[inquiry]

Hi. The Basic squeeze thread is just to introduce simple squeezes and how to spot BLUE.... There will be some additional squeeze quiz threads, dealing with problems wtih "E" and "L". But here is an easy one to get us started, presented in a non-quiz mode.

Scoring: MP

-- 3♠ 3NT PASS
4♣ PASS 4NT PASS
7♦ PASS 7NT PASS
ALL PASS

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From the prempt, you hope that EAST, and east alone guards the spade threat (this only requires east to have a seven card suit). If ♦ split, you have 13 tricks (1S, 5C, 5D, 2H). So you think what if diamonds don't split? Nothing could be easier if WEST has five diamonds. Win spade and test diamonds. When WEST shows up with five of them, this makes "B" defective for the simple squeeze, but you know WEST quards diamonds alone, and EAST guards spades alone, and both share-responsibility for hearts. This is the normal remedy for problems with "B". Losers are right (one), you have a primary entry in the form of the heart ACE. Dummy's heart is "upper" with respect to west and the spade in your hand is upper with respect to EAST.

After cashing the top three diamonds, then run clubs, watching only for a diamond discard from west and the ♠QJT9 (see if the eight is good).. this is the ending.... as you lead the last club...

Scoring: MP

-- 3♠ 3NT PASS
4♣ PASS 4NT PASS
7♦ PASS 7NT PASS
ALL PASS

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This thread is for posting not only double squeezes (one way for dealing with problems with "B"), but also for compound squeezes, double guard squeezes, compound guard squeezes, etc where you can overcome problems with a defect in "B".

Ben

[inquiry]

Scoring: MP

Quiz #1

You strecth to 7NT since it is matchpoint, despite finding your spade fit.

West starts a spade, you win in hand, and EAST follows. 5♠2♥1♦ if clubs run you are home. Not willing to risk a finessee at this early time, you start ♣A then ♣K. On the club, WEST discards a ♦. Your 13 easly tricks have turned into only 11. Take it from here.

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Walk throught the BLUE analysis, the problems with BLUE, and how you will make this hand.

ben

[inquiry]

Scoring: MP

Quiz #2

Only matchpoint could possibly explain why you got to 7NT rather than the realatively sane 7♣. Don't you just hate matchpoints?

Any way, opening lead is the ♦8, and you decide to believe the lead would not be made away from the Queen. So you go up with the ♦A. You cash ♣Ace, and both follow, then ♦King, and EAST drops the ♦Queen.

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Evalutate BLUE (and if there is a defect, figure out what it is), and then decide how best to play the hand (give "b" or compensating values for b defect, L, U and E).

[inquiry]

Quiz #3

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Opening lead ♦J

If hearts are split 3-2, it is too easy. Find BLUE and problems with it if ♥ don't split and how should you play.

[inquiry]

Quiz #4

Contract again 7NT.

West leads the ♦9, top from nothing.

You win the diamond king in dummy and immediately play a ♠ to Queen, which wins.

Examine BLUE, figure out the defects (if any) and plan the play.

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[inquiry]

Quiz #5. An Okbridge (boo) hand...

Contract 7NT

Opening lead ♦9

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T1. ♦9-K-2-T
T2. ♠A-♥2-♠4-5
T3. ♣3-2-A-♦3

After three tricks, you know both black suits, incredibly, split 5-0. Say bye bye to the "easy" top 13 tricks. Now, with marked ♣Jack hook, you have 12 tricks (4S, 2H, 2D, 4C).... do you guess who has the heart QUEEN and hook them? If you guess right you will make, but do you REALLY NEED TO RISK the heart hook at?

If you examine BLUE, you will see the flaw is that EAST has spades and west has clubs, that if "flawed" becasuse the simple squeeze would be easy if east had both. Only one person can have the heart queen so that person can be squeezed, but do you know which one does have it, and if you did know you could simply finessee them. So instead, consider this a defect in normal "B" condition, but where both opponents "guard" hearts (even though only one really can). Then iidentifying threats and squeeze card and entries, and discover how you will play this one to avoid the heart hook (let both opponents have the heart queen..hehehe).

Ben

[inquiry]

Now that you are getting to be better at identifying squeezes, let's try one on defense. You are EAST on this hand

Scoring: IMP


West North East South

 -     -     Pass  1♥
 3♣    3♦    4♣    4♥
 Pass  7♦    Pass  7NT
 Pass  Pass  Pass  

Opening lead ♣K

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T1. CK S4 C2 CA
T2. D6 D4 DA D9


Yuck. Declearer clearly has ♥Ace and some more stuff for his 7NT bid (and if partner had ♥A he might well have doubled and lead it... :-) If declearer has both major suit kings, that is 13 tricks (8D+1C+4 in major).... What if declarer has ♠KJx? or ♥AKJ? Then 13 tricks with aid of hook.

Plan your defense, carefully.

Ben,

PS.. thanks to Bridgeboy for pointing out this excellent problem from BBO yesterday