Goren on Bridge

Any discussion about the greatest bridge player of all time would certainly include Bob Hamman, from Texas. Hamman has won 12 World Championships and has been second even more often. He was South in today’s deal.

Hamman’s four-club bid showed a spade fit and a maximum for his previous bidding. North, who had shown nothing with his first two bids, showed some signs of life by bidding four diamonds. Hamman made a general slam try by bidding five spades and North liked his hand enough to accept. Nice auction, but now he has to make it.

The opening heart lead went to East’s king and Hamman’s ace. Hamman cashed the ace and king of spades and then ruffed a heart. He crossed back to his hand with the ace of diamonds, cashed the queen of hearts to discard a club from dummy, and ruffed his last heart. The hearts had split 4-4, so Hamman began to cash his diamond winners. West could have ruffed anytime he wanted, but he would only have clubs remaining and he did not want to lead one. He was just postponing the inevitable.

Hamman discarded a club from his hand on the last diamond and exited with dummy’s last trump. West was forced to win and lead a club away from his king. Nicely done!

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