Goren Bridge
Bob Jones
| Dlr: East | ♠ 10 5 | |||||||||||||
| Vul: E-W | ♥ K J 9 4 | |||||||||||||
| ♦ A J 8 | ||||||||||||||
| ♣ A J 8 4 | ||||||||||||||
| ♠ 9 8 6 3 | ♠ K Q 7 2 | |||||||||||||
| ♥ Q 8 | ♥ A 10 7 6 | |||||||||||||
| ♦ 10 9 4 3 | ♦ 5 2 | |||||||||||||
| ♣ K 5 3 | ♣ Q 10 7 | |||||||||||||
| ♠ A J 4 | ||||||||||||||
| ♥ 5 3 2 | ||||||||||||||
| ♦ K Q 7 6 | ||||||||||||||
| ♣ 9 6 2 | ||||||||||||||
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Opening lead: ♠8
East’s decision to open the bidding would not meet with universal approval, but it started the type of competitive auction frequently seen in today’s tournament world.
The opening spade lead went to East’s queen and South’s ace. Declarer led a heart to dummy’s jack, won by East with the ace. East cashed the ♠K and led a heart to the queen and king. Declarer drew three rounds of trumps, ending in his hand. This was the position:
| Dlr: East | ♠ — | |
| Vul: E-W | ♥ 9 4 | |
| ♦ — | ||
| ♣ A J 8 4 | ||
| ♠ 9 6 | ♠ 7 | |
| ♥ — | ♥ 10 7 | |
| ♦ 10 | ♦ — | |
| ♣ K 5 3 | ♣ Q 10 7 | |
| ♠ J | ||
| ♥ 5 | ||
| ♦ K | ||
| ♣ 9 6 2 |
South drew the last trump, discarding a club from dummy as East shed his spade. The ♠J saw another club go from dummy, but what was East to do? A heart discard would give up a heart trick, so East let go of his low club. Now a club to the ace and another club ruined the defense. Should East win the second club, he would have to give dummy a trick with the ♥9. If East unblocks the ♣Q under the ace, allowing West to win the second club, West would eventually have to give South a trick with the ♣9. A pretty ending!