Both vulnerable. West deals.

Both vulnerable. West deals.
NORTH
x A K Q 7 5
u A 7
v K J 9 4
w 9 7
WEST EAST
x J 6 3 x 9 8 4 2
u Q J 9 6 4 2 u K
v Q 8 6 v A 10 5 2
w A w 10 6 3 2
SOUTH
x 10
u 10 8 5 3
v 7 3
w K Q J 8 5 4
The bidding:
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
Pass 1x Pass 1NT
Pass 2v Pass 3w
Pass 3NT Pass Pass
Pass
Opening lead: Queen of u
Bridge administrator, laws maven, writer, editor, teacher, commentator and wit -- this might sound like a bridge team, but it is a single person -- Edgar Kaplan, one of the most remarkable men in the bridge world it was our pleasure to know. A new book, "Bridge Master: The Best of Edgar Kaplan," (Bridge World Books, PO Box 299, Scarsdale, N.Y. 10583. Hard Cover, 256 pp. $26.95 plus $3 S/H. Mention this column and receive a free copy of The Bridge World magazine), paints an interesting picture of a remarkable personality. Here is a hand from the Life Master Individual he won, in his own words.
"As South, I hold no brief for my partner's three-no-trump bid, although it won the tournament for me. I had done my darndest to scream that my hand was worthless except at clubs. But there I was at three no trump, a foul contract, which can make only if an opponent wins the first club trick, either injudiciously or because he has a singleton ace.
"West opened the heart queen, which I won in dummy, East's king falling. I led the nine of clubs (not the seven) to my king and West put up the ace. West shifted to a small diamond, and dummy's jack forced the ace. The diamond return rode to dummy's king. I led the club seven from the table, finessed my own eight, and made 10 tricks for a top.
"You see, I was lucky enough to have Norman Kay on my left, in the West position. Never in his life has Norman been guilty of so bad a play as winning the first club if he could hold up, so the finesse was marked.
"Obviously, the secret of winning Individuals is to make sure that your opponents are more expert than your partners!"
One of the most enjoyable reads in a long time, celebrating the skills of a bridge immortal.
XThis column is written by Tannah Hirsch and Omar Sharif. For information about Charles Goren's newsletter for bridge players, call (800) 788-1225 or write Goren Bridge Letter, P.O. Box 4410, Chicago, Ill. 60680.
& copy;2004 Tribune Media Services
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