The Guard Squeeze
Introduction to the Guard Squeeze
Consider this situation:
AK
AJ
--
x
xx --
Qx Kx
x A
-- KQ
x
x
K
AJ
On the first spade winner, Righty can safely throw a heart. But on the second spade winner, Righty is triple squeezed. Righty is the only defender guarding diamonds and clubs. If Righty throws the king of hearts, then partner can be finissed in hearts.
When one of the threats is allowing partner to be finessed, the squeeze is called a guard squeeze.
When both players can stop diamonds (but there is still a single threat against Righty), it is a double guard squeeze
x
AJ
Q
x
xx --
Qx Kx
K A
-- KQ
AK
x
Q
AJ
Righty can pitch a heart and then a diamond, but then Lefty is squeezed in the red suits. If Righty pitches a diamond on the first spade, this becomes a double squeeze.
The double guard squeeze has stricter requirements for entries. But it is probably more common, because the threat requirements aren't as strict.
Overview
There is a tutorial/analysis of the double-guard squeeze and a description of the "two-suited" guard squeeze.
Double-guard squeeze
Two-suited guard squeeze
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