Goren on Bridge

The opening club lead was ducked in dummy and won with East’s king. East continued with a low club to dummy’s ace as West followed with the eight. This contract would be easy if the diamonds split 3-2. Even a 4-1 split could be handled if West held the ace of spades, as two spade entries would allow South to set up the diamonds and then get back to dummy to cash them. South had to re-think the whole hand when East showed out on the first diamond. The diamonds were now unusable except for the top three, and there were only eight tricks unless the spades came in for three tricks, which wasn’t likely with no side entry to dummy.

Declarer found a clever way to get his ninth trick. He cashed both high diamonds in his hand and led a low spade to dummy’s jack. He then made the key play of running the nine of hearts to West’s queen. West exited with his last club to South’s queen. South needed West to have started with three spades to the ace, to go with his known three clubs and five diamonds. He cashed the ace of hearts, removing West’s last heart, and led the queen of spades.

West ducked the queen of spades, but there was no escaping his fate. South continued with another spade. West had to win and put dummy in with the queen of diamonds to enjoy the last spade. Nine tricks, with the help of his friends. Nicely played.

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