bridge

bridge

Neither vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

x10 5

uA Q 10 9 6 3

vA Q

w10 9 5

WEST EAST

xK Q 9 7 2 x8 4 3

uK 5 uJ 7 4

vK J 7 v10 5 4 3 2

wQ 6 2 wJ 8

SOUTH

xA J 6

u8 2

v9 8 6

wA K 7 4 3

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1w 1x 3u Pass

3NT Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: King of x

If you were to ask any of the old-time bridge stars to name the greatest woman player ever, there would be only one candidate — Helen Sobel Smith. Together with Charles Goren, she won more than 40 national and international titles. This deal might have been passed over were it not for the fact that it earned Goren-Sobel a joint top score in the 1947 National Pairs Championship.

Sobel’s choice of the king of spades got the defense off to a quick start. Declarer won in hand, cashed the ace of clubs in case there was a singleton honor lurking with one of the defenders, then finessed the queen of hearts. When that won, declarer cashed the ace, dropping the king, and continued with a heart to Goren’s jack. On this trick Sobel discarded the deuce of spades!

That made East’s life easy — since partner was clearly not interested in spades, he exited with the jack of clubs. Now declarer was held to 10 tricks where almost every other North-South pair made 11. An insignificant difference — except at duplicate pairs!

2010 Tribune Media Services

Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.