Sunday, January 01, 2006
11:47 PM
Hand Evaluation - Triple Squeezes
PITBULLS:
A triple squeeze is a simple squeeze in that it only involves one victim. This one victim must be a good
card holder as she is responsible for protecting
3 suits. With the 3rd suit involved , the count is rectified at two so the squeeze culminates on the last
squeeze card in the only free suit.
To
identify all triple squeezes, we
let South be the hand that
contains the squeeze suit so there
are only 3 possible triple squeezes.
North holds one threat , two
threats or all 3 threats respectively. In the first case with North just
holding one threat , the triple squeeze always
works against either defender.
|
K |
A |
K |
10 |
|
x |
x |
Q |
x |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
The contract is 5♦ with a 2♣ overcall by LHO who leads the Ace and king
of clubs and you ruff. Weird hand as you can not rectify the count without
destroying your threat card .Therefore with the count rectified at two , you
need a triple squeeze so west must have all the picture cards.
|
A |
K |
A |
Q |
|
10 |
10 |
J |
|
|
x |
x |
10 |
|
|
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
|
8 |
|
|
|
|
x |
|
Run all your trump and LHO
with QJx in both majors and the club jack buckles and you make 6 as you have entries
to repeat the squeeze.
The 2nd case where North has two threats always works against West & always works against East with
one rare exception. A 2♣ opener and a triple squeeze quite often are a good
mix. Here is an example where North has two threats.
|
A |
x |
v |
9 |
|
J |
x |
o |
x |
|
9 |
x |
i |
x |
|
x |
x |
d |
x |
|
|
x |
|
|
RHO opened 2♣ and we are in 5♦X with the club 8 led. RHO wins the jack and leads the
Ace which you ruff. You have 10 tricks so the count is rectified at two. Two
threats on the board is the club 9 and the spade jack and the threat in the
south hand is the heart King. The 2♣ opener is doomed and you make your
contract.
|
x |
K |
A |
10 |
|
x |
|
K |
|
|
|
|
Q |
|
|
|
|
J |
|
|
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
|
8 |
|
|
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
|
6 |
|
The 3rd case is North holding all 3 threats . The triple always succeeds
against West and always fails against
East.
Some triple squeezes repeat if entry conditions are present
so they in turn are called “progressive”
squeezes. Love analyzes which of the 3 triple squeezes repeat to gain the 2nd trick. In
case I, it will never repeat against West as west will allow the
North threat to be established first ( squeeze defense) and he is now behind the other two threats.
For case two the squeeze will
always repeat against West if there are entries in both the squeeze suits. Case
III can never repeat as one threat will have been discarded.