This is a squeeze in three suits, in which an opponent
holds guards in two suits, and his holding in a third suit prevents the declarer
from taking a winning finesse. All in all there are five fundamental results, and
each has similarities with the Double Squeeze position.
The guard squeeze is different, in that the same opponent controls both menaces and
the double menace offers finesse possibilities.
Example 1
South must take four tricks to secure the contract. South has only 3 secure tricks. South leads the Ace of Spades. As a result West is squeezed in three suits. If West discards the Ace of Hearts or Ace of Diamonds, South then has four tricks. The only option for West is to discard a small Club. If this is the case, then South crosses to dummy to the Ace of Clubs and finesses East for the Jack of Clubs, making four tricks.
Example 2
In the above illustration, South, the declarer, leads the Ace of Clubs. Again, South has only 3 secure tricks but needs 4 tricks to fulfill the contract. By leading the Ace of Clubs, East is squeezed in three suits. In the case that East discards a Spade, South can then lead a Spade and finesse with the Jack of Spades in the dummy. If East discards a Heart, then South has 4 tricks. If East discards the Ace of Diamonds, then South also has 4 secure tricks.
Example 3
South, the declarer, needs 5 tricks to fulfill the contract. South leads the Ace of Clubs and West is squeezed in three suits. If West discards a Spade, then South will finesse the Queen of Spades held by East. If West discards a Heart, then all three Hearts in the dummy become winners. If West discards the Ace of Diamonds, then South also has five tricks.
Note: In each of the examples above, the squeeze retains its effectiveness even if one of the isolated menaces is guarded by both opponents. This results in the double guard squeeze, whereby the elements of the squeeze concludes in the guard squeeze against one opponent and a simple squeeze against the other opponent.
Additional Guard Squeeze Positions
Example 1
South, the declarer, needs to take all 4 tricks to fulfill the contract. South leads the Ace of Clubs. As a result West is squeezed in all three suits. If West discards a Spade, then South wins all four tricks. If West discards a Heart, then South wins all four tricks. West must discard a Diamond. On the second trick, South leads a small Heart to the Ace of Hearts in the dummy. East is now squeezed. If East discards the King of Diamonds, then the Jack of Diamonds in the dummy is a winner. If East discards a second Spade, then the Ace and Jack of Spades in the hand of South become winners.
Example 2
South needs all 5 tricks to fulfill the contract. South plays the Ace of Clubs. West is squeezed in three suits. As the cards lies, West must discard the Ace of Diamonds. On the second and third trick, South plays to the Ace and King of Hearts in the dummy. If East discards a Diamond, then the Queen of Diamonds in the hand of South becomes a winner. If East discards a Spade, then the Ace and Jack of Spades in the hand of South become winners.
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.