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The show-up squeeze (aka pop-up squeeze) is a type of squeeze that obviates the need for a simple finesse. Consider this 3-card ending:

Dummy
AQ
WestEast
??6??
SouthJ
JS2
HJ
DT
C


South is on lead. He has counted the hand and knows that each defender holds two spades. However, the SK is missing.

When South plays the HJ his problems are solved. West must protect the CJ, so he discards a spade. Likewise, East must keep the DJ, so he too drops a spade.

Declarer now "knows" that the remaining spades are 1-1. It doesn't matter which opponent holds the king. A spade is led to dummy and South simply rises with the ace.


Example

North
AK95
Q65
AJ76
K2

South
SQJ8762
HT
DK85
CAQJ

West
2
Pass
Pass
   North
Dbl
4NT
6S
   East
Pass
Pass
All Pass
   South
4S
5


After West opens a weak 2H, North-South stumble into a small slam. West leads the HK (king from ace-king) and switches to a club.

Declarer can only count 11 top tricks. He starts by taking the CK and the top two trumps. The spades split 2-1 with East discarding a club.

A diamond finesse may look mandatory, but declarer has an extra chance. He ruffs a heart and plays his remaining clubs. When West pitches a heart on the second club, the whole deal is illuminated. Assuming West held 6 hearts for his weak two bid, then his original shape was 2-6-4-1.

Now South can plunk down the DK and rattle off spades. At trick 11, the position is:

North
Q
AJ

South
S2
H
D85
C


On the lead of the S2, West must retain the HA to guard against dummy's queen, so he discards a diamond. Declarer duly leads a diamond to the ace. If West "shows up" with the queen, then great. Otherwise, declarer takes the ace expecting to fell East's queen.

The complete deal:

Dummy
AK95
Q65
WestAJ76East
T4K23
AKJ873942
T932SouthQ4
5SQJ8762T987643
HT
DK85
CAQJ

See also

  • Simple Finesse
    A finesse for a card (usually an honor) held by the opponents.