Both vulnerable. South deals.

Both vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
J 6 3
8 5
A Q 7
K 9 8 5 2
WEST EAST
10 9 5 K
A 7 4 J 10 9 3 2
9 5 4 2 K 10 6
A Q 6 10 7 4 3
SOUTH
A Q 8 7 4 2
K Q 6
J 8 3
J
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1 Pass 2 Pass
2 Pass 3 Pass
4 Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Nine of
For a deceptive play to work, it does not have to be something unusual. Indeed, the more normal it looks, the more effective it is likely to be. This deal is from the 1950 National Men's Team of Four Championship. Sitting West and South, respectively, were two of the game's all-time greats -- Howard Schenken and John Gerber.
The auction was typical of those times. North's two-over-one response followed by a raise of opener's suit was invitational and South went on to game because of his sixth trump.
West led the nine of spades, and declarer gazed at the card suspiciously. To lead a singleton trump is generally not sound, but it was not impossible on this auction. Eventually, declarer decided to cover with dummy's jack and captured East's king with the ace. Suddenly, West's ten of spades was a sure trick for the defense. In addition, declarer had to lose a trick in each of the other suits -- down one.
At the other table, the lead was a diamond, declarer played low from dummy and East won with the king. When declarer eventually got to dummy with the ace of diamonds, he led a low spade from the table. When the king appeared, declarer had no trump loser and the contract coasted home.
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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