A Rare One-Suit Squezze by Pietro Forquet

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Garozzo, Forquet, Rose & Gardiner
Garozzo, Forquet, Rose & Gardiner

The Palm Beach Post – Apr 17, 1969

Benito Garozzo
Benito Garozzo

Squeezes in bridge are rather rare things to begin with, but one of the most beautiful and unusual of these is the one suit squeeze. Many bridge players have played for years without seeing this rare breed of hand, and I was both charmed and delight. ed to have had one recently playing with Garozzo in Italy: pf

The bidding needs some explanation. My opening bid of one Club showed at least 17 points and any distribution. Garozzo’s double of two Spade guaranteed at least six points in high cards, but a maximum of two controls (1 Ace or 2 Kings).

The rest of the bidding was natural and West led the Ace and King of Clubs, East following with the 8 and the 6. I trumped, drew two rounds of trumps, and then analysed the situation.

West clearly started with at least six Spades (from the bidding), two Clubs and two Hearts. He might have three diamonds, in which case I could simply pitch one of my Spades on the long diamond in the dummy, and make the hand.

But if the Diamonds were not 3-3, how was I to eliminate one of my three losing Spades?

The key to the play of the hand at this point is NOT to drew the outstanding trump, because that would force dummy to make a valuable discard. Do you see why? I continued by playing a diamond to the Ace and trumped the 7 of Clubs high in my hand. When West followed to this trick, it was clear that the diamonds had not been distributed evenly, and consequently, I was able to draw the last trump and discard a diamond from the dummy.

West, seeing the danger of the approaching end-play, discarded the Queen of Spades, I then played the King of Diamonds, on which he discarded the Jack of Spades, and when I played the third round of diamonds we had reached the following position: pf

West discarded his last Club (postponing his agony) and I then trumped the last Club in my hand. West now underwent the «one suit squeeze». If he discarded the 6 of Spades, I would lead a small Spade and he would be forced to give my King of Spades the last trick. He consequently discarded the Spade 9.

My only problem now was to guess if he had the A 10 8 of Spades in his hand, or the A 10 6. I decided that his long hesitation gave the latter the greater probability, en I led the King of Spades out of my hand. West won, cashed the 10 of Spade, and dummy made the last trick with the 7!

As you can see, had I discarded either a Club or a Spade on the third round of trumps, I would not have been able to reach the end position.