Bridge Play

In the antique trade, an object must be 100 years old before it is deemed “antique.” Today’s famous deal is younger; it arose 75 years ago.

East-West were Charles Goren and Helen Sobel. Against two hearts, Sobel cashed the K-A of diamonds. Goren played the nine and deuce, and when Sobel continued with the jack, South threw a club loser from dummy (not best) instead of ruffing high or low at the cost of a trump trick. Goren discarded the jack of clubs.

CARD SENSE

Helen Sobel had remarkable card sense. At Trick Four she led the NINE of clubs.

Goren won with the king and returned a club, and Sobel won and led a fourth diamond. When dummy discarded, Goren ruffed with his ten of trumps, and when South overruffed with the queen, Sobel’s J-8-6 was worth the setting trick.

Unless the defense cashes its club winners first, the “uppercut” fails: South discards another club from dummy.

2025 is the centennial year of contract bridge. Let’s hope it’s not antiquated by then.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: ♠ QJ7 ♥ Q975

♦ 10 5 4 ♣ Q 8 4. Your partner opens one club, you respond one heart and he bids one spade. What do you say?

ANSWER: Since your partner did not jump at his second turn, he has fewer than 19 points. You scraped up a response with seven junky points, hence your game chances must be next to zero. Pass. Opener’s non-jump change of suit is not forcing. One spade will be a playable contract, or no worse than anything else.