Sunday, November 24, 2002 11:21 AM

Progressive Squeezes

 

PITBULLS:

 

          Continuing on the squeeze theme . Progressive squeezes are the next step . These squeezes are only applicable against good card holders as they have to protect 3 suits ( useless against Pitbull Pat or Jones ). Again its learning the conditions for a progressive squeeze to operate and to recognize them when they come up . 3 suit squeezes have the luxury of the count being rectified when you are two tricks short of your goal . Its horrible for these good card holders not to just give up one trick but to suffer the ignomy of giving up two tricks !!

 

As usual here are the conditions with my comments :

 

(i)             You should be two short of the tricks required. Therefore count rectified at two .

 

Strip endplays also work on the count being rectified at two when there are 3 suits involved. In fact if one defender has to guard 3 suits the count is always rectified at two .

 

(ii)            Only one opponent should be controlling all 3 suits.

 

 A progressive squeeze is a simple squeeze in that only defender is involved

 

(iii)           There should be two threats ( menaces ) that are at least 2 cards in length( with entry ) and 1 one-card menace.

 

Strict requirements . Two 2 card menaces with entry required.

 

(iv)          The 2 two-card menaces should be in opposite hands.

 

Another strict requirement .

 

(v)            The 1 one-card menace should be on the left of the threatened opponent.

 

The last strict requirement .

 

   (vi)  In case there is only one two-card menace and two one-card menaces, there

      should be a third card in the two-card menace.

 

An exception to iii

 

    (vii) opponent is first made to bare one suit and then second suit.

 

 

   PROGRESSIVE SQUEEZE EXAMPLES

   ============================

(i)

           NORTH

        S:xxx                     6D by S: Lead CK

        H:AQxx                    ----------------

        D:Kxx                                                     S had opened the bidding D:Kxx  and W had doubled.

        C:Jxx

       

        --------------                                                      You have 2 S and 1C loser. S finesse will not

  

  WEST   ||||||||||||||    EAST                                     work. CJ is already a one card menace and

HAQ is the 2 card menace.

S:KJx      ||||||||||||||  S:10xxx                                Only hope is W is controlling H's also. If H is  

H:J109x  ||||||||||||||  H:xx                                  3, then there will be 11 tricks with SAQ  menace in

D:xx        ||||||||||||||  D:xx                                  hand and CJ menace in opposite hand. Last H will       

C:AKQxx ||||||||||||||  C:xxxxx                           of simple squeeze as seen from last 3 card  position.

 

 

        --------------                                                    

 

          SOUTH (D)                                                 

  

        S:AQx        

        H:Kxx        

        D:AQJ10xx    

        C:x

          

           NORTH

        S:xx                                                              But if H is 4-2, then hope is that W is

        H:Ax                                                             holding 4 carder, so that progressive squeeze

        D:--                                                              can work. After CK is taken, n-2 position

       C:J                                                               has reached. You have to  retain a 2 card

        --------------                                                    menace in H in dummy and a  2 card menace in

  WEST                  EAST                                     S in opposite hand.  Therefore, ruff second C

S:KJ       ||||||||||||||  S:10xxx                                    lead and take out trumps.   Cash HK and Q and

H:J10      ||||||||||||||  H:---                                        start running D's. Now on DQ, W is first

D:--         |||||||||||||  D:---                                        forced to bare either H or S,   Say he throws

C:Q         |||||||||||||  C:x                                          SJ. You then take SA and  SQ and W is forced

        --------------                                                    to bare H. If W throws H on  D, you play HA and

          SOUTH (D)                                                then last H from dummy. Now again W is forced

        S:AQx                                                          to throw SJ and bare his K.

        H:x          

        D:Q          

        C:x          

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(ii)

           NORTH 

        S:AQx                     4H by S: Lead D

        H:QJ8                     ---------------

        D:Qx          

        C:AKJxx                                              E had opened the bidding. E takes

DAK and plays a H, W getting the K and

playing a S.

  WEST                  EAST(D)                       S finesse is not going to work and

you have to take SA. You can discard a S if C is 3-3,

S:10xxx  ||||||||||||||  S:Kxx            but then h will also have to be 3-2 so that you can take out H with QJ    

H:K76x   ||||||||||||||  H:x                and use your two good C. CQ is also with E  therefore, finesse will

D:xx        ||||||||||||||  D:AK10xx           Not work. Now you know E is  controlling 3 suits S, D and C and

C:xx        ||||||||||||||  C:Q10xx                  you have only 8 tricks (1S, 4H, 1D and 2C) i.e. you have

                                                  reached n-2 position.  You have 1 card menace (SJ) in hand and 1

card menace(D9) in hand.Therefore two card menace C must have     3 cards which are already there                                           

          SOUTH                              

                                 Therefore,

                                                 

 

S:Jx             take CA and play 4 H, taking out trumps. Cash DJ also. The 4 card position will be                       H:A109xx                as shown. Now on last H, E is forced to unguard one of the 3 suits when

D:J9xx                 you discard SQ from . Say he discards SK, then you play SJ on which E is        

C:xx                   again forced to discard either D or C   

                                

                                          

 

                 

           NORTH

        S:Q                                                    .

 

        H:---                                                   

 

        D:---                                                  

 

        C:KJx                                                

        --------------                                         

 

  WEST                  EAST(D)                       

 

S:109x    ||||||||||||||  S:K                                

H:--         ||||||||||||||  H:--         

D:--         ||||||||||||||  D:10         

C:xx        ||||||||||||||  C:Q10        

        --------------

          SOUTH

        S:J           

        H:x          

        D:9          

        C:x