aces on bridge

The 1997 Cavendish tournament moved from New York to Las Vegas because the prize money had become so significant that the organizers risked running afoul of state gambling laws. That year, the total auction pool was $1.3 million, and the owner of the winning pair collected about $350,000. Since the winners, Harry Tudor and Michael Seamon, had bought more than half of their team for $15,000, this made for a pretty good investment. Here they are in action, this board being a slight indication of how the wind was going to blow for them throughout the event. Game looks comfortable enough for North-South, particularly three no-trump by South, and the very fortunate position in diamonds means that if you reach five diamonds, you can survive even on a trump lead: You can drop the spade king in three rounds. That does not make it a great spot, however. Seaman and Tudor were more ambitious; they reached six diamonds from the South seat after an auction that they were not prepared to release to those of a nervous disposition. I have made my best guess at it. They were lucky enough to get a club lead — can you spot the winning line now? Take the ace of clubs, ruff a spade, and ruff a club, then play a trump to dummy and ruff another club. When clubs break 3-3, play the ace and another trump and claim the rest, with three club discards for your losing spades.