GOREN ON BRIDGE

North overbid when he jumped to game. Three hearts would have been enough. East-West had recently agreed to play “up-side down” signals,

where a low card encourages and a high one discourages. In the heat of battle, East forgot and followed with the two of diamonds at trick one. West remembered, so he continued with a second diamond.

South won with his king, thankful to have avoided a club play by the defense. There was still a lot of work to do.

The heart length was likely to be on his left from the auction, so South led the king of hearts from his hand. West won and shifted belatedly to a club, won in dummy with the ace. South wanted the spade entry to his hand to lead a heart, so he felt that

he had to play East for the queen of spades. He ran the jack of spades, pleased to see it win the trick. A spade to the ace was followed by a low heart. West played his eight, of course, and dummy’s queen won the trick.

South cashed dummy’s king of spades and jumped for joy when the queen fell. He discarded both of his remaining clubs on the spades and led a heart to his 10 and West’s jack. He ruffed West’s club lead, drew the last trump, and claimed. Plenty of luck, but also well played!

North was last seen bragging about his aggressive bidding.