GOREN ON BRIDGE

East’s non-vulnerable pre-empt jockeyed NorthSouth into a contract that seemed doomed to fail. South was Swedish expert Peter Fredin, who showed that failure might not be a sure thing.

West’s ace of clubs lead was followed by a club to the king. East continued with the jack of clubs to South’s queen and a low trump from West. Fredin over-ruffed in dummy and led the queen of hearts. Low from East and the moment of truth had arrived. Fredin judged it unlikely that the pre-emptor held the king of hearts, so he rose with his ace. He

cashed dummy’s two high spades, ruffed a spade, and exited with a heart to West’s king. West had to lead a diamond or yield a ruff-sluff and the contract came sailing home.

Keen-eyed readers will no doubt have noticed that

West could have defeated the contract by ruffing the third club with the king of hearts, or by not ruffing at all. This would have been an elegant defense against this lie of the cards but would have looked foolish if South had started with three low spades and the king doubleton of diamonds.

We would like to report that West considered the position long and hard before deciding what to do at trick three, but in fact, he ruffed low without a care in the world. We hate looking back on a deal and seeing how much better we might have done with a little more effort.