Monday, January 02, 2006 1:08 AM
Strip Squeezes
PITBULLS:
Love
contends that “strip squeezes” are legitimate simple squeezes with the count rectified at two. The reason for the
count is rectified at two is the necessity of having “exit cards” to get off the end
play. The fact that the victim has surplus winners or needs exit
cards to avoid giving up a trick by being on lead makes it a squeeze form. Love
classifies these squeeze strips
into 3 types. The first type is the simple “end
play” as we know it but we squeeze the victim out of surplus winners. The victim is thrown in
stripped of her exit cards as must give up a trick by virtue of her being on
lead.
Case I - Surplus winners
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Q |
A |
x |
A |
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10 |
K |
x |
Q |
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x |
J |
x |
x |
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x |
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LHO opens 1♦ and we get to 3NT . LHO leads a small diamond and we
win the trick. We have 8 top tricks and LHO is marked with long diamonds and
the spade King.
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A |
Q |
Q |
K |
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x |
x |
J |
x |
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x |
x |
10 |
x |
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x |
We start the strip by
cashing winners. 3 hearts are cashed and 3 clubs with LHO following twice to
both suits. LHO has to protect the spade king and is forced to discard surplus
winners in the diamond suit. You lead a diamond and LHO is forced to give you a
9th trick
Case II – Exit Card
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x |
K |
A |
A |
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x |
x |
x |
K |
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x |
x |
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x |
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x |
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x |
In this squeeze , the
victim is squeezed out of an exit card in a 3rd suit. LHO opened 1♠ and you got to 4♥. Lead of spade Ace followed by the King and queen
which you ruff and rHO discards a diamond. You have 10 tricks if the clubs
break so it does not hurt to run all your trump. On your 4th trump
to discard a diamond from the board and a club on the last trump. You try the
clubs now by playing the Ace and King and RHO shows out ! . The spade threat
means LHO has been squeezed out of her diamond exit card. Cash diamond Ace and
lead the last spade and discard a diamond. Voila.
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x |
A |
x |
Q |
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x |
Q |
x |
10 |
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J |
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x |
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10 |
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x |
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9 |
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Case III – Delayed Duck
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A |
9 |
10 |
A |
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K |
x |
x |
J |
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x |
x |
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x |
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x |
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x |
This is a neat one in
that you can not duck to rectify the count or they will destroy your entry for
a simple squeeze. Suit establishment
comes into play so you can get the victim later via a delayed duck. We are in
6NTX by LHO who overcalled 2♥. We can
not duck to rectify the count as the club shift will kill our squeeze. However
we have suit establishment with the 3rd heart as another threat for
LHO so we will run all our winners and impose a suit establishment squeeze.
After 10 winners LHO must come down to 3 cards ♥K and ♣KQ . We now just duck a heart and we establish
a trick in his own suit . The ignominy of it all !!
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Q |
A |
A |
x |
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J |
10 |
K |
x |
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10 |
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Q |
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x |
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J |
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x |
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