The second half of the deal’s story

Yesterday, we looked at how Arturo Franco from Italy made five clubs on this deal, Board 66 of 176 in the final of the 1983 Bermuda Bowl world team championship in Stockholm. (Franco was a great player who gave up world championships soon after this because he refused to fly anywhere.)

In the given auction, Bob Hamman reached a tenuous four-heart contract on a 4-3 fit. But if you ever want someone to declare in a tricky contract like this, Hamman is an excellent choice.

Hamman won the first trick with his spade king and played a heart to the nine. Giorgio Belladonna (East) falsecarded with the queen, then returned a spade to dummy’s ace.

Declarer cashed the heart ace and played a heart to his king, hoping for a 33 split. Then, he would have given up a club and made his contract. But when Benito Garozzo (West) showed out, Hamman was in big trouble. If he had run the club 10 to East’s king, Belladonna would have drawn Hamman’s last trump, and the defenders could have taken a lot of tricks in spades and diamonds for down five or six!

However, what else could Hamman do? He led the club 10, and Garozzo covered with the queen! Dummy’s ace also collected the king, and suddenly there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Hamman led out the clubs and lost only two hearts and one diamond.

Plus 620 gave the United States 1 international match point when it looked like 15 imps to Italy.

Tomorrow: the last deal of the match.