The Schnapsen Log

Make It Progressive (solution)

Martin Tompa

Just as in the previous deal, as soon as you give up the lead, Emmi will cash enough winners to cross the finish line. There is nothing you can do other than look for a squeeze in the heart suit. What will happen if you cash your two hearts? After the first, you will have 54 trick points, so Emmi cannot discard a diamond on your ♥J. She is squeezed into discarding a black queen. Whichever one she discards, your jack in that suit is now set up as a winner. Let’s suppose she discarded ♠Q, leaving this position:

Emmi: (51 points)
♠ —
♥ —
♣ Q
♦ AT

You: (59 points)
♠ J
♥ —
♣ J
♦ J

Unlike the previous squeeze we analyzed, you do not win immediately by cashing your newly established winner ♠J. But cashing ♠J does have another good effect: it squeezes Emmi again! This time she is forced to discard her other black queen, setting up your ♣J as another new winner. When you cash ♣J, Emmi is finally forced to discard a big diamond, giving you enough points to win.

“That was a beautifully executed squeeze, dear,” beams your Uncle Hans approvingly. “In bridge, this particular type of squeeze is called a progressive squeeze. That’s when the first squeeze sets up a winner whose lead squeezes the opponent a second time. It’s a pretty rare occurrence, and you discovered it on your own.”

© 2012 Martin Tompa. All rights reserved.

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