Goren on Bridge

Benito Garozzo is a legendary player in bridge history, winning 13 World Championships for Italy during his career. He resided in Palm Beach, Florida, for many years and played in a weekly high-stakes rubber bridge game while he was there. Today’s deal is from one of those games. Three no-trump would have been a much easier contract, but neither player had a club stopper and, from Garozzo’s point of view, North’s auction suggested a singleton or void in clubs.

West, trying to prevent club ruffs in dummy, led a low spade. Garozzo could have won the first three spades and started on diamonds, but unless the trumps split 3-3, an opponent might ruff in at some point and cash three, or possibly even four, club tricks. Instead, Garozzo played low from dummy on the spade lead and also played low from his hand when East played the five, allowing the six to win the first trick. We are told that there was some sniggering around the table. Had the great Garozzo finally made a mistake? Although the stakes were high, the game was friendly, and an announcement from Garozzo that he had pulled the wrong card would have allowed him to change his play.

Garozzo said nothing. After a polite pause to give Garozzo time, West continued with another spade. Garozzo took the next 10 tricks to score up his vulnerable game. Nice play! Garozzo might have played dummy’s nine of spades at trick one and made 11 tricks, but in the interest of saving time, the rules of this private game allowed no overtricks in undoubled contracts.