Winner Squeeze

Mr. Robert Frick has outlined the principles of this particular squeeze technique on his website. In keeping with the attempt to list all squeeze techniques we include this information for the visitor and student.

Quote:

In your typical squeeze, the opponent's discard in a suit makes your card in that suit good. The winner squeeze is different. You always have the power to establish a trick in a suit, say hearts. You gain a trick when the opponent pitches a winner, allowing you the space to enjoy your heart winner.

Here is a simple example:

	North 754 AQ987 864 A5
West AK9 42 KJ1073 Q76		East Q10862 3 95 J10982
	South J3 KJ1065 AQ2 K43

South		West		North		East
1		2		3		Pass
4		Pass		Pass		Pass

South is the declarer in a contract of 4 Hearts. West leads the Ace, the King and the 9 of Spades. South trumps the third Spade, draws trump three times (!), and cashes the Ace and King of Clubs, and ruffs the third Club. Then the final position before the tenth trick is shown below:

	North A 864
West KJ103		East Q10 95
	South 5 AQ2

South has ended in the dummy, and plays the Ace. If West discards the 3, South then ducks a Diamond. If West discards the 10, South leads the 6 from the dummy. If East ducks, South does likewise. If East plays the 9, South covers and creates a tenace position. A successful One Suit Squeeze.

One Suit Fratricide Squeeze

The search of the publications and books, plus the Internet, provides an interesting side note of a One Suit Fratricide Squeeze, whereby one defender squeezes partner in a suit. Also known as a Single Suit Fratricide Squeeze. The source is Demi Coma, and is re-created, archived and preserved here for future reference.

The following play was reported by Mr. J. M. Shah from a Swiss League round at the Narayandas Rathi Memorial Bridge Tournament at the Poona Club. The deal and auction are presented below:

	North AKJ7 1054 7 AJ872
West 865 987 AQJ54 Q3		East 1032 A63 983 10965
	South Q94 KQJ2 K1062 K4

South		West(D)		North		East
		Pass		Pass		Pass
1 NT		Pass		2		Pass
2		Pass		3 NT		Pass
Pass		Pass

West led the 5 to Dummy's 7, East's 8, and Mr. J.M. Shah's Ten. It was a fourth best lead and it marked West with AQJ. Since West held a smaller Diamond than the five-spot, four tricks were set up for him. The Ace was out and East held it. The Club Queen was in but East held four Clubs to 109, hence Mr. J.M. Shah had only 8 cashable tricks before he had to go out with the Ace.

How could the contract at all be made? East play showed the way. Mr. J .M. Shah cashed four Spades, cashed the Club King, and played another Club. When West contributed the Queen, the combination of AJ of Clubs provided two more tricks. A Heart had to be played now. East promptly won the Ace. The following shows the position:

	North   105   87
West     AQJ4		East   6 93 10
	South   K K62

Had East played the 9, defence would have collected four more tricks for down one.

Important Pre-Condition of Contest: East-West, however, had an agreement to share the prize in proportion to the number of tricks each won.

Naturally, East next cashed the Ten because that trick would have got recorded on his name. As a result West got squeezed in one suit! If West discarded a small Diamond, West would have to win the next trick perforce and would be endplayed to give Declarer his King. If West discarded a Diamond honour instead, Mr. J.M. Shah would cover the 9 and would get a trick with 6!

 

If you wish to include this feature, or any other feature, of the game of bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as possible.

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