Sunday, January 01, 2006 11:47 PM
Triple Squeezes
PITBULLS:
A triple squeeze is a simple squeeze in that it only
involves one victim. This one
victim must be a good card holder as she is responsible for protecting 3 suits. With the 3rd
suit involved , the count is rectified at two and the squeeze culminates on the
last squeeze card in the only free suit.
To
identify all triple squeezes, we
let South be the hand that contains the squeeze
suit so there are only 3 possible
triple squeezes. North holds one threat , two threats and all 3
threats respectively.
In the first case with North just holding one threat , the triple
squeeze always works against
either defender.
|
K |
A |
K |
10 |
|
x |
x |
Q |
x |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
The contract is 5♦ with a 2♣
overcall by LHO who leads the Ace and king of clubs and you ruff. Weird hand as
you can not rectify the count without destroying your threat card .
Therefore with the count rectified at two , you need a triple squeeze so
west must have all the picture cards.
|
A |
K |
A |
Q |
|
10 |
10 |
J |
|
|
x |
x |
10 |
|
|
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
|
8 |
|
|
|
|
x |
|
Run all your trump and LHO
with QJx in both majors and the club jack buckles and you make 6 as you have
entries to repeat the squeeze.
The 2nd case where North has two threats always works against West and
always works against East with one rare exception. A 2♣ opener and a triple
squeeze quite often are a good mix. Here is an example where North has two
threats.
|
A |
x |
v |
9 |
|
J |
x |
o |
x |
|
9 |
x |
i |
x |
|
x |
x |
d |
x |
|
|
x |
|
|
RHO opened 2♣ and we are in 5♦X with the club 8 led. RHO wins the jack and leads
the Ace which you ruff. You have 10 tricks so the count is rectified at two.
Two threats on the board is the club 9 and the spade jack and the threat in the
south hand is the heart King. The 2♣ opener is doomed and you make your
contract.
|
x |
K |
A |
10 |
|
x |
|
K |
|
|
|
|
Q |
|
|
|
|
J |
|
|
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
|
8 |
|
|
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
|
6 |
|
The 3rd case is North holding all 3 threats . The triple always
succeeds against West and always fails against East.
Some triple squeezes repeat if entry conditions are present
so they in turn are called “progressive”
squeezes. Love analyzes which of the 3 triple squeezes repeat to gain the 2nd trick. In
case I, it will never repeat
against West as west will allow the North threat to be established first (
squeeze defense) and he is now
behind the other two threats. For case two the squeeze will always repeat
against West if there are entries in both the squeeze suits. Case III can never repeat as one threat
will have been discarded.