The Bridge Column

South in today’s deal was ACBL Hall of Famer Michael Becker, from Boca Raton, Florida. His unusual rebid was based on the hope that his three queens would provide considerable value in a no-trump contract, hopefully leading to a higher score than what might be available in a spade contract.

The opening heart lead went around to Becker’s queen and the ace of spades showed that the spades were running. Becker had 11 sure tricks at this point for a score that would beat anyone taking 11 tricks in spades. A 12th trick would be icing on the cake. The queen of clubs went to West’s ace and the king of hearts was won with dummy’s ace. There were some chances for an extra trick, mostly depending on the location of the king of diamonds. When Becker played the 10 of spades to his king, East signaled with a high diamond. Becker treated this as an honest card, showing the king, and proceeded accordingly.

Becker led a diamond to the ace and then ran all of his spades but one, leaving himself with one spade, the queen of diamonds, and the 10 of clubs. Dummy had the 10 of hearts and the king-five of clubs. On the last spade, West had to come down to a singleton club to hold the jack of hearts. Dummy shed the 10 of hearts, and East shed his king of diamonds in order to keep two clubs. The queen of diamonds and the king of clubs took the last two tricks. Making six for a huge matchpoint score!