SAMPLE BridgeSqueezesForEveryone

David Bird
*Yes, Even You!

*Yes, Even You!
David Bird
MASTER POINT PRESS • TORONTO

© 2002 David Bird
All rights reserved. It is illegal to reproduce any portion of this material,
except by special arrangement with the publisher. Reproduction of this
material without authorization, by any duplication process whatsoever, is a
violation of copyright.
Master Point Press

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(416) 781-0351
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Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data

Bird, David, 1946-
Squeezes for everyone
ISBN 978-1-55494-082-0
1. Contract bridge — Squeeze I. Title

GV1282.435.B57314 2002 C2001-904146-2
Editor Ray Lee

Cover and Interior design Olena S. Sullivan
Interior format and copyediting Deanna Bourassa
Printed and bound in Canada by Webcom Ltd.
1234567 06 05 04 03 02
Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction 9
Chapter 2 The Elements of a Squeeze 12
Chapter 3 Rectifying the Count 17
Chapter 4 The Vienna Coup 26
Chapter 5 Isolating the Guard 36
Chapter 6 Transferring the Guard 43
Chapter 7 The Simple Squeeze 49
Chapter 8 The Show Up Squeeze 69
Chapter 9 The Double Squeeze 77
Chapter 10 Squeeze Without the Count 98
Chapter 11 The Strip and Endplay 115
Chapter 12 The Suicide Squeeze 134
Chapter 13 The Trump Squeeze 143
Chapter 14 The Criss-Cross Squeeze 157
Chapter 15 The Stepping Stone Squeeze 167
Chapter 16 The Vice Squeeze 175
Chapter 17 The Winkle Squeeze 181
Chapter 18 The Triple Squeeze 191
Chapter 19 The Guard Squeeze 203
Chapter 20 The Compound Squeeze 211
GLOSSARY 219
C H A P T E R 1
Introduction
T here is nothing at all complicated about most squeeze deals. A defender

holds the sole guard in two suits and is forced to discard one of his guards
when you play your winners in the other suits. Here is an example of the
technique at its most basic:
♠ K 10 4 2
♥ J8
♦ AK72
♣ AJ6
♠ 73 ♠96
N
♥ K Q 10 7 5 ♥9643
W E
♦ J986 ♦ 10 4
S
♣ 94 ♣ 10 8 7 5 3
♠ AQJ85
♥ A2
♦ Q53
♣ KQ2
You reach a grand slam in spades and West leads the ♥K. How would you
play the contract?
There are twelve tricks on top and all will be well if the diamond suit
divides 3-3. Another chance is that West holds four or more diamonds along
with his queen of hearts. In this case he will be unable to retain both red-suit
guards when you cash your winners in the black suits. Can you visualize the
end position?
This will be the layout as West starts to feel uncomfortable:
♠ —
♥ J
♦ AK72
♣ —
♠ — ♠ —
N
♥ Q ♥ 9
W E
♦ J986 ♦ 10 4
S
♣ — ♣ 10 8
♠ —
♥ 2
♦ Q53
♣ Q
All of West’s cards are ‘busy’. They are guarding the threats that lie over
him, in the dummy. The ♥J is threatening to score a trick and West’s ♥Q guards
against this. Similarly all of West’s diamonds are needed to guard against the
threat posed by dummy’s fourth diamond. When you play the ♣Q West is in
big trouble. He has to release one of his guards and you will score your thir-
teenth trick in whichever suit he decides to throw.
Did you need to make a note of every card that was thrown? Not at all!
You needed to watch out only for one card — the queen of hearts. If that had
not appeared by the time you had played your last club, you would throw the
♥J from dummy and hope that the diamonds were good.
Now try a squeeze for yourself. You must identify two suits that are guard-
ed by only one defender, then work out how you can squeeze him.
♠ AQ93
♥ A8
♦ AK2
♣ K763
♠ 10 7 4 2 ♠86
N
♥ J 10 9 3 ♥K754
W E
♦9874 ♦ 10 6
S
♣95 ♣ J 10 8 4
♠ KJ5
♥ Q62
♦ QJ53
♣ AQ2
This time you are in 7NT and West leads the ♥J. Since only a madman
would lead from K-J-10 against a grand slam, you place the ♥K with East and
rise with dummy’s ace. You have twelve tricks on top and a 3-3 club break will
give you an easy thirteenth trick. If the clubs don’t break 3-3, can you foresee
a squeeze that might rescue you?
There is no potential for extra tricks in spades or diamonds. A squeeze will
be possible only if the same defender holds the ♥K and four or more clubs.
Since you place the ♥K with East, he will be your intended victim. You cash
10 • Bridge Squeezes for Everyone

four rounds of spades, throwing the ♥6 from your hand, then start on the dia-
mond suit. This position will arise:
♠ —
♥ 8
♦ —
♣ K763
♠ — ♠ —
N
♥ 10 9 ♥ K
W E
♦ 9 ♦ —
S
♣ 95 ♣ J 10 8 4
♠ —
♥ Q
♦ J
♣ AQ2
You lead the ♦J, throwing dummy’s ♥8. East has to throw one of his guards
(he is ‘squeezed in hearts and clubs’) and you make the grand slam. Once again
you needed to watch for only one card — this time the ♥K. If the defenders
kept that card you would play for four club tricks at the end. There was no
need at all to keep track of any club discards.
The two deals we have just seen are examples of the simple squeeze. This
term refers to an ending where one defender holds the sole guard in two suits
and is forced to discard one of them. It is by far the most common type of
squeeze and — as we have just seen — not at all difficult to play.
In the next few chapters we will look closely at the elements of a squeeze
and at some preparatory moves that may be necessary before a squeeze can
operate. If you’re already familiar with this basic stuff, you have license to skip
over this part. But please rejoin us later as we explore in turn the many weird
and wonderful forms of the squeeze. It will be an exciting journey, like walk-
ing round a zoo! By the time you have passed through the exit gate you will
have an excellent chance of recognizing these magnificent creatures, next time
you sit down to play.
Chapter 1: Introduction • 11
I NTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED
D id you always think squeezes were too difficult?

Or perhaps you know the basics but now you want to learn
about more complex and advanced squeeze positions? If you fit either
of these categories, or even if you just want to improve your under-
standing of an important aspect of declarer play, this book is for you.
While squeezes can be extremely complex, the basic principles of
squeeze play are not. Using the same straightforward, conversational
style with recaps and quizzes that characterized the Bridge Technique
series, this book will make squeeze play accessible to many readers
who have been afraid to attempt to study it.
DAVID BIRD is the author or coauthor of more than fifty books,

ranging from technical (the Bridge Technique series) to humorous
(Saints & Sinners). He is perhaps best known for his St. Titus Abbey
stories, which appear regularly in bridge magazines around the
world. He lives near Southampton, England.
MASTER POINT PRESS

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David Bird

*Yes, Even You!

MASTER POINT PRESS • TORONTO

Master Point Press

Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data

1. Contract bridge — Squeeze I. Title

Editor Ray Lee

Printed and bound in Canada by Webcom Ltd.

T here is nothing at all complicated about most squeeze deals. A defender

10 • Bridge Squeezes for Everyone

D id you always think squeezes were too difficult?

of these categories, or even if you just want to improve your under-

standing of an important aspect of declarer play, this book is for you.

While squeezes can be extremely complex, the basic principles of

squeeze play are not. Using the same straightforward, conversational

who have been afraid to attempt to study it.

DAVID BIRD is the author or coauthor of more than fifty books,

MASTER POINT PRESS

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