Wednesday, December 28, 2005 11:49 PM
Simple Squeezes
PITBULLS:
A
unique way of looking at simple squeezes
is written by Clyde Love in his excellent book on Squeezes. He looks at simple
squeezes from an “entry” perspective.
There are only 3 combinations of entries possible in all simple squeezes so Love classifies them as E1 , E2 and E3.
The first entry condition (E1) is the hand opposite the squeeze suit
has the entry with the threat in that suit. He also includes the case where
this North hand also has a winner in the 2nd threat suit held by the
South hand. This is the entry complication
called the “Vienna Coup” . In order for the simple squeeze to operate properly
, you must get rid of the winner
in the 2nd threat suit or you “block” yourself and the squeeze
fails.
A |
A |
A |
A |
K |
9 |
9 |
K |
3 |
6 |
|
5 |
2 |
5 |
|
|
You are in 7NT with
the club 8 lead which should mark RHO with the QJ10. The club threat is the 9 but
the other hand has winners in that suit. You must get them out of the way by
cashing them and RHO gets caught in a spade - club simple squeeze.
Q |
K |
K |
9 |
5 |
Q |
5 |
3 |
4 |
J |
|
2 |
|
10 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
E2 is described by Love as the only entry to the threat in the North hand
is in the suit with the threat held by the South hand. When East is the victim
, quite often you execute a “squeeze for the count” and drop honour cards.
A |
K |
K |
10 |
10 |
8 |
6 |
8 |
7 |
4 |
5 |
3 |
|
|
4 |
|
You are in 3♥ after LHO has bid clubs and RHO has bid spades. They
cash 3 rounds of clubs and switch to the spade King which you duck. They continue
spades and you win your Ace. You run all 5 trump discarding 2 diamonds from the
board. RHO also discards two diamonds. You lead a diamond to the King and every
body follows suit. You lead another diamond and RHO follows. You know he has a
spade honour left so you go up with the Ace and drop the diamond queen.
4 |
A |
A |
J |
3 |
Q |
J |
5 |
|
J |
2 |
2 |
|
10 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
The last entry condition is called E3 :
North holds a winner in South’s threat suit and South holds a winner in North’s
threat suit. This entry complication is called the criss-cross squeeze.
K |
J |
7 |
A |
7 |
8 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
|
|
3 |
2 |
|
You are in 7NT with the spade
10 lead. You cash all your majors but must guess by the discards whether they
have a stiff King of clubs left. In all criss-cross squeezes this is the guess
as you must make a decision.
A |
A |
A |
Q |
Q |
K |
K |
6 |
J |
Q |
Q |
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
Classifying
simple squeezes by their entries exposes the Vienna coup & Criss-cross
squeeze for what they are - entry complications. Looking at these
squeezes from this entry perspective makes simple squeezes simpler.