BRIDGE with Bob Jones

Occasionally, an auction takes a surprise turn, leaving you with an option you hadn’t considered. That’s what happened to Larry Cohen, South in today’s deal. Cohen, from Delray Beach, Florida, is not active as a player these days, though he’s very active running bridge cruises and lecturing. His credentials as a player will make him a first-ballot member of the Bridge Hall of Fame when he becomes age eligible in the near future.

Cohen made a forcing pass over East’s brave fourspade bid, intending to pull partner’s double to five hearts, assuming partner doubled. Partner David Berkowitz, of Boca Raton, Florida, surprised Cohen when he showed some club support at the five level. Cohen decided not to support hearts after all.

He would keep his king of diamonds protected as declarer.

West led an imaginative four of spades. He was sure that his side did not have two spade tricks on defense, but they might have two diamond tricks if he could get his partner on lead. It was dummy who wound up on lead when Cohen rose with dummy’s king of spades.

The contract was pretty safe as long as Cohen made an unusual play. He cashed dummy’s queen of clubs and led a club to his 10, picking up the clubs and taking all 13 tricks. Had the club play lost to West’s jack, the king of diamonds would be protected from attack and 11 tricks would still be there. Nice play!