Goren Bridge

Today’s deal is from the recently completed Team Trials, held to determine which players would represent the USA in the upcoming World Championships. The hands were duplicated across the field and many pairs reached a grand slam on these cards. Some played in no-trump, where a heart finesse was required for success. Most pairs reached the superior seven spades, but surprisingly, five different declarers failed to make the contract.

All the unsuccessful declarers took the same line of play. They won the opening club lead in hand, cashed one high trump in each hand and then played the ace, king, and another heart. East discarded his remaining club on the third heart. South ruffed the heart and cashed the jack of spades, but he could not get back to dummy safely and finished down one.

Was this line of play, which seduced five expert declarers, clearly the best one? Analysts at the tournament didn’t think so. Their recommended line was to win the club in hand and cash the ace of spades. Needing a 3-2 heart split in any event, South should play the ace, king, and another heart right away. When East shows out on the third heart, just ruff, draw trumps, and claim. Should East follow to the third heart, ruff with the jack and play a spade to the king. Claim if trumps split 3-2. Should West have four trumps, cross back to hand with a diamond for the proven spade finesse.

This line only loses when East started with three hearts to the queen and four spades to the 10.