Goren Bridge
Bob Jones
| Dlr: South | ♠ 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Vul: None | ♥ J 8 6 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ♦ A K 8 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ♣ K 8 6 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ♠ 7 5 2 | ♠ 9 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ♥ A K 10 7 4 | ♥ Q 3 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ♦ J 9 7 | ♦ Q 10 6 5 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ♣ Q 7 | ♣ 9 4 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ♠ A K Q J 10 8 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ♥ 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ♦ 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ♣ A J 10 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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*Game force with either spades, spades and hearts, or spades and clubs
**Asking
Opening lead: ♥A
Today’s deal features a modern bidding gadget that is growing in popularity. The jump to 4♠s promised a solid suit. North’s five-diamond bid showed a diamond control while denying a first-round club control at the same time. South’s 5♥ bid showed a heart control and it also showed a club control. Why keep trying if neither partner held a control in clubs?
West wisely shifted to a diamond after his ♥A lead held the trick. He trusted South’s heart cue bid to show only one heart. Had he continued with he ♥K, South would have been able to ruff out East’s ♥Q for his 12th trick. After the shift, South had to find the ♣Q to land his contract.
South won the diamond switch, cashed another high diamond discarding a club, and ruffed a diamond. He then started running his spades. This was the position with one spade to go:
| Dlr: South | ♠ — | |
| Vul: None | ♥ J | |
| ♦ 8 | ||
| ♣ K 8 | ||
| ♠ — | ♠ — | |
| ♥ A 10 | ♥ — | |
| ♦ — | ♦ Q | |
| ♣ Q 7 | ♣ 9 4 2 | |
| ♠ 4 | ||
| ♥ — | ||
| ♦ — | ||
| ♣ A J 10 |
The ♠4 was cashed, West and North throwing hearts. When East parted with a club, South inferred that the clubs were now 2-2, so he banged down the ace and king to make his slam. Well done!