Goren on Bridge

Today’s deal is from a match between a team from France and a team from Brazil. The auction and opening lead were the same at both tables. Should you not like the one no-trump opening, look at the pre-emptive effect of it. East-West can easily take 11 tricks in a diamond contract and they were not able to get into the auction at either table.

At the other table, East shifted to a heart after winning his ace of clubs. West won with the ace and returned a heart, East ruffed and gave West a club ruff. Another heart ruff was followed by a third round of clubs. Declarer ruffed with the 10 of spades. When West couldn’t over-ruff, South led a

spade to the ace, dropping the now singleton king. The queen of spades drew the last trump, and a club was ruffed, felling the queen. Declarer claimed the rest, making two.

At this table, East was Gabriel Chagas, perhaps Brazil’s greatest player. After winning the ace of clubs, he knew that declarer had the king of clubs and also a high heart honor. West would have led a heart if he held both honors. There was no rush to give partner a club ruff. Chagas led a diamond to the king and ace. South led the ace of spades and then the queen of spades from dummy. Chagas

won and now gave West a club ruff. A diamond back to the queen left Chagas in charge. He cashed the jack of spades and led another diamond. Declarer drifted down two! Nice defense. 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.

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