Goren Bridge

Today’s deal was played in a duplicate tournament, where the object is to achieve a higher score than the players who hold your cards at the other tables. East was Ron Smith, from Chicago — a leading American player for several decades.

Most of the players sitting East, in similar situations, chose to bid on to five clubs rather than to double. That contract romped home with an overtrick thanks to the favorable position of both minor suit kings. They achieved a score of 620 for their efforts. Smith, who chose to double four spades instead, had to defeat the contract by four tricks to beat that score.

The opening 10 of diamonds lead held the trick, and the diamond continuation was won by Smith with the jack. Smith shifted to the king of hearts and the defense took three heart tricks before West shifted to the queen of clubs. Declarer played low from dummy and the key moment had arrived for Smith. Should Smith allow the queen of clubs to win the trick, that would be it for the defense. Declarer would take seven trump tricks and escape for down three and an excellent score.

Smith decided that South would probably not have preempted to the three level with 6-3-2-2 distribution. South was much more likely to have started with 7-3-2-1 shape. Smith backed his judgment with his play and rose with his ace of clubs to lead a diamond. West scored his singleton king of spades and the contract was defeated by four tricks. Nice play!