An interesting squeeze which led to two extra tricks occurred at the Woodberry Weekend.
We were busy debating whether it was called a triple squeeze or a progressive squeeze until Nigel helpfully pointed out that they were just two different names for the same thing!
East opened 1NT. South overcalled 3 diamonds. West then bid 4NT, which East raised to 6NT.
The contract looked difficult as there were only 10 top tricks.
South led 5 of diamonds, won by declarer with the Ace.
East then led a spade, unsuccessfully finessing the queen.
North then returned a spade to the Ace.
Declarer then cashed two diamonds, discarding a heart from hand.
North discarded a spade on the King, but when the Queen was led, she had a problem as she was guarding all three remaining suits.
In practice, a club was discarded.
Declarer could now cash 4 club tricks, and on the 4th club North was again squeezed in the major suits.
The heart discard enabled the slam to be made.
Very nice, but Nigel is not quite right to say that a triple squeeze and a progressive squeeze are the same. Progressive squeezes are a subset of triple squeezes. In some triple squeezes a trick has to be conceded immediately, but if the defender discards one suit, then the progressive squeeze might not operate. When East wins the first diamond and took a spade finesse which North won to return a spade, then declarer must not play a heart to the king, as the reader can establish. And if North ducks the first spade, there is still a progressive squeeze without the count!
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