Charles Goren didnt play much tournament bridge in his last years, preferring to live quietly in Miami. One day when he was playing a pairs competition the following occurred.
|
| South | West | North | East |
2 * |
Pass | 2NT | Pass |
| 4NT | Pass | 5 |
Pass |
| 6 |
The End |
* strong
The Q was led to South’s A. K was cashed and diamond ruffed. A hearts was returned to the 
K and the Q next. This was overtaken in dummy so that J could be played and 
Q was discarded.
Declarer now said in shocked tone that he has mistorted his cards. He continued with a trump to the K, which held, and then perforced played a low trump back.
All was well and Goren won with the ace, returning a club. Declarer played the ace, and drew trumps claiming his contract.
He then apologized to both opponents saying: » I mistook the ace of clubs for the ace of spades»
Percy Sheardown, a wartime RAF pilot, piped up, and said: Sorry Charlie I could have beaten the slam.
How come? exclaimed Goren
I should have led the king of clubs, said Sheardown, while South still thought his queen was a singleton.