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ESOTERICA
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Introduction:
A basic rule in double squeeze is that the B threat, guarded by both opponents, must be accompanied by an entry
in its own suit. As the result, a basic rule in compound squeeze, where each opponents guards two suits and only
one guard a third, is that each of two doubly guarded (ambiguous) threats must be accompanied by an entry in its
own suit [See Reference (1).] If both double squeeze or compound squeeze will fail owing to lack of entry or wrong
entry position in the B suit or in one of the two doubly guarded suits, a double guard squeeze or double clash
squeeze provides additional chances when some ex tra conditions are met. A double guard squeeze requires a
middle card accompanied with top winner in a second doubly guarded suit while a double clash squeeze requires
clash threats (described below) in either a second doubly guarded suit or in a singly guarded suit when there is an
ex tra side entry.
Double squeeze, compound squeeze, and guard squeeze are all discussed thoroughly by Clyde E. Love in Reference
(1). Clash squeeze was named and analyzed by Chien-Hwa W ang with a long series of articles in Bridge Magazine
and later summarized in Reference 2. However, Dr. W ang did not mention compound squeeze, hence did not
discuss the relationship between the clash squeeze and the compound squeeze. Moreover, it is very hard for
bridge players to master double clash squeeze using the classification of non-simultaneous and simultaneous
double clash squeeze.
This paper takes a new approach to double clash squeeze, emphasizing the entry conditions and the relationship
between double clash squeeze and either compound squeeze or, in rare cases, double squeeze. I hope that it will be
much easier for an advanced player to understand the double clash squeeze under this approach. Readers are
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much easier for an advanced player to understand the double clash squeeze under this approach. Readers are
strongly advised first to have a thorough understanding of double squeeze and compound squeeze.
NORTH
A2
W EST
EAST
K (3)
J9
SOUTH
Q
EAST
Q J (3)
987
SOUTH
K 10
In the basic form, W est must keep his king to guard the queen, and East must hold his jack-nine in case W est is
forced to bare his king. The singleton king is called a clash stopper and the jack-nine is called a weak stopper; the
queen is the clash threat against W est, and North's deuce is the weak threat against East.
In the ex tended form, one top winners in each hand (the ace and king) are required, as they will be needed as
entries. Here, W est must keep his queen-jack and East his nine-eight-seven in case W est is forced to discard down
to a doubleton. The queen-jack is a clash stopper, the nine-eight-seven is a weak stopper, the ten is a clash threat
against W est, and the five is a weak threat against East. Both a clash stopper and a weak stopper in the clash suit
are semi-stoppers; a clash stopper accompanied by a low card is a full stopper.
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A basic threat is the threat guarded by only one opponent, with the threat sitting over the stopper. Both a basic
threat and a clash threat are required for a double clash squeeze. A split threat is the one that is not accompanied
by entry in its own hand but faces a winner, a split entry, in the opposite hand. An unaccompanied entry opposite
a split threat is a stiff split entry. A stiff split entry will be served as side entry in some double clash squeezes. In
this ex ample, the jack is a split threat and the ace is a stiff split entry.
NORTH
A
W EST
EAST
Q8
K9
SOUTH
J3
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stopper in fourth suit, he falls victim to a clash squeeze when he is triple squeezed on the last free winner.
Multiple entries are required in order to be able to reach all of declarer's potential winners. (1) The hand with
weak threat in clash suit must have an entry in either the basic suit or the fourth suit for cashing its top winner in
case the triply-squeezed opponent gives up his clash stopper. (2) The hand with the ambiguous threat must have
an entry in either the basic suit or the clash suit for cashing an established winner in the fourth suit. If there is no
entry in the fourth suit, then at least one entry is required in basic suit. (3) If there is no entry in the basic suit, then
the hand with the basic threat must have a side entry, in case the triple-squeezed opponent yields his basic
stopper. In order to meet all of these requirements, each hand must have at least one side entry in addition to any
top winner in clash suit.
In Scenario A, the double clash squeeze consists three steps: (1) The nex t-to-last free winner triply squeezes the
defender with the basic stopper, the stopper in fourth suit, and a full stopper in the clash suit. Yielding the basic
stopper gives declarer an ex tra trick immediately. Giving up a stopper in the fourth suit will let declarer establish
an ordinary double squeeze, one of Type R in Love's terminology. Should the defender instead bare his clash
stopper, a double squeeze of either Love's Type B or Love's Type R will ensueex cept that the B-suit has no entry
or has a stiff split entry which would lead to a double clash squeeze (see step 2 & 3). (2) The last free winner will retriple-squeeze the same opponent with clash stopper, basic stopper, and the stopper in the fourth suit. At doubledummy, he can do no better than to yield his stopper in the fourth suit. In such cases, the basic threat (L-threat in
Love's terminology) is discarded, positionally, after the triple-squeezee keeps a guard in the basic suit. (3) If
declarer has one of more top winners in the basic suit, when the last basic-suit winner is cashed, a simple squeeze
occurs against the other opponent who holds weak stopper in the clash suit and the stopper in fourth suit. W hen
declarer has no winner in basic suit, a simple squeeze against that opponent will be established when last free
winner is cashed.
Scenario B: Clash Threat in the Basic Suit.
Here, let's define a doubly guarded suit with no entry or with a stiff split entry as Suit 0, and a doubly guarded suit
with an ordinary entry as Suit 1. If the opponent with the basic stopper does not have any card higher than
declarer's clash threat in the basic suit, a double clash squeeze will succeed, because both opponents will be triple
squeezed. Notice that both opponents have to guard three suits, so the squeeze is hex agonal. For this to come to
pass, each of declarer's hands must have at least one entry besides any top winner in the basic suit.
A Scenario B double clash squeeze also consists of three steps: (1) The nex t-to-last free winner will triple squeeze
the opponent who has the basic stopper. Yielding his basic stopper will give declarer an ex tra trick at once; giving
up the stopper in Suit 0 will let declarer establish an ordinary (Type R) double squeeze; giving up the stopper in
Suit 1 will permit a double squeeze (or Type B or Type R) ex cept that the B-suit has no entry or has only a split entry
which would lead to a double clash squeeze (see step 2 & 3). (2) W hen the last free winner is led, the opponent
with a clash stopper in the basic suit will be clash squeezed, forced to give up his guard in Suit 0. Declarer discards
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the threat in Suit 1 positionally when it has not been established. (3) W hen declarer cashes his winner(s) in Suit 1,
the victim who was squeezed at step 1 will be re-squeezed between the basic suit and Suit 0.
NORTH
A 62
K43
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W EST
EAST
K9
J 10 4
Q65
87
SOUTH
A 2
A K
Here, South has ambiguous threat heart queen without entry. But he has two opposite top winners in the basic suit
(diamonds) along with clash threat spade queen. The club king will force W est to discard his last idle card, the
spade nine. W hen the club ace is led, W est is clash squeezed and must give up his heart-ace stopper in the fourth
suit. North discards the basic threat (diamond three). East will be squeezed in majors when declarer cashes the
diamond king-ace.
Ex ample 2
NORTH
J2
K9
2
4
W EST
EAST
K6
43
Q J 10
876
SOUTH
A 32
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A K
Here North has ambiguous threat diamond deuce without entry. South has an entry in the basic suit, and both
hands have a top winner in the clash suit. The club king will force W est to discard a heart, and the club ace will
then clash squeeze him. North discards the basic threat (spade jack), and the spade ace will squeeze East between
the red suits.
NORTH
J2
A J3
W EST
EAST
K9
J 10
KQ
87
Q3
K4
SOUTH
A 2
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2
A K
Here, South has stiff heart ace in the fourth suit, and there is only one entry in both the basic and clash suits. W est
is clash squeezed when last free winner is cashed. If W est keeps his diamond king-queen and spade king, North
will discard the diamond jack-three; then, the heart ace will be cashed (Vienna Coup) and East will be squeezed
between the majors by the diamond ace.
Ex ample 4
NORTH
A 2
A
Q3
2
W EST
EAST
Q7
98
K5
87
Q3
K4
SOUTH
10
J5
A
A K
Here, North has stiff split entry heart ace in the fourth suit. South is required to have an entry in the basic suit
(diamond ace). W est is clash squeezed when the last free winner is cashed. The heart ace must be cashed before
the diamond ace (Vienna Coup). East will be squeezed between the majors when declarer cashes the diamond ace.
If there is no entry in the basic suit, then ex tended clash threats are required besides stiff split entry in the fourth
suit for necessary communication. The nex t-to-last free winner will triple squeeze W est. If he gives up his stopper
in the fourth suit, declare can cash his stiff winner in the fourth suit to form a type R or type B1 double squeeze. If
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in the fourth suit, declare can cash his stiff winner in the fourth suit to form a type R or type B1 double squeeze. If
he discards a small card in clash suit, he will be clash squeezed and his partner will be simple squeezed when the
last free winner is cashed. Also, a Vienna Coup will be required after the clash squeeze has matured.
Ex ample 5
NORTH
K 10
J2
J2
W EST
EAST
QJ
876
K9
Q3
K4
SOUTH
A 32
A
A K
Here, South has stiff split entry heart ace in the fourth suit, but there is no entry in the basic suit. Fortunately,
declare has ex pended clash threats in spades. W hen the nex t-to-last winner is cashed, W est is triple squeezed. If
he throws his H3 away, a type B1 double squeeze will be followed once HA is cashed. The best he can do is to
discard his S9. W hen the last free winner is cashed, W est is clash squeezed and East is simple squeezed between
the majors. The heart ace will be cashed as a Vienna Coup.
Ex ample 6
NORTH
A 32
A2
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W EST
EAST
QJ
987
K5
Q3
K4
SOUTH
K 10
J5
A K
Here, North must bare his heart ace on the nex t-to-last free winner, because no hand can hold all three threats in a
double squeeze. W est has choice to let declare play type R double squeeze or clash double squeeze. The heart ace
will be cashed as a Vienna Coup after the clash squeeze.
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NORTH
A 2
J
K4
52
W EST
EAST
98
Q6
Q3
876
J 10 9 3
SOUTH
10
A Q52
A K
Here, North has fourth-suit threat heart jack without entry, but declarer has three top winners in the basic suit.
East is clash squeezed when the club ace-king are cashed. Then, W est will be squeezed between the major when
declarer cashes the diamond king-queen-ace.
NORTH
A 2
J2
K4
52
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W EST
EAST
98
Q6
87
J93
Q3
K4
SOUTH
10
A
Q52
A K
This ex ample is a modification of Ex ample 7; the diamond ace is replaced by the heart ace and other adjustments
made accordingly elsewhere. An unrestricted Type-R compound squeeze is present ex cept that South has a stiff
winner heart ace in the fourth suit. East will be clash squeezed when last free winner is cashed. The stiff heart ace
will be unblocked as a Vienna Coup after the clash squeeze. W est will be squeezed between the majors when
declarer cashes his top winners in diamonds.
Scenario B: Clash Threat in the Basic Suit
In Scenario B, the squeeze is hex agonal since opponents have six guards. The types of double clash squeeze
against W est are BL0 and BL1. The only type of double clash squeeze against East is BR0.
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NORTH
10
2
K43
5
W EST
EAST
98
QJ5
876
SOUTH
A 2
A 2
A K
Here, North has ambiguous threat heart deuce without entry, but both of declarer's hands have a top winner in
Suit 1. East is triple squeezed when the club king is cashed, and W est is clash squeezed when the club ace is
cashed. East will be squeezed between the majors when declarer cashes his diamond ace-king.
Ex ample 10
NORTH
K 10
2
43
5
W EST
EAST
QJ
987
QJ
87
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SOUTH
A 32
A
A K
This ex ample is a modification of Ex ample 9, with the diamond king ex changed with the spade king and the other
hands changed accordingly, giving North an entry in the basic suit and South an entry in Suit 1. A Vienna Coup is
required after the clash squeeze, and East will be squeezed between the majors when declarer cashes his diamond
ace.
NORTH
10
42
K4
5
W EST
EAST
98
QJ
87
K6
Q3
SOUTH
A 2
A
2
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A K
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A K
Here, South has a stiff split entry heart ace in Suit 0. The heart ace must be cashed after the clash squeeze. East will
be squeezed between the majors when declarer cashes the diamond king.
NORTH
A 62
K4
52
W EST
EAST
987
QJ
87
QJ
Q3
J6
SOUTH
K 10
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A2
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A2
2
A K
Here, declarer has clash threat spade ten in the basic suit, along with two opposite top winners. North has an entry
diamond king in Suit 1. Most importantly, South has an ex tra top winner (the heart ace) in Suit 0. The club king
will force W est to discard his stopper in diamonds, then the club ace will clash squeeze East to give up his stopper
in hearts. North can pitch the diamond four when declarer cashes the heart ace after the clash squeeze. Then,
when declarer cashes the diamond king, W est will be squeezed between the majors.
References:
(1) Love, E. Clyde. Bridge Squeezes Complete. Dover Publications, Inc. New Y ork. 1959. Pages 53-81, 185-234.
(2) W ang, Chien-Hwa. The Squeeze at Bridge. Cadogan Bridge. London. 1993. Pages 141-203.
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