Winner Squeeze

The Threat Squeeze

This seems to be a relatively common squeeze. Consider this situation.

	KQx
	KQx
	Kxx
	xxxx

9876           AJ10x
987            AJ10xx
J1098x         x
x              xxx

	xx
	xx
	AQJx
	AKQJ10

You would like to make 11 tricks. The problem is, if you lead a spade to set up a spade trick, Righty will clear spades. Then you cannot enjoy your heart trick. Same thing if you try to set up hearts first.

Fortunately, on the run of the minor suit winners, Righty is squeezed out of his potential major suit winners. On the next-to-last minor suit winner, Righty will have to pare down to a doubleton in one of the majors. Then that suit can be safely led and you will make 11 tricks.

The fact that the squeeze works one trick early seems to be one of the curious features of this squeeze. The loser count in this simplest situation is four.

Does the squeeze have to work a trick early? Suppose I take away a winner. Then you might think that the squeeze would occur on the last winner. But instead, the squeeze disappears.

	KQx
	KQx
	Kxx
	xxxx

9876           AJ10x
987            AJ10x
J1098x         xx
x              xxx

	xx
	xxx
	AQJ
	AKQJ10

Now the goal is only to win 10 tricks. Attacking a suit in which Righty has AJ10 is not a problem. Righty can return the suit, setting up a trick in the suit. But one trick isn't a problem. Of course, if you attack a suit in which Righty has AJ10x, that is a problem, because Righty can set up two tricks in that suit. So the goal is to squeeze AJ10x out of Righty in at least one suit. In the above diagram, that occurs on the third to last winner (with two winners still to cash).

The suits can be longer, changing the loser count.

	KQx
	KQx
	xxx
	xxxx

987            AJ1098
xx             AJ1098
J1098x         x
xxx            xx

	xx
	xxx
	AKQx
	AKQJ

You would like to make 9 tricks. Assuming a minor suit lead, your loser count is 6. If you directly attack a major, Right can clear that major and you will only make two. But on your fourth minor-suit winner (out of 7! -- the squeeze matures 3 tricks early), Righty is squeezed.

It can also be in three suits. This is presumably of theoretical interest only.

	KQx
	KQx
	KQx
	xxxx

987            AJ10
xx             AJ10
J1098x         AJ10
xxx            xxxx

	xx
	xx
	xx
	AKQJ10xx

Next: The Threat Squeeze, Part II