Wednesday, December 28, 2005 11:49 PM

Hand Evaluation – Declarer Play ( Simple Squeezes )

PITBULLS:

A unique way of looking at simple squeezes is written by Clyde Love in his excellent book on Squeezes. He looks at simple squeezes from an “entry” perspective. This is just a way of recognizing simple squeezes. A simple squeeze works against one defender only & just involves two suits. The count is rectified when within one trick of making the contract. There are only 3 combinations of entries possible in all simple squeezes so Love classifies simple squeezes as E1 , E2 and E3. The first entry condition (E1) is the hand opposite the squeeze suit has the entry with the threat in that suit. He also includes the case for E1 squeezes where this North hand also has a winner in the 2^nd threat suit held by the South hand. This is the entry complication called the “Vienna Coup” . In order for the simple squeeze to operate properly , you must get rid of the winner in the 2^nd threat suit or you “block” yourself and the squeeze fails.

A	A	A	A
K	9	9	K
3	6		5
2	5

You are in 7NT with the club 8 lead which should mark RHO with the QJ10. The club threat is the 9 but the other hand has winners in that suit. You must get them out of the way by cashing them and RHO gets caught in a spade - club simple squeeze. The spade threat in dummy is an E1 simple squeeze. Threat & entry in same hand opposite squeeze card.

Q	K	K	9
5	Q	5	3
4	J		2
	10
	2

E2 is described by Love as the only entry to the threat in the North hand is in the suit with the threat held by the South hand. When East is the victim , quite often you execute a “squeeze for the count” and drop honour cards.

A	K	K	10
10	8	6	8
7	4	5	3
		4

You are in 3♥ after LHO has bid clubs and RHO has bid spades. They cash 3 rounds of clubs , switch to the spade King which you duck. They continue spades and you win your Ace. You run all 5 trump discarding 2 diamonds from the board. RHO also discards two diamonds. You lead a diamond to the King , everybody follows suit. You lead another diamond and RHO follows. You know he has a spade honour left so you go up with the Ace and drop the diamond queen.

4	A	A	J
3	Q	J	5
	J	2	2
	10
	5

The last entry condition is called E3 : North holds a winner in South’s threat suit and South holds a winner in North’s threat suit. This entry complication is called the criss-cross squeeze.

K	J	7	A
7	8	4	2
3	4	3
	3	2

You are in 7NT with the spade 10 lead. You cash all your majors but must guess by the discards whether they have a stiff King of clubs left. In all criss-cross squeezes this is the guess as you must make a decision.

A	A	A	Q
Q	K	K	6
J	Q	Q
	9
	2

Classifying simple squeezes by their entries exposes the Vienna coup & Criss-cross squeeze for what they are - entry complications. Looking at these squeezes from this entry perspective makes simple squeezes simpler.