[mikl_plkcc]

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Apparently the minor suit loser could be disposed by a squeeze. I have only read about squeezes from textbooks and have completely no idea when I need to use it. In particular, given this board, can anyone guide me how I could know that I should attempt a squeeze to make the contract, and how I could know that the count was rectified?

[hrothgar]

If you are playing to make a grand, the count had better be rectified to begin with

[hrothgar]

So, on this hand, you have 12 cashing tricks off the top.

You have a few different ways to try and make 13

1. You can ruff a Diamond early. (even with the Diamond lead, I think that this is your best chance)], although I might well screw up and ruff the third Diamond high
2. You can hope that the Queen of Clubs is doubleton (I think this is your worst chance)
3. You can hope that the Spades break 4-3 and you can ruff a couple spades and while still having enough entries to cash your winner
4. You can start cashing Hearts and hope that something good happens

In this case, you started running Hearts AND something good happened

You probably don't want to be pitching Spades in dummy if RHO is pitching Spades before you.

[johnu]

A minor suit squeeze would be one of the last things I would think about. Ruffing a diamond in dummy, or trying to set up the 5th spade are both better than a minor suit squeeze.

[mikeh]

There’s no simple answer to how to play for a squeeze. Not even any simple answers as to when to play for a squeeze, since there are often alternatives…such as ruffing a diamond here.

Squeezes come in multiple flavours, some of which are extremely rare while others probably arise fairly often…I’m sure I’ve seen two or three squeezes in a single session, although there are sessions where none were apparent. Having said that, I’m morally certain that I’ve simply not recognized some of the really esoteric ones. I’m f yiu wNt some idea of how esoteric these can be, find a copy of Adventures in Card Play. I’ve actually played an overtaking squeeze but I’ve never seen a backwash squeeze, which could easily be because I didn’t recognize it.

For less esoteric squeezes, you should be able to find a copy of Love on Squeezes. It’s an old book but the thing about card play is that it hasn’t changed a great deal since that book was written. I’ve seen complaints that it’s a difficult read, but I’ve never read any book dealing, in detail, with squeezes, that was ‘easy’.

Having said that….if you are within one trick of your contract and have a long suit to run…if the count has been rectified….run your long suit. That’s how I pulled off my first double squeeze…I ran my tricks and was astounded when my small club won trick 12 in a slam, having started with AKxx opposite xxx and being unable to afford a club loser. Both opps threw clubs!

One of my friends complimented me on pulling off the squeeze, to which I replied…what squeeze? In fairness, I had about 3 masterpoints at the time.

[Cyberyeti]

This is not a hand to play for a squeeze. Just ruff a diamond in dummy.

The key is to first count your tricks:

2♠/6♥/2♦/2♣ so you need one more

Where can you make another ?

You can ruff a diamond in dummy
Spades might be 4-3
There might be a squeeze

Trying one of these may reduce/eliminate the chance of trying some of the others

The lead is ♦3, at your standard, probably 4th, singleton or doubleton (maybe MUD), this is good news, because unless it's a singleton, you're only in trouble if E has a singleton 10 or 9♥ and only 2 diamonds, quite unlikely.

So I would ruff a diamond.

The simple squeeze only works because W's diamonds are precisely QJ10 so E can't guard them. The diamond lead is awkward for the double squeeze I think.

E actually hands you the contract by pitching a spade on the ♥J. Pitch a club then ruff the spades out.

[Huibertus]

hrothgar, on 2025-May-07, 14:58, said:

1. You can ruff a Diamond early. (even with the Diamond lead, I think that this is your best chance)], although I might well screw up and ruff the third Diamond high
2. You can hope that the Queen of Clubs is doubleton (I think this is your worst chance)
♣

Agreed, this is NOT a hand to play for a squeeze, unless ♠ Q is lead, in which case playing for a double squeeze with ♠/♣ guarded by East, ♦/♣ by west is worth considering (I'm still not convinced it'd be the best line, but the odds of success now increased)

Assuming the lead of ♥T (a ♦/♣ lead only changes the order of play slightly), yes a ♦ ruff is the best chance, it's even better than it looks because it can be combined with ♣ Queen doubleton.
So, first trick take ♥ K, play ♣ AK, if the Q drops claim. If not, ♦ AK, ♦ Ruff, ♠ AK to discard ♣ J, and ruff a ♠ to get back to hand and draw trumps.

To answer OP, if you want to understand when to play for squeeze and when not, you need to master the mechanisms, so STUDY the books, not just read them. (I'd suggest Clyde E Love "Bridge Squeezes Complete") You ALSO need to have a basic understanding of odds at bridge to understand if you need to play for the squeeze or for alternative lines like on this hand. (Hugh Kelsey "Bridge odds for practical players" would help). My own understanding of odds was better in the past, it's become rusty, hence the inconclusive assessment after a ♠ Q lead.