The definition of an entry-shifting squeeze is
a positional squeeze, in which the squeeze card is a winner accompanied by additional
winners in the same suit that provides a means of communication between the declarer's
hand and the dummy. The declarer makes use of the entries in the dummy in order to
take advantage of the discards of the opponent, who is squeezed.
Various Types of Squeezes
There are several types of entry-shifting squeezes,
and the following illustrations should clarify the play technique.
Type 1: Trump Suit and one opponent guards
two suits.
Clubs are trump. At this stage of the play, South leads the King of Clubs. As a result West is forced to discard, or is squeezed. In case West discards a Heart, then South will lead the six of Hearts, West covers with the Ace of Hearts, and South ruffs in the dummy, and the seven of Hearts becomes a winner. South has developed a winning Heart trick by managing his entries in the dummy.
On the other hand, when South leads the King of Clubs, and West discards the King of Spades, then South overtakes with the Ace of Clubs in the dummy, leads the four of Spades from the dummy, ruffs in his hand, and returns to the dummy with the five of Clubs to the seven of Clubs, and plays the winning five of Spades.
Type 2: Trump Suit and one opponent guards three suits.
Spades are trump. North is the declarer and leads the King of Spades. This play forces East to discard from one of his suits, and is therefore squeezed. If East discards a Club or a Diamond, then North maintains control and the lead to ruff out the remaining honor in either the Club or Diamond suit. If East discards a Heart, then North overtakes with the Ace of Spades in the dummy, and establishes the Heart suit for additional tricks.
There are several conditions required for this type of squeeze to be effective. The two suit squeeze demands a balanced trump holding, meaning an equal length in both hands, when the declarer has all but one of the remaining tricks. However, the two suit squeeze demands an unbalanced trump holding if a trick must be lost after the squeeze.
The three suit squeeze demands an unbalanced trump holding, unless a throw-in menace is involved, in which situation a balanced trump holding is required.
Type 3: No Trump and one opponent guards two suits.
The contract is No Trump. South is the declarer. When South leads the King of Diamonds, then West is forced to discard from one of his Major suits, and is squeezed. If West discards a Hearts, declarer overtakes with the Ace of Diamonds in the dummy, returns the four of Hearts from the dummy, overtakes with the Ace of Hearts and leads another Heart from his hand. The remaining Heart in declarer's hand becomes a winning trick, using the Queen of Diamonds as an entry.
If West discards a Spade, then South plays a low Diamond from the dummy. The Ace of Diamonds is reserved as an entry. South then leads the Ace of Spades and a small Spade, which West wins, but establishes the ten of Spades in the dummy as a winning trick. West must lead a Heart, which South wins with the Ace of Hearts, returns to the dummy to the trick-winning Ace of Diamonds and the ten of Spades.
Type 4: No Trump and one opponent guards three suits.
The contract is No Trump. South is the declarer and needs two tricks to fulfill the contract. South leads the King of Clubs. West must discard one of his Aces. West is squeezed in three suits. If West discards the Ace of Hearts or the Ace of Diamonds, then the King held in whichever suit by the declarer becomes a winning trick. If West decides to discard the Ace of Spades, then South, who is still on lead, leads his six of Spades to the King of Spades held by East, who is then forced to return a Club to the second winning trick needed by the declarer.
If you wish to include this feature, or any other feature, of the game of bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as possible.