BRIDGE with Bob Jones

Sometimes a great player makes a great play that is difficult to explain. At least it is difficult for us to explain. Maybe that’s why they are great players. Karen McCallum, a multiple World Champion, was South, in today’s deal from a team game.

At the other table, South won the opening heart lead in hand and led a low spade to dummy’s jack, which East allowed to hold. Declarer continued with the king of spades and could no longer make the hand. East won with her ace and shifted to the nine of clubs, ducked all around. A second club forced dummy to ruff and South couldn’t avoid the loss of two trumps and two clubs.

McCallum also won the heart lead in hand and led a spade to the jack, also ducked. At this point, she found the only way to make her contract — she played three rounds of diamonds! East ruffed and led the nine of clubs, covered by the king and ace. A second club was ruffed in dummy and McCallum continued leading high diamonds from dummy. East ruffed with the 10 and was over-ruffed. Declarer’s last club was ruffed in dummy and the defense had to settle for the ace of trumps. Making four!

McCallum could reason, from the auction, that the hearts were 4-4. Also, West might have led a diamond with a singleton, so it was reasonable to place West with two diamonds. But playing the black suits to split like that? A remarkable guess.