The Double Guard Squeeze
As noted by Love, the double guard squeeze occurs when you have a compound squeeze except lack the needed entries. In other words, you have threats against both opponents in two suits, and a third threat against only opponent, with the single threat sitting behind the opponent.
There are two basic forms of the double guard squeeze.
x AK
AJ AJ
x --
x x
xx -- xx --
Qx Kx Qx Kx
K Q K Q
-- KQ -- KQ
AK x
x x
-- x
AJ AJ
Departing from Love, I have arranged the hands so that the hand with the single threat is always declarer. The two defenders have the same hands. (Lefty has two extra cards, which can be any suit; I have made them spades.) In this arrangement, Righty is the player who is being triple-squeezed. That's because he must be sitting in front of the single threat.
The finesse suit is always opposite the single threat. (So Righty is squeezed out of hearts, allowing Lefty to be finessed.)
The two positions differ in the location of the threat against both opponents. In the first position, which I will call the both-opposite position, the both suit is opposite the single threat. In the second position, which I will call the both-together position, the both suit is with the single-threat.
Other Properties of the Double-Guard Squeeze
The remaining three properties can have exceptions. The main purpose of the essay is to discuss these.
- There is a winner in the single-threat suit.
- The free winners are in the unbusy hand, which is to say opposite the hand with two threats, which is to say, opposite the both threat.
- There is no winner in the double threat suit.
The both-single position
AK
AJ
--
x
xx --
Qx Kx
K Q
-- KQ
x
x
x
AJ
The hand with the both suit and the single threat also needs to keep a small card in the finesse suit. So it is very busy, and in fact this hand is squeezed on the last free winner. Fortunately, this hand is sitting behind the opponent who is being squeezed -- if Righty has abandoned clubs, a club is saved; otherwise, the club must be discarded as now worthless.
Therefore the free winners have to be opposite the both suit.
Declarer also has to have a winner. As in the position above, it can be in the single threat suit. But it can also be in the finesse suit:
AK
AJx
--
x --
Qxx Jxx
K Q
-- Q
x
Kx
x
J
This is the only situation I know of in which the single-threat is not accompanied by a winner.
A winner in the both suit doesn't work:
AK
AJ
x
--
x --
Qx Kx
Kx Qx
-- Q
x
x
Ax
J
Righty pitches a second diamond on the last free winner and declarer is squeezed first.
The both-finesse position
In the both-finesse position, again the the hand with the both suit is busy. Consider this position:
--
AJ
x
--
-- --
Qx K
K Q
-- K
K
x
--
J
On the lead of the last free winner, the dummy is squeezed before right.
Therefore, there must be a winner in the single-threat suit. This creates a space in the dummy.
There is now room for the winners to be in the both hand. However, there isn't room for also a small club, so the entry to the single-threat has to be in the finesse suit or the both suit. The finesse suit:
AK
A10x
x
--
xx --
Qxx Jxx
K Q
-- KQ
xx
Kx
--
AJ
An entry in the both suit:
AK
AJ
xx
--
xx --
Qx Kx
Kx Qx
-- KQ
xx
x
A
AJ
Two winners in the threat suit creates another free space, allowing the entry to the single threat hand to be in the single suit:
Kx
AJ
x
x
xx --
Qx Kx
K Q
x QJ10
Ax
x
--
AKx
To summarize, the free winners are usually opposite the both suit. In the both-single position, this is necessary. In the both-finesse position, it is convenient but there can be exceptions when there is the necessary entry to the hand with the single threat.
Twisting these around, the winner in the single-threat suit is necessary for the both-finesse position. It is a convenience in the both-single position, but an entry in the finesse suit will do.
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