You won't find many examples of actual Spades deals in which a pair has actually pulled off a genuine squeeze. Even a simple squeeze requires unusual coordination between partners and good guessing.

But there is a related family of tactics, the so-called strip squeezes, that are actually quite common in Spades. In many cases they arise from a duel between one player and one opponent.

A strip squeeze is a curious cross between a squeeze and an endplay. An opponent is forced to part with a card he'd prefer to keep. This discard does not create a winner for you by itself, but then the opponent is thrown in the lead for an endplay.

Here is one that is based on an actual Spades hand I played recently. (I had to make up some of the spot cards.) South is on lead and wishes to win 4 of the last 5 tricks.

North -- -- 6 9 7 6 5 West -- -- 9 8 5 J 2 East -- J 7 4 K 10 South 3 Q 2 -- A Q South leads the 3

North and West have both shifted into bag-avoidance mode, so South and East must fight it out with each other. South leads the 3 and East has no good choice. He parts with the 4, a card that doesn't threaten South at all. Now South can cash his Q and exit to East in the same suit. On the forced club return, South finesses to enjoy both clubs.

This is not a true squeeze because East's diamond discard did not create a winner for South. However, the 4 was a safe exit card as well as a link to West's hand. South could not exit to East as long as East held the 4. East played that card because any other discard gives South a trick directly.

Strip squeezes come in a variety of forms and occur frequently in Spades games. They are especially common when one player bids nil. His partner then has to do battle alone. Furthermore, it is very easy to read a hand when one player has nilled. Here's a simple example:

North - nil -- 4 2 -- 6 2 West -- 7 -- 10 8 7 East 2 5 -- A 4 South -- Q J -- K 5 East to lead.

South has done a good job of protecting the nil but now needs two more tricks to fulfill his own bid. He apparently has enough winners, but he is foiled by East's play of the 2. South must give up one of his heart winners. Now East leads the 5, and South must lose the last two tricks and go set. Again, the strip squeeze did not set up a winner for East-West. South was not truly squeezed; it just felt that way!

Strip squeezes would be far more common at the Spades table if players would lead out that last trump. In practice, nearly all players hoard the last spade for some reason, generally something to do with bags. The lead of the last spades often produces an extra trick, sometimes in a startling way.

North -- -- Q 6 A 7 West -- -- A 10 8 4 -- East -- -- K 5 10 9 South 6 -- J 2 Q South to play.

Can East-West escape if East pitches the K on South's spade? Figure it out for yourself.

Be on the lookout for the strip squeeze. When you're a trick short, even if you're not certain of the end position, try the effect of leading out that last spade.

Regards,
Popsicle