DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

Imagine this: The late George Steinbrenner, who owned the New York Yankees, inserts himself into his team’s starting lineup. He plays shortstop for five innings. After striking out twice and committing errors in the field, he benches himself. At that point, the Yankees are losing.

Silly as it seems, something similar occurs in major ACBL team events. Many teams comprise a wealthy sponsor and five professionals. The sponsor plays half of each match, often leaving the team in a hole, then retires to let the pro cast try to salvage the situation. It happened in the Vanderbilt Teams at the Spring NABC.

In a Vanderbilt match, both Easts opened with a lusty three diamonds. When South bid three hearts, one West jumped to five diamonds. North was obliged to try five hearts.

West led the king of trumps and shifted to a club, making South’s life easy. South won, took the ace of spades and led a second trump. (He knew West would not have led the king from A-K-10.) Making five, plus 650.

In the replay, West bid four diamonds at his first turn, and North’s four hearts ended the auction. Here, West led the ace of diamonds, ruffed in dummy.

South was in good shape. South only needed to unblock the ace of spades, after which almost any line would win 11 tricks. But at Trick Two, South led a trump! West took the K-A and led another diamond, forcing out dummy’s last trump while spades were blocked, and South lost a diamond and a club for down one.