BRIDGE with Bob Jones

The idea of opening three no trump with a four-level minor suit pre-empt is that partner can pass if he thinks that three no trump will be a good contract. East had no such thoughts here and the four club bid was “pass or correct.”

South was Chicago expert Jerry Goldfein, who won the opening club lead with the ace and led the king of diamonds. Had the diamonds split 3-1 or better, Goldfein would have ruffed a club with the queen of diamonds and drawn the rest of the trumps, relying on a 3-2 split of the outstanding spades. West showed out on the first diamond, which East won and East returned another diamond to the board’s queen.

Goldfein now had a difficult decision to make. He could try to ruff a club with dummy’s seven of diamonds. This was risky, as East might easily be able to over-ruff. Goldfein showed great imagination and saw an extra chance. He led the jack of hearts from dummy, covered with the queen and ruffed in hand. A spade to the king was followed by the ace of hearts, shedding a club, and then the 10 of hearts. East covered with the king as Goldfein ruffed. When this felled West’s nine of hearts, Goldfein drew the rest of East’s trumps, crossed back to dummy with the queen of spades, and discarded his remaining club on the eight of hearts. Note that, had the nine of hearts not fallen, Goldfein could still try to ruff a club in dummy. Well played!