Goren Bridge

The late Bobby Richman was raised in the Cleveland area, but he fell in love with Australia on his first visit there as a young man and lived there for the rest of his life. He was a highly respected player as well as one of their most beloved personalities. Richman was South, in today’s deal.

It is well known, at least by experts, that a defender will usually make his first discard from a five-card suit, if he has one. That knowledge can help in the play of a hand. The opening heart lead went to East’s king and Richman’s ace. The ace of clubs was followed by a club to the queen and king as West shed the four of diamonds. East lead a heart to West’s queen — ducking would have been better — and West led a heart to declarer’s jack.

Richman led a club to the 10 and jack, as West discarded the five of spades, and then rose with his ace to win the spade switch.

The eight of clubs forced an uncomfortable discard from West, who chose to part with the king of spades. Richman knew that West had started with five diamonds and considered the first discard of the diamond four. Would West have gone out of his way to shed the four if he had the two available? Probably not. Richman led a low diamond, and when West played low, Richman inserted dummy’s eight! A diamond back to the queen and a heart put West on play to give dummy the last two tricks. Well done!