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A New Approach to Double Clash Squeeze

by Xiaobo Zhang
River Edge, New Jersey
October, 2002

Introduction:
A basic rule in double squeeze is that the B threat, guarded by both opponents, must be accompanied by an entry
in its own suit. As the result, a basic rule in compound squeeze, where each opponents guards two suits and only
one guard a third, is that each of two doubly guarded (ambiguous) threats must be accompanied by an entry in its
own suit [See Reference (1).] If both double squeeze or compound squeeze will fail owing to lack of entry or wrong
entry position in the B suit or in one of the two doubly guarded suits, a double guard squeeze or double clash
squeeze provides additional chances when some ex tra conditions are met. A double guard squeeze requires a
middle card accompanied with top winner in a second doubly guarded suit while a double clash squeeze requires
clash threats (described below) in either a second doubly guarded suit or in a singly guarded suit when there is an
ex tra side entry.
Double squeeze, compound squeeze, and guard squeeze are all discussed thoroughly by Clyde E. Love in Reference
(1). Clash squeeze was named and analyzed by Chien-Hwa W ang with a long series of articles in Bridge Magazine
and later summarized in Reference 2. However, Dr. W ang did not mention compound squeeze, hence did not
discuss the relationship between the clash squeeze and the compound squeeze. Moreover, it is very hard for
bridge players to master double clash squeeze using the classification of non-simultaneous and simultaneous
double clash squeeze.
This paper takes a new approach to double clash squeeze, emphasizing the entry conditions and the relationship
between double clash squeeze and either compound squeeze or, in rare cases, double squeeze. I hope that it will be
much easier for an advanced player to understand the double clash squeeze under this approach. Readers are

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much easier for an advanced player to understand the double clash squeeze under this approach. Readers are
strongly advised first to have a thorough understanding of double squeeze and compound squeeze.

The Vocabulary of Double Clash Squeeze:

There are two forms of clash threats: basic and ex tended.
Basic clash threat:

NORTH
A2
W EST

EAST

K (3)

J9
SOUTH
Q

Extended clash threat:

NORTH
A 52
W EST

EAST

Q J (3)

987
SOUTH
K 10

In the basic form, W est must keep his king to guard the queen, and East must hold his jack-nine in case W est is
forced to bare his king. The singleton king is called a clash stopper and the jack-nine is called a weak stopper; the
queen is the clash threat against W est, and North's deuce is the weak threat against East.
In the ex tended form, one top winners in each hand (the ace and king) are required, as they will be needed as
entries. Here, W est must keep his queen-jack and East his nine-eight-seven in case W est is forced to discard down
to a doubleton. The queen-jack is a clash stopper, the nine-eight-seven is a weak stopper, the ten is a clash threat
against W est, and the five is a weak threat against East. Both a clash stopper and a weak stopper in the clash suit
are semi-stoppers; a clash stopper accompanied by a low card is a full stopper.
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A basic threat is the threat guarded by only one opponent, with the threat sitting over the stopper. Both a basic
threat and a clash threat are required for a double clash squeeze. A split threat is the one that is not accompanied
by entry in its own hand but faces a winner, a split entry, in the opposite hand. An unaccompanied entry opposite
a split threat is a stiff split entry. A stiff split entry will be served as side entry in some double clash squeezes. In
this ex ample, the jack is a split threat and the ace is a stiff split entry.

NORTH
A
W EST

EAST

Q8

K9
SOUTH
J3

Mechanism of the Double Clash Squeeze:

The double clash squeeze is the variant of the compound squeeze (or, in rare cases, of the double squeeze).
Assume declarer has all the tricks but one but has either no entry or a stiff split entry in a doubly guarded suit. In
such layouts, an ordinary compound squeeze will fail, because the opponent with the basic stopper can afford to
give up his stopper in the doubly guarded suit where declarer has ordinary entries (while his partner can discard
from the basic suit). Declarer's entry position is then insufficient to ex ecute any squeeze. However, when there is
also a clash threat in either the doubly guarded suit with ordinary entry or the suit with basic threat, a double clash
squeeze will succeed, because the opponent with the clash stopper can not afford to weaken his clash stopper. In
effect, the clash stopper is the ex tra "busy" card that the opponent must keep, and, ultimately, both defenders will
be squeezed.
W hen declarer has at least one entry in the suit with basic threat, a double clash squeezes is non-simultaneous that
the defenders will be squeezed on different tricks. In rare cases where declarer has no entry in basic suit, a double
clash squeezes is simultaneous that the defenders will be squeezed in the same time on last free winner.
Scenario A: Clash Threat in the Doubly Guarded Suit with Ordinary Entry.
Let us name the suit with free winners (and no threats) the free suit, the suit with the basic threat the basic suit,
the suit with the clash threat the clash suit, and the remaining suit (which is doubly guarded) the fourth suit. In a
double clash squeeze, there are four threats: basic threat in basic suit, clash threat and weak threat in clash suit,
ambiguous threat in fourth suit. If the opponent with the basic stopper also has the clash stopper along with the
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stopper in fourth suit, he falls victim to a clash squeeze when he is triple squeezed on the last free winner.
Multiple entries are required in order to be able to reach all of declarer's potential winners. (1) The hand with
weak threat in clash suit must have an entry in either the basic suit or the fourth suit for cashing its top winner in
case the triply-squeezed opponent gives up his clash stopper. (2) The hand with the ambiguous threat must have
an entry in either the basic suit or the clash suit for cashing an established winner in the fourth suit. If there is no
entry in the fourth suit, then at least one entry is required in basic suit. (3) If there is no entry in the basic suit, then
the hand with the basic threat must have a side entry, in case the triple-squeezed opponent yields his basic
stopper. In order to meet all of these requirements, each hand must have at least one side entry in addition to any
top winner in clash suit.
In Scenario A, the double clash squeeze consists three steps: (1) The nex t-to-last free winner triply squeezes the
defender with the basic stopper, the stopper in fourth suit, and a full stopper in the clash suit. Yielding the basic
stopper gives declarer an ex tra trick immediately. Giving up a stopper in the fourth suit will let declarer establish
an ordinary double squeeze, one of Type R in Love's terminology. Should the defender instead bare his clash
stopper, a double squeeze of either Love's Type B or Love's Type R will ensueex cept that the B-suit has no entry
or has a stiff split entry which would lead to a double clash squeeze (see step 2 & 3). (2) The last free winner will retriple-squeeze the same opponent with clash stopper, basic stopper, and the stopper in the fourth suit. At doubledummy, he can do no better than to yield his stopper in the fourth suit. In such cases, the basic threat (L-threat in
Love's terminology) is discarded, positionally, after the triple-squeezee keeps a guard in the basic suit. (3) If
declarer has one of more top winners in the basic suit, when the last basic-suit winner is cashed, a simple squeeze
occurs against the other opponent who holds weak stopper in the clash suit and the stopper in fourth suit. W hen
declarer has no winner in basic suit, a simple squeeze against that opponent will be established when last free
winner is cashed.
Scenario B: Clash Threat in the Basic Suit.
Here, let's define a doubly guarded suit with no entry or with a stiff split entry as Suit 0, and a doubly guarded suit
with an ordinary entry as Suit 1. If the opponent with the basic stopper does not have any card higher than
declarer's clash threat in the basic suit, a double clash squeeze will succeed, because both opponents will be triple
squeezed. Notice that both opponents have to guard three suits, so the squeeze is hex agonal. For this to come to
pass, each of declarer's hands must have at least one entry besides any top winner in the basic suit.
A Scenario B double clash squeeze also consists of three steps: (1) The nex t-to-last free winner will triple squeeze
the opponent who has the basic stopper. Yielding his basic stopper will give declarer an ex tra trick at once; giving
up the stopper in Suit 0 will let declarer establish an ordinary (Type R) double squeeze; giving up the stopper in
Suit 1 will permit a double squeeze (or Type B or Type R) ex cept that the B-suit has no entry or has only a split entry
which would lead to a double clash squeeze (see step 2 & 3). (2) W hen the last free winner is led, the opponent
with a clash stopper in the basic suit will be clash squeezed, forced to give up his guard in Suit 0. Declarer discards
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the threat in Suit 1 positionally when it has not been established. (3) W hen declarer cashes his winner(s) in Suit 1,
the victim who was squeezed at step 1 will be re-squeezed between the basic suit and Suit 0.

Types of Double Clash Squeeze:

For definiteness, assume that South is the hand with one threat only. In some situations, both opponents can be
clash squeezed. However, it is much more common to clash squeeze W est and simple squeeze East. For the reverse
to be possibleEast to be clash squeezed and W est to be simple squeezed, ex tra requirements must be met.
In my naming convention for types of double clash squeeze, the first character is either A (for Scenario A) or B (for
Scenario B); the second character is either L or R, to indicate whether W est (LHO) or East (RHO) will be clash
squeezed; the third character is either 0 or 1, to indicate that declarer has no entry (0) or a stiff split entry (1) in a
doubly-guarded suit.
Scenario A: Clash Threat in the Doubly Guarded Suit with Ordinary Entry
The types of double clash squeeze where W est is clashed are AL0 and AL1; the types where East is clashed are AR0
and AR1.

Clash Squeeze Against West:

W est has the basic stopper, the clash stopper, and a fourth-suit stopper; North has the basic threat. If there is an
accompanying entry in the basic suit, a restricted Type-L compound squeeze is present ex cept that there is either
no entry or a stiff split entry in the fourth suit. If there is no accompanying entry in the basic suit, a type R or type
B1 double squeeze will be present ex cept that the entry in the B-suit is a stiff split entry.

Type AL0: No Entry in Fourth Suit

A restricted Type-L compound squeeze is present ex cept that there is no entry in fourth suit. It is necessary to have
two top winners opposite the threat in either the basic suit or the clash suit, plus at least one entry in the basic suit.
If South has a top winner without small card opposite in fourth suit, then the North hand can have enough room for
the squeeze card (last free winner).
Ex ample 1

NORTH

A 62

K43
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W EST

EAST

K9

J 10 4

Q65

87

SOUTH

A 2
A K
Here, South has ambiguous threat heart queen without entry. But he has two opposite top winners in the basic suit
(diamonds) along with clash threat spade queen. The club king will force W est to discard his last idle card, the
spade nine. W hen the club ace is led, W est is clash squeezed and must give up his heart-ace stopper in the fourth
suit. North discards the basic threat (diamond three). East will be squeezed in majors when declarer cashes the
diamond king-ace.
Ex ample 2
NORTH

J2

K9

2
4
W EST

EAST

K6

43

Q J 10

876

SOUTH

A 32
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A K
Here North has ambiguous threat diamond deuce without entry. South has an entry in the basic suit, and both
hands have a top winner in the clash suit. The club king will force W est to discard a heart, and the club ace will
then clash squeeze him. North discards the basic threat (spade jack), and the spade ace will squeeze East between
the red suits.

Type AL1: Stiff Split Entry in Fourth Suit

If there is at least one ordinary entry in the basic suit, and there are two winners opposite the threat in either the
basic suit or the clash suit, then the stiff winner in the fourth suit can be cashed first to simplify the play into a
Type AL0 double clash squeeze.
If there is only one entry in both the basic suit and the clash suit, then a restricted Type-L compound squeeze is
present ex cept that the entry in the fourth suit is a stiff split entry. The hand with the ambiguous threat must have
a side entry to enable declarer to reach a potential winner in the fourth suit. The stiff split entry in the fourth suit
also serves as the required entry in case W est yields his clash stopper. The stiff winner in the fourth suit will be
cashed (a Vienna Coup) after the clash squeeze when W est keeps both basic and clash stoppers. Then, East will be
squeezed between the fourth suit and the clash suit when declarer cashes his top winner in basic suit.
Ex ample 3

NORTH

J2

A J3

W EST

EAST

K9

J 10

KQ

87

Q3

K4

SOUTH

A 2
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A

2
A K
Here, South has stiff heart ace in the fourth suit, and there is only one entry in both the basic and clash suits. W est
is clash squeezed when last free winner is cashed. If W est keeps his diamond king-queen and spade king, North
will discard the diamond jack-three; then, the heart ace will be cashed (Vienna Coup) and East will be squeezed
between the majors by the diamond ace.
Ex ample 4

NORTH

A 2
A

Q3
2
W EST

EAST

Q7

98

K5

87

Q3

K4

SOUTH

10

J5

A
A K
Here, North has stiff split entry heart ace in the fourth suit. South is required to have an entry in the basic suit
(diamond ace). W est is clash squeezed when the last free winner is cashed. The heart ace must be cashed before
the diamond ace (Vienna Coup). East will be squeezed between the majors when declarer cashes the diamond ace.
If there is no entry in the basic suit, then ex tended clash threats are required besides stiff split entry in the fourth
suit for necessary communication. The nex t-to-last free winner will triple squeeze W est. If he gives up his stopper
in the fourth suit, declare can cash his stiff winner in the fourth suit to form a type R or type B1 double squeeze. If

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in the fourth suit, declare can cash his stiff winner in the fourth suit to form a type R or type B1 double squeeze. If
he discards a small card in clash suit, he will be clash squeezed and his partner will be simple squeezed when the
last free winner is cashed. Also, a Vienna Coup will be required after the clash squeeze has matured.
Ex ample 5

NORTH

K 10
J2

J2

W EST

EAST

QJ

876

K9

Q3

K4

SOUTH

A 32
A

A K
Here, South has stiff split entry heart ace in the fourth suit, but there is no entry in the basic suit. Fortunately,
declare has ex pended clash threats in spades. W hen the nex t-to-last winner is cashed, W est is triple squeezed. If
he throws his H3 away, a type B1 double squeeze will be followed once HA is cashed. The best he can do is to
discard his S9. W hen the last free winner is cashed, W est is clash squeezed and East is simple squeezed between
the majors. The heart ace will be cashed as a Vienna Coup.
Ex ample 6

NORTH

A 32
A2
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W EST

EAST

QJ

987

K5

Q3

K4

SOUTH

K 10
J5

A K
Here, North must bare his heart ace on the nex t-to-last free winner, because no hand can hold all three threats in a
double squeeze. W est has choice to let declare play type R double squeeze or clash double squeeze. The heart ace
will be cashed as a Vienna Coup after the clash squeeze.

Clash Squeeze Against East:

East has the basic stopper, the clash stopper and a fourth-suit stopper; South has the basic threat. A Type-R
compound squeeze is present ex cept that there is either no entry or a stiff split entry in the fourth suit. For North
to have room for an idle card to discard before East plays to last free winner, South must have an ex tra winner in
either the basic suit or the fourth suit. North must have a top winner in the basic suit as a required side entry. East
will be clash squeezed, forced to yield his stopper in fourth suit, and W est will be simple squeezed between the
clash suit and the fourth suit. Either North or South might hold the squeeze card.

Type AR0: No Entry in Fourth Suit.

A restricted Type-R compound squeeze is present ex cept that there is no entry in the fourth suit. North must have
the fourth-suit threat and a weak threat in the clash suit. South must have two top winners in the basic suit. Hence,
the basic suit must be equivalent to ace-low (or ace-low-low) opposite king-queen-low-low. East will be clash
squeezed on the last free winner, and W est will be simple squeezed when declarer cashes his top winners in the
basic suit.
Ex ample 7
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NORTH

A 2
J

K4
52
W EST

EAST

98

Q6

Q3

876

J 10 9 3

SOUTH

10

A Q52
A K
Here, North has fourth-suit threat heart jack without entry, but declarer has three top winners in the basic suit.
East is clash squeezed when the club ace-king are cashed. Then, W est will be squeezed between the major when
declarer cashes the diamond king-queen-ace.

Type AR1: Stiff Split Entry in Fourth Suit

A Type-R compound squeeze is present ex cept that the entry in the fourth suit is a stiff split entry. This layout is
similar to Type AR0, ex cept that South's stiff winner in the fourth suit can be used as one of the required entries, so
that South can survive with only one top winner in basic suit. A Vienna Coup is required after the clash squeeze.
Ex ample 8

NORTH

A 2
J2

K4
52
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W EST

EAST

98

Q6

87

J93

Q3

K4

SOUTH

10
A

Q52
A K
This ex ample is a modification of Ex ample 7; the diamond ace is replaced by the heart ace and other adjustments
made accordingly elsewhere. An unrestricted Type-R compound squeeze is present ex cept that South has a stiff
winner heart ace in the fourth suit. East will be clash squeezed when last free winner is cashed. The stiff heart ace
will be unblocked as a Vienna Coup after the clash squeeze. W est will be squeezed between the majors when
declarer cashes his top winners in diamonds.
Scenario B: Clash Threat in the Basic Suit
In Scenario B, the squeeze is hex agonal since opponents have six guards. The types of double clash squeeze
against W est are BL0 and BL1. The only type of double clash squeeze against East is BR0.

Clash Squeeze Against West:

W est has the clash stopper in basic suit plus the stoppers in other two suits. East has a weak stopper in the basic
suit plus the stoppers in other two suits. North has the clash threat in basic suit, South the weak basic threat. A
restricted Type-R compound squeeze is present ex cept that there is no entry or a stiff split entry in Suit 0.

Type BL0: No Entry in Suit 0.

A restricted Type-R compound squeeze is present ex cept that there is no entry in Suit 0. South must have an entry
in Suit 1, and North must have an entry in either Suit 1 or the basic suit. East will be triple squeezed by the nex t-tolast free winner, and W est will be clash squeezed on last free winner. Should W est keep his clash stopper and
guard in Suit 0, North can afford to discard his threat in Suit 1. Then, East will be squeezed between the basic suit
and Suit 0 when declarer cashes his top winners in Suit 1.
Ex ample 9
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NORTH

10
2

K43
5
W EST

EAST

98

QJ5

876

SOUTH

A 2

A 2
A K
Here, North has ambiguous threat heart deuce without entry, but both of declarer's hands have a top winner in
Suit 1. East is triple squeezed when the club king is cashed, and W est is clash squeezed when the club ace is
cashed. East will be squeezed between the majors when declarer cashes his diamond ace-king.
Ex ample 10

NORTH

K 10
2

43
5
W EST

EAST

QJ

987

QJ

87

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SOUTH

A 32

A
A K
This ex ample is a modification of Ex ample 9, with the diamond king ex changed with the spade king and the other
hands changed accordingly, giving North an entry in the basic suit and South an entry in Suit 1. A Vienna Coup is
required after the clash squeeze, and East will be squeezed between the majors when declarer cashes his diamond
ace.

Type BL1: Stiff Split Entry in Suit 0

A restricted Type-R compound squeeze is present ex cept that there is a stiff split entry in Suit 0. No ex tra entry is
necessary, but a Vienna Coup is required after clash squeeze.
Ex ample 11

NORTH

10

42

K4
5
W EST

EAST

98

QJ

87

K6

Q3

SOUTH

A 2
A

2
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A K

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A K

Here, South has a stiff split entry heart ace in Suit 0. The heart ace must be cashed after the clash squeeze. East will
be squeezed between the majors when declarer cashes the diamond king.

Clash Squeeze Against East:

East has the clash stopper in basic suit plus the stoppers in other two suits; W est has a weak stopper in the basic
suit plus the stoppers in other two suits. South has the clash threat in the basic suit, North the weak basic threat. A
restricted Type-L compound squeeze is present ex cept that there is no entry in Suit 0. In order to make room for
North to have an idle card to discard before East is squeezed by the last free winner, South must have an ex tra
winner in Suit 0.

Type BR0: No Entry in Suit 0

A restricted Type-L compound squeeze is present ex cept that there is no entry in Suit 0. Two opposite top winners
are required, in either the basic suit or the Suit 1. W est will be triple squeezed on the nex t-to-last free winner, and
East will be clash squeezed by the last free winner. The top winner in Suit 0 should be cashed after the clash
squeeze, and when W est keeps the clash stopper and a guard in Suit 0, North can afford to discard his threat in
Suit 1. W est will then be squeezed between the basic suit and Suit 0 when declarer cashes his winners in Suit 1.
Ex ample 12

NORTH

A 62

K4
52
W EST

EAST

987

QJ

87

QJ

Q3

J6

SOUTH

K 10
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A2

2
A K
Here, declarer has clash threat spade ten in the basic suit, along with two opposite top winners. North has an entry
diamond king in Suit 1. Most importantly, South has an ex tra top winner (the heart ace) in Suit 0. The club king
will force W est to discard his stopper in diamonds, then the club ace will clash squeeze East to give up his stopper
in hearts. North can pitch the diamond four when declarer cashes the heart ace after the clash squeeze. Then,
when declarer cashes the diamond king, W est will be squeezed between the majors.
References:
(1) Love, E. Clyde. Bridge Squeezes Complete. Dover Publications, Inc. New Y ork. 1959. Pages 53-81, 185-234.
(2) W ang, Chien-Hwa. The Squeeze at Bridge. Cadogan Bridge. London. 1993. Pages 141-203.

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