Goren on Bridge

Today’s deal is from a match in England some years ago between alumni teams from Oxford and Cambridge, which included some very fine players. This deal was a wild one.

West’s three diamond opening was a bit timid, even at unfavorable vulnerability. East passed, hoping that South would find a bid, and then doubled South’s three heart bid. West could have defeated the contract by leading the jack of spades, but he saw no reason to lead his singleton when he was void in trumps. South captured the opening diamond lead with his ace and drew trumps in three rounds.

Rather than playing on spades, South exited with the jack of clubs. East won with his king but was surprisingly end-played. Cashing his top spades would lose partner’s jack, and under-leading his spades would end-play West, who would have to set up the jack of diamonds or play a club, allowing declarer to insert dummy’s nine and build a trick in that suit. East chose to try and cash the ace of clubs, but South ruffed, eventually ruffed his two diamond losers in dummy, and discarded a spade on the queen of clubs. Making three, doubled!

At the other table, West opened a more enterprising four diamonds. East raised to five diamonds and South doubled, feeling like the opponents were out stealing. East re-doubled, showing confidence in his partner’s vulnerable pre-empt. West brought home an overtrick by leading a diamond to the 10 on the first round of trumps! Exciting stuff! Bob Jones welcomes readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to Tribune Content Agency, LLC., 16650 Westgrove Dr., Suite 175, Addison, TX 75001. Email responses may be sent to tcaeditors@tribune.com. © 2018 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.