Goren Bridge: The only card

Goren Bridge by Bob Jones

Today’s deal is from a major championship some years ago. South was American expert Fred Hamilton. North’s raise was limited by his failure to bid three hearts, which would have shown a raise with at least invitational values. The actual three-spade bid was a weaker raise.

East won the opening diamond lead with the ace and shifted to the queen of clubs. Hamilton won with the ace and led the jack of hearts, covered with the king, and won in dummy with the ace. Hamilton cashed the queen of hearts, shedding his diamond loser from hand, and led the nine of clubs. This was covered by 10 and won with the king. South cashed the king of diamonds and led the three of clubs to dummy’s eight and East’s jack as West shed a heart. East returned a diamond, ruffed by South.

Hamilton now led the good seven of clubs. There was no loser to discard from the dummy, and a deep analysis tells us that West can defeat the contract by playing any card from his hand except the five of spades. The five of spades seemed like a harmless play, killing the seven of clubs with a worthless trump, and that is exactly what West played. Hamilton overruffed in dummy, ruffed a heart in his hand, and exited with a low spade. West won with his ace, but in this two-card ending, East’s remaining trumps were trapped and any card from West allowed the contract to make. Nicely played!