Criss-Cross Squeeze

A criss-cross squeeze is a variation of the simple squeeze. Declarer squeezes a single opponent while holding threat cards in both in hand and dummy.

In this layout, declarer can cash the diamond ace to squeeze West in the black suits.

		Dummy
		Q2
		—
West		6		East
K4		A		5
—				632
—		South		—
K9		A		—
		—
		A
		Q8

Declarer has a club menace in hand and a spade menace in dummy. The criss-cross squeeze is so named because a spade discard by West allows declarer to cash the A and cross to dummy via a club to cash the Q. If West elects to pitch a club instead, then South crosses to dummy's A and returns to hand with a spade to collect his Q.

From David Bird's "Bridge Squeezes for Everyone": ¹

		Dummy
		AK5
		972
West		KJ4		East
T963		Q953		Q82
85				KJT643
9763		South		T82
842		J74		7
		AQ
		AQ5
		AKJT6

"East opens a weak 2 and - trying to impress the kibitzers - you reach an ambitious 7. West leads the 8 and you win with the queen. What chance can you see of thirteen tricks?

"Unless the spade queen falls in two rounds, you will have to squeeze East in the major suits. He is certain to hold the sole guard on dummy's 9. You must hope that he holds the spade queen, too. A simple squeeze cannot work, because East is sitting over the major-suit lengths in dummy. Only a criss-cross squeeze will be good enough. You cash your winners in the minor suits, arriving at this end position:

		Dummy
		AK5
		97
West		—		East
T963		—		Q82
5				KJ
—		South		—
—		J74		—
		A
		—
		T

"You lead the last club and throw the 5 from dummy. Whichever major suit East unguards, you will be able to disentangle your extra trick."

¹ Bird, David (2002). Bridge Squeezes for Everyone.