Saturday, June 17, 2006
Both vulnerable. East deals.
NORTH
K 10
A 7 5
Q J 7 6
Q 10 6 3
WEST EAST
Q 7 3 5 2
9 8 6 3 2 K
4 A K 10 9 8 5 3 2
A K 8 7 J 4
SOUTH
A J 9 8 6 4
Q J 10 4
Void
9 5 2
The bidding:
EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH
3NT Pass 4 Pass
4 4 Pass Pass
Pass
Opening lead: King of
In bridge's golden age, there was a kibitzer at New York's bridge clubs who earned the appellation of The Rabbi, not for religious reasons but for his wont to pontificate after the result of a hand. One of his sayings has earned the right to immortality: "When the king is singleton, play the ace!" Lew Finkel of Jupiter, Fla., applied this rule for good reason at the recent Spring North American Championships in Dallas.
East's gambling three no trump promised a solid seven-card or better minor suit. West's four clubs said if partner's suit was clubs, he should pass; if not, he should correct to four diamonds. Since West showed no inclination to play three no trump and was prepared to play at four of a minor, Finkel knew he would find some length and strength in the majors with partner, and so he ventured four spades, and that became the final contract.
West started with the king and ace of clubs and continued with a club, East ruffing to complete the defensive book. The defender shifted to the ace of diamonds, ruffed in the closed hand.
Since East's diamond suit was not solid, he likely held an eight-card suit to compensate, and had already shown up with two clubs, leaving him with just three cards in the majors, making West a favorite to hold the queen of spades, Declarer led a low spade and, when that held, continued by cashing the king. Declarer was delighted when East followed to this trick. Declarer could not come to hand with a diamond ruff to draw the last trump because West would overruff, so he was forced to ruff his club winner in hand and cash the ace of spades, picking up the queen.
The last problem was in hearts. A successful heart finesse would be of no help to South. That would bring in three heart tricks, but would strand declarer with a heart loser, so Finkel continued with a low heart to the ace, and great was the fall thereon. With the king of hearts dropping, the Q J 10 in the suit were all winners and the contract was in the bag.
This 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; 2006, Tribune Media Services
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