Triple Squeeze

When one defender is squeezed in 3 suits, it is a triple squeeze producing 1 extra trick.  When the trick that is so developed is used to squeeze the same defender again in the other 2 suits, the squeeze is said to repeat, or is called a Progressive Squeeze:

                    A9852

                    KQ7

                    4

                    Q754

KQJ                                 763

A2                                    643

AK53                               JT972

T982                                J6

                    T4

                    JT986

                    Q86

                    AK3

South plays in 4 after West opened 1NT.  West leads the Ace and on seeing East's Jack (which denies holding the Queen) switches to Ace and 2.  South has 9 tricks (1S, 4H, 3C, 1Druff) and can see that a squeeze or 3-3 clubs will produce the 10th.  So he ruffs a diamond, enters hand with a club and plays trumps to this position:

                     A98

                     ---

                     ---

                     Q75

KQ

---                             (immaterial)

K

T98

                    T4

                    J

                    Q

                    A3

South leads the Jack.  If West throws the King, South next plays the good Queen squeezing West in spades and clubs (repeats).  If West instead throws a spade, he sets up 2 extra spade tricks in dummy.  So West must discard a club, holding the contract to making 4 only,  With clubs established the squeeze will not repeat as there is no entry for the diamond threat.

To learn more about squeezes refer to Clyde Love's classic Bridge Squeezes Complete , now available in a fully interactive computer program.

Compiled by Lorne Russell 2005