Strip squeeze

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This article concerns Contract Bridge and uses terminology associated with the game. See Contract bridge glossary for an explanation of unfamiliar words or phrases.

A strip squeeze is a declarer technique at Contract Bridge combining elements of squeeze and endplay.

This squeeze occurs when declarer has two or more losers remaining. By cashing winners, declarer forces the defender to discard winners and/or exit cards so that when they are put on lead they cannot defeat the contract. Eventually, the defender will be forced to lead a suit that will cost them a trick.

		♠	A 3 2
		♥	A 6 3 2
		♦	4 3 2
		♣	4 3 2
♠	K 7 6 5	N W         E S		♠	J T 9 8
♥	5 4			♥	7
♦	6 5			♦	J T 9 8 7
♣	K Q T 6 5			♣	9 8 7
		♠	Q 6
		♥	K Q J T 9 8
		♦	A K Q
		♣	A J

South is in the contract 6♥ with 11 top tricks on the ♣K lead. To perform a simple squeeze, South would have to lose a trick at some point to rectify the count. This will not work on this hand because the only menaces South has are in clubs and spades. Ducking a trick in clubs would allow East to guard the suit.

South must rely on a strip squeeze to make the hand. The first club trick is won, and the hearts then the diamonds are cashed. South has remaining ♠Q6 ♣J. North keeps ♠A3 and another card. West must choose between baring the ♠K or ♣Q. If West keeps ♠Kx, South puts West on lead with a club to lead away from the spade. Otherwise, South plays a spade to the Ace to drop West's King.

An experienced West will try to make things as difficult as possible for South so that the correct route to 12 tricks is not certain. Making the key discard before the final winner is cashed will introduce as much ambiguity as possible. Although double-dummy it is impossible to go wrong, occasionally South will make the wrong decision in real life.