Goren on Bridge

Today’s deal is a good example of expert reasoning at the table. South reasoned that his partner almost certainly had a five-card heart suit for his three-heart bid. He could have just doubled again with extra values and no five-card suit. Also, South reasoned, if his partner had started with three spades and five hearts, he would have just overcalled at his first turn rather than make a takeout double. Therefore, North also had a fourcard spade suit. The double promised at least three-card support for all unbid suits, so that meant that North had three diamonds and a singleton club, or possibly four diamonds and no clubs.

Putting all this together, South realized the slam would play much better in the four-four spade fit rather than the five-four heart fit, so he bid the slam in spades, introducing the suit for the first time at the six level. That was a good decision, as South was able to ruff two clubs in the dummy and discard his losing diamond on dummy’s fifth heart. A six-heart contract would have had no chance with the king of diamonds offside.

Oddly, six spades can be defeated if West stumbles on the very unlikely lead of a heart. South will have to concede a club early to prepare for his club ruffs, and West can win the club and give his partner a heart ruff. South might never have recovered.

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