lead heart.

4. Loser-on-loser ruffout strip squeeze

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

If West pitches a heart, ruff and lead 4.

5. Forced-duck establishment strip squeeze

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

6. Forced-duck fork strip squeeze

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

7. Elopement fork strip squeeze

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

Bi case (diamond ruff first) trivial.

8. Lunar ruff strip squeeze

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

If West pitches a diamond, South pitches a heart.

9. Ruff or double squeeze

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

If East does not return a trump, ruff the club.

10. Threat transfer fork strip squeeze

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

11. Crossruff strip squeeze

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

12. Crossruff fork strip squeeze

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

Study 9Q53   Main

Top   Trump Strip Squeeze

13. Nonmaterial ruff-sluff strip squeeze

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

14. Ruff-sluff strip squeeze

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

If West exits in hearts, same squeeze develops.

15. Entry ruffout strip squeeze

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

16. Delayed elopement fork strip squeeze

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

Bi case (diamond-heart crossruff) trivial.

17. Lunar threat transfer fork strip squeeze

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

18. Ruff step-winkle

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

19. Crossruff step-winkle

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

To avoid throw-in, E-W must let heart set up.

20. Vice forced-duck establishment squeeze

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

21. Elopement establishment or squeeze

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

22. Elopement or double squeeze

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

If West ruffs high, must return J to stop ruff.

Study 9Q53   Main

Top   Trump Strip Squeeze

23. Establishment triple strip squeeze

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

24. Knockout strip squeeze

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

25. Extended knockout strip squeeze

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

26. Trump extended knockout strip squeeze

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

27. Knockout trim fork strip squeeze

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

28. Knockout fork strip squeeze

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

29. Backwash strip squeeze

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

Same play is required if South held AK.

30. Extended backwash strip squeeze

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

Auto case becomes the knockout variety.

31. Trump extended backwash strip squeeze

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

Auto case becomes the knockout variety.

32. Backwash fork strip squeeze

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

Auto case becomes the knockout variety.

Study 9Q53   Main

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33. Backwash trim fork strip squeeze

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

34. Backwash ruffout strip squeeze

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

35. Backwash extended ruffout strip squeeze

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

South’s club immaterial ( A shown for emphasis).

36. Backwash ruffout fork strip squeeze

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

South’s club immaterial ( A shown for emphasis).

37. Seesaw ruffout fork strip squeeze

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

38. Seesaw ruffout guard strip squeeze

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

39. Seesaw ruffout fork strip triple squeeze

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

40. Seesaw ruffout fork strip squeeze

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

41. Seesaw ruffout fork strip triple squeeze

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

42. Elopement or seesaw ruffout squeeze

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

Curiously with K onside (auto) you can’t win 4.

Study 9Q53   Main

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43. Crossruff or seesaw ruffout squeeze

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

44. Trump triple strip squeeze

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

Don’t leave home without it.

45. Triple squeeze ruffout step-winkle

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

46. Multiple sluff knockout squeeze

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

If West ducks 10 pitch K instead.

47. Backwash dual fork strip squeeze

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

South’s clubs immaterial (all could be low).

Study 9Q53   Main

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Anti trump strip squeeze

48. Tempo denial anti fork strip or squeeze

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

Auto case trivial; bi wins 3 tricks.

49. Trump deluge anti backwash strip squeeze

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

Note that a low trump first does not work.

50. Winner retention anti knockout strip squeeze

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

Auto case anti backwash strip squeeze.

Study 9Q53   Main

Top   Trump Strip Squeeze

© 2015 Richard Pavlicek