Goren on Bridge

Today’s deal is from a tournament in Africa some years ago. South was Neville Eber, who has been South Africa’s leading player over the last 50 years or so.

West did not want to lead from an ace, or lead his singleton trump, so he led a diamond to East’s king and South’s ace. This was a big help to Eber in his ambitious contract, as he had no entry to dummy to take the finesse himself. Eber could have made his contract at this point by cashing the queen of diamonds, ruffing a diamond, and taking the heart finesse. This would have required the diamonds to be splitting 4-3 and for East to hold the king doubleton of hearts. Eber saw other chances and went after them.

At trick two, Eber led the king of spades from his hand. His idea was to buy some time and to locate some of the missing high cards. West won with his ace and continued with the queen of spades, ruffed by South. Eber cashed the ace of hearts and the queen of diamonds. He then ruffed a diamond, ruffed a spade in his hand, and ruffed his last diamond in dummy. He ruffed dummy’s last spade in his hand to finish eliminating both suits and exited with the queen of hearts.

Had West held the king of hearts, he would now have to lead a club to declarer’s king. East won this trick and exited with a low club, putting Eber to the guess. Eber had seen East show the jack of spades, the king of hearts, and the king-jack of diamonds. He had passed as dealer so he couldn’t also hold the ace of clubs. Eber played low from his hand and landed his contract. Well done!