The Pseudo Winner Squeeze
I would guess that the pseudo-winner squeeze is the most common form of pseudo squeeze, and the most deadly. Consider this configuration:
xxx
KQxx
xx
xxxx
KQJ10987 xx
Ax xxx
Qxxx xxx
-- J109x
A
J109
AKJx
AKQxx
On the first two club winners, Lefty can shed a diamond and a heart. But the third club winner squeezes Lefty. The interesting thing about this situation is that if Lefty pitches another diamond, you gain two tricks in that suit. We have assumed that Lefty will pitch a spade, so that the Winner squeeze gains one trick..
Okay, let us agree that Lefty always pitches winners, to avoid losing two tricks. But consider this layout.
xxx
KQxx
xx
xxxx
KQJ10987 xx
Ax xxx
Qxxx Jxx
-- J109x
A
J109
AKxx
AKQxx
I have just moved the jack of diamonds. Now there is no true winner squeeze. But there is a particularly vicious pseudo-winner squeeze. Lefty pitches a heart and a diamond and then has to decide what to do on the third club trick. The situation, from Lefty's point of view is exactly the same as the previous situation. So pitching another diamond could give up two tricks.
I am not sure how many defenders are going to think things through that clearly. The fact remains, the queen of diamonds does not look like a safe pitch. So Lefty is very likely to pitch a spade. That gains you a trick -- you can now set up a heart trick and make 1NT.
This then was a pseudo winner squeeze. I suspect that the pseudo winner squeeze is going to be common. There is no pseudo double guard squeeze, or pseudo double trump squeeze. Part of the problem is the visibility of threats; part of the problem is that the opponents don't understand these squeezes well enough for the pseudo-squeeze to work.
But the winner squeeze seems to be completely different. Opponents often throw long cards from their good suit, or potentially good suit. They can't be excited to do that; either they are truly squeezed, or they think they are squeezed. Whenever that helps you, you have executed either a true winner squeeze or a pseudo winner squeeze.
Next: The Two-suited Winner Squeeze
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