BRIDGE

North-South vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

x9

uA 10 5

vK J 9 8 5 2

w9 8 2

WEST EAST

x8 3 xK Q J 7 6 4 2

uQ 9 6 3 u8 7 4 2

vA Q 3 v7

wK J 5 4 w6

SOUTH

xA 10 5

uK J

v10 6 4

wA Q 10 7 3

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1v 3x 3NT Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Eight of x

Some plays at the table are so brilliant only an expert can appreciate them. The average player cannot work out what is going on. Watch the magic woven by one of the great players of all time, Britain’s Maurice Harrison-Gray, in a high-stakes rubber bridge game at London’s renowned Hamilton Club in what seems like an eon ago.

Gray found himself on lead against three no trump after a shapely opening bid by North and full-blooded pre-empt by East. He led the eight of spades to partner’s jack, which declarer allowed to hold. Declarer ducked the second spade and the third spade was taken by the ace. Declarer was preparing to lead a diamond to the king — a play that would have guaranteed the contract anytime West held the ace of diamonds guarded at least once as long as East could not gain the lead. Declarer could afford to surrender two diamond tricks to West and still get home.

But a funny thing happened on the way to the Forum — Gray discarded the ace of diamonds on the third spade! South decided he knew exactly what West was up to — trying to make East’s queen of diamonds the entry to the spades! So after winning the third spade South overtook the jack of hearts with ace and ran the nine of clubs.

Gray won with the jack and smoothly returned the three of diamonds. Declarer was having none of that. He shot up with king and repeated the club finesse. Gray won with the king and cashed the queen of diamonds — down one!

SCrt 2009 Tribune Media Services