Goren on Bridge

Today’s deal is from the recent Bermuda Bowl held in Lyon, France. South was American Chip Martel. Martel was en route to yet another world championship. He has won six other world championships over the last 35 years.

The contract looks utterly hopeless, and it would have failed had West led his own suit, spades. The heart lead gave Martel a small chance, but it required inspired play and a lucky lie of the cards.

Martel won the opening heart lead with his queen when East played low. He led a club to dummy’s ace and continued with the king of clubs, West discarding a diamond.

The timing from this point onward had to be perfect. Martel led a low heart from dummy and inserted his eight when East played low. The ace of diamonds was cashed before leading a club to dummy’s queen, drawing the last trump. Martel now cashed the king of diamonds, discarding a spade from his hand, and led a heart to his jack. He cashed the ace of hearts and exited with a low spade.

East won this with his singleton ace, but was forced to lead a diamond and give Martel a ruffsluff. Martel discarded a spade from his hand while ruffing the diamond in dummy and claimed his miracle slam!

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