LESSON 27.5: SQUEEZE PLAY

a) A squeeze play consists in forcing a discard which will cost an opponent a trick or more

b) A squeeze play is useful when lacking only one trick to make a contract

c) Before performing a squeeze, it is necessary to surrender all the tricks you can afford to lose (to correct the count)

Dealer: South
Vul: None

North

9 8 5
8 6 3
A K Q 3
9 5 4
 

West

East
 

K Q J 2
4 2
J 8 7 4
8 6 2

7 6
J 10 9 7 5
10 6 2
10 7 3
 

South
 

A 10 4 3
A K Q
9 5
A K Q J
 

 
   

Contract 6 NT South

Lead: K
Winners: 1 spade, 3 hearts, 3 diamonds, 4 clubs

South ducks the first spade and wins the continuation of the queen. He then plays three rounds of hearts and three rounds of clubs, leaving the following distribution:

Dealer: South
Vul: None

North

9

A K Q 3
 

West

East
 

J

J 8 7 4


J 7
10 6 2
 

South
 

10 4

9 5
J
 

 
   

When South plays his J, West is squeezed. If he must either discard his J establishing South's ten or a diamond establishing North's fourth diamond.
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