Goren Bridge

South in today’s deal was Argentina expert Pablo Lambardi. Lambardi has been a globe-trotting bridge player for decades, making friends wherever he goes. North’s decision to open the bidding would not meet with everyone’s approval. In North’s defense, he has 2 1/2 quick tricks, if you remember what those are. He also has shapely distribution and the ability to support either major. Opening is a close, but reasonable, decision.

Four rounds of spades to start would probably have defeated the contract, but West cannot be faulted for leading the king of diamonds. Lambardi won with dummy’s ace and led a club to his queen for a successful finesse. He cashed the ace of clubs and ruffed a club low in dummy. He then led a diamond from the board. East would not have profited by ruffing, assuming Lambardi played correctly, so he discarded a spade. Lambardi ruffed in his hand and ruffed his last club with dummy’s queen of hearts.

Lambardi cashed the ace of hearts and led a diamond from dummy. Had East ruffed, Lambardi would have discarded a losing spade. He would have known enough about the hand to ruff the spade shift with his seven of hearts, draw trumps, and claim 10 tricks. East discarded another spade instead of ruffing, so Lambardi ruffed with his seven of hearts, cashed the king and jack, and conceded the last three tricks to East-West. Making four after a well-played deal.