BRIDGE

North-South vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
x 3
u K J 5
v K J 10 7 6 3
w 8 6 3
WEST EAST
x 9 2 x K Q J 8 6 5 4
u 9 8 7 3 u 10 6 4 2
v A Q 4 v 5
w K J 5 2 w 10
SOUTH
x A 10 7
u A Q
v 9 8 2
w A Q 9 7 4
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1w Pass 1v 3x
3NT Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Nine of x
In the 1930s, four young English bridge players who made their "home" at the Acol Club developed the Acol System, still the most popular in Britain. One of them was Maurice Harrison-Gray, a tall, mustachioed man who dressed in tweeds and looked more like an English country squire than one of the shrewdest players of his day. Among his friends, he was known by the soubriquet of "Moishe." Here is one of his gems.
The Acol System used the weak no trump, hence South's one-club opener. East made a weak jump overcall of three spades and three no trump became the final contract.
West, Gray, led the nine of spades to the jack. South held up the ace and, unsure of whether East held six or seven spades, ducked again on the spade continuation. He won the third spade with the ace and West discarded the ace of diamonds!
Declarer was sure of what was going on -- Gray was trying to promote his partner's queen of diamonds as an entry to run the spades. Declarer now decided that there was no way he could use dummy's diamonds and elected to rely on clubs.
The queen of hearts was overtaken with the king and a club was led to the ten, queen and king. Continuing with his plan of deception, Gray returned his low diamond. Declarer was having none of that. He rose with the king of diamonds, led a club to the nine. Gray was happy to take the jack and cash the queen of diamonds for down one!
& copy;2007 Tribune Media Services