Principles of the Fuzzy Squeeze

This is kind of abstract. I recommend reading the examples first.

The idea is to find principles for playing the fuzzy squeeze or defending against it.

Counting Declarer's Winners

If you are defender, your first task is to estimate declarer's winners.

1. If declarer has all the tricks but one, you can afford to throw your winners. You are probably being squeezed in the traditional way, not as a fuzzy squeeze.

2. If declarer has all the tricks he needs to make his contract, he almost certainly will not risk his contract for an overtrick. If you have enough winners to set declarer, declarer will not take a finesse.

3. If declarer needs more tricks to make his contract, declarer will risk going set to make his contract. If you have enough winners to set declarer, you can count on declarer trying a finesse.

Defending against the long major suit

If declarer is running a major suit, then most pairs will probably be playing in a major. Therefore, you have to get one more trick than all of the other defenders. This means, usually, that you have to save at least one winner.

A and Kx

Suppose declarer is running one suit and plans on attacking hearts next. If declarer has Axx in spades, declarer will probably pare down to just the A before attacking hearts. This assumes of course, that hearts can be set up with on lead.

If, in the same situation, declarer saves two spades, you can guess that he probably has the king. If you are sitting behind declarer, and hearts are ready to run, then you probably save a trick by not leading spades to declarer's Kx. If declarer has KQ of spades, perhaps you can set up a trick in the fourth suit so that declarer does not get his spade trick.