702 – Simultaneous Double Squeeze

The Simultaneous Double Squeeze is an advanced squeeze play in bridge where declarerThe player who during the auction made the first bid the SUIT of the final contract, becomes the declarer.  The also play their partners hand which  is now renamed 'dummy.'
Declarer plays both their own and dummy's hand. sets up two long suits and forces both defenders to discard crucial cards simultaneously. This play requires careful planning and accurate reading of the opponents’ holdings. Let’s break it down into steps:

Step 1: Establish Long Suits: As declarer, you need to establish two long suits in your hand, with one suit having more cards than the other. These suits should ideally have entries, so you can reach them multiple times during the play.

Example:

Declarer: ♠ A K J 7 6 4 ♥ – ♦ Q 9 8 7 ♣ 10 9 8

DummyThe declarer's partner is called the dummy, and after the opening lead has been made by the opposition dummy lays all their cards on the table face up.
That is the end of this game for dummy and they have no more to play in this game.
Declarer now plays ...: ♠ – ♥ Q J 10 ♦ 10 6 5 ♣ A K Q J 7 6

Defenders: ♠ Q 10 9 8 3 2 ♥ A K 9 7 5 4 3 ♦ 4 ♣ 4 3 2

Step 2: Create Entry Suits: To execute the double squeeze, you need to create two threat suits that will put pressure on the defenders. These threat suits should be able to potentially establish additional tricksA round of 4 cards where each player contributes 1 card. There are 13 tricks in a game of bridge. once the squeeze is set up.

Example:

Declarer leads a low spade from their hand, and the defenders follow suit. Declarer wins with the ♠K and plays another spade from dummy, forcing the defenders to discard. Now, the spade suit is established as the first threat suit.

Step 3: First Discard: As the defenders discard from the spade suit, carefully observe their discards. The objective is to determine which defenderThis term refers to the pair who did not win the auction/bidding The defender to the left of declarer is the player who plays the first card in a game has a more critical holding in the other long suitIs the suit with the greatest number of cards in a hand.
This term is not usually used on a suit with fewer than five cards.. This information will guide your subsequent plays.

Example:

Defender A discards a heart, indicating a possible weakness in that suit. Defender B discards a low club. It seems that Defender B has more critical holdings in clubs.

Step 4: Second Long Suit: Now, declarer plays cards from the second long suit, aiming to establish additional tricks while maintaining control in the spade suit. The goal is to force the defenders to discard from the suit where they are weak.

Example:

Declarer leads a low diamond from their hand and plays low diamonds from dummy. The defenders discard, and now the diamond suit is established as the second threat suit.

Step 5: Second Discard: As the defenders discard from the diamond suit, carefully observe their discards again. Look for any indications of weakness or key holdings in the other suit (clubs, in this example).

Example:

Defender A discards a heart, confirming their weakness in that suit. Defender B discards a low heart. It becomes apparent that Defender B holds more critical cards in hearts.

Step 6: Execute the Squeeze: With the information gathered, declarer continues playing the established threat suits, alternating between them. The defenders are now in a squeeze position, forced to make difficult discards in both suits.

Example:

Declarer plays a high spade, forcing the defenders to discard. Defender A discards a low club, indicating weakness in that suit. Defender B discards a high heart, revealing their critical holding in that suit.

Declarer now switches to the diamond suit and plays a high diamond, forcing the defenders to discard again. Defender A discards another low club, confirming their weakness. Defender B discards a high heart, but now they are out of hearts.

Step 7: Reap the Rewards: After executing the double squeeze, declarer has forced the defenders to discard their crucial cards in both suits, leading to extra tricks. Declarer can now take advantage of the established threat suits and potentially win additional tricks in other suits or by ruffing.

Remember, executing a simultaneous double squeeze requires accurate counting, precise timing, and careful reading of the defenders’ discards. It is an advanced technique that can yield significant gains if executed successfully.

Note: The example provided is just one possible scenario for a Simultaneous Double Squeeze. The specific card holdings and discards will vary from hand to hand, so it’s essential to adapt the strategy based on the actual cards in play.