The Bridge Column

A LOT OF FUN

Neither vulnerable, East deals

Five of Opening lead: ♠

East-West were having a lot of fun in the bidding, but they wouldn’t have had much fun in the play. A contract of three spades, doubled, would have seen the defense taking nine tricks rather than the declarer. We’ve often thought that there should be a bonus for the defense if they make declarer’s contract, but the laws make no such provision. South was Andrew Robson, one of England’s alltime greats. He couldn’t possibly imagine such a successful defense so he made the aggressive game bid that his exciting distribution suggested. North must have been quite surprised to hear an aggressive bid from partner after all the EastWest bidding, but he bid the slam that his high cards suggested.

Robson made no mistake in the play. He won the opening spade lead with dummy’s ace and continued with the king of spades, shedding a club from hand. When he saw West follow with the six of spades, after leading the five, Robson cashed the queen of spades and discarded another club. He then cashed the ace of hearts, the ace of clubs, and the ace of diamonds, followed by a diamond ruff in his hand.

He cashed the king of clubs and ruffed his last club with dummy’s eight of hearts. When that held the trick, he led the 10 of hearts and conceded a trump trick to West, making his contract. At the other table, one of the world’s best declarers failed in the same contract. Surprisingly, the auction at his table also started with a weak two-bid from East.