Trump Squeeze - The tactic forcing an opponent to shorten a long side
suit holding, allowing Declarer to later ruff a losing trick in the suit and
later promote a trick. The declarer play employing trump to force opponents to
discard potential winners in side suits.
Technically, elements of the
trump squeeze include: a split menace, a ruffing menace - small dummy cards
that would otherwise become losers if not for opponent needing to discard
the guard cards in the suit, and two dummy entries. Unlike many other
squeeze plays, the trump squeeze requires the declarer to maintain trump
cards for ruffing value.
Simple Trump Squeeze
|
K
Q
Q
3
2
|
|
5
4
3
4
5 |
|
J
10
9
A
K
|
|
J
7
8
7
6
|
|
Spades are trump, with
declarer initiating a squeeze playing the
J7. East must
discard a potential red suit winner, giving up the
H9. Declarer now
cashes Dummy's HK and
HQ. Finally,
dummy's
D3 is ruffed, allowing
declarer to win the
H8.
Trump Squeeze Finesse
|
4
K
Q
Q
10 |
|
J
9
8
8
6 |
|
7
6
5
A 7 |
|
7
Q
10
3
2
|
|
Spades are trump and
declarer begins with
HQ,
squeezing East. Declarer cashes
DK, finessing East's
CA
if not played, ruffing the CA if played. Declarer returns to
DQ, allowing
dummy to win
the C10.
Trump Guard Squeeze
|
J 7
K Q
7 |
|
Q
J 7
6
J |
|
A 9
5 4 3
|
|
10 9
10 9 8
|
|
Spades are trump,
declarer
initiates a squeeze leading the
S10 on West all suits. West suffers playing the
CJ a natural winner, the
D6 could offer a third
promoted trick, or the high
HQ.
Also see Squeezes and Bridge Books on
Squeezes
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