Mole Squeeze

What if you have two threats against Lefty in addition to the vise threat?

	K10x
	AJ
	--
	--

QJ           Axxxx
KQ           --
A           --
--          --

	x
	x
	K
	AK

The vise squeeze operates one trick early. But that hardly makes any difference. Except....

But there is a situation in which it would be useful to have two threats. Consider this position.

	AQ8
	AJ
	--
	--

109         KJxxx
KQ          --
A           --
--          --

	xx
	x
	K
	A

In the normal vice squeeze, the goal is to reduce Lefty to having one fewer spade than the vise. Now we want to reduce Lefty to having two fewer. So the extra threat is needed. On the lead of the ace of clubs, Lefty throws a spade. Now a spade is led towards dummy, the 10 is covered with the queen, and Righty is endplayed.

Naming This Squeeze

This has been termed the mole squeeze. It was discovered and analyzed by Julian Pottage. He apparently does not classify it as a type of vice squeeze (to my knowledge) or mention the connection. But it is there, depending on how you define vice squeeze -- you are squeezing a filler out of Lefty's hand.

Et Cetera

It would work equally well to cross to the ace of hearts after squeezing out Lefty's next-to-last spade, as would be needed for this position.

	AQ8
	AJ
	--
	--

109         KJxx
KQ          x
A           --
--          --

	xx
	x
	K
	A

If you had AQ9 instead of AQ8, you have an endplay no matter what. It is a classic card combination. The point is that when you are a spot short (the 8 instead of the 9), the vice squeeze can help you.

K10x is another classic card combination for this type of endplay. If it is weakened to K9x, the vice squeeze can help.

	K9x
	AJ
	--
	--

Q10         AJxx
KQ          x
A           --
--          --

	xx
	x
	K
	A

As noted, the vice squeeze itself is amenable to a number of different combinations, including what I called the broken vice squeeze where the winner is in one hand and the card that is set up is in the other. While I haven't seen all of these combinations noted for the vice squeeze itself, apparently at least some have been noted for the mole squeeze. For example, the Bridge Guys present this example, presumably constructed by Pottage:

	AQ4
	AJ
	--
	--

107          KJ853
KQ           --
A            --
--          --

	962
	x
	K
	A

The Mole Squeeze

Naming This Squeeze

Et Cetera