Show-up Squeeze

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
		—
West		—		East
??		6		??
—				—
—		South		J
J		2		—
		J
		T
		—

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

When South plays the J his problems are solved. West must protect the J, so he discards a spade. Likewise, East must keep the J, 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.

		North
		AK95
		Q65
		AJ76
		K2
		South
		QJ8762
		T
		K85
		AQJ

West 2 Pass Pass

North Dbl 4NT 6

East Pass Pass All Pass

South 4 5

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

Declarer can only count 11 top tricks. He starts by taking the K 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 K and rattle off spades. At trick 11, the position is:

		North
		—
		Q
		AJ
		—
		South
		2
		—
		85
		—

On the lead of the 2, West must retain the A 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
West		AJ76		East
T4		K2		3
AKJ873				942
T932		South		Q4
5		QJ8762		T987643
		T
		K85
		AQJ