Another case of dummy reversal By Charles Goren

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St. Petersburg Times – 23 Mar 1960

North South Vul North Deals

Openong Lead: 10

North chose to make an introductory call of one club. South had the values for an immediate jump shift, inasmuch as his hand was worth 20 points in support of clubs, but he elected to make a temporizing response of one heart in order to permit a more natural rebid from partner.

When North gave a direct raise to two hearts, South felt assured of a slam and proceeded to ask for aces. Over the five heart response, South decided that the hand would play better in hearts if North had four, as the clubs could then be used for discards, so he bid six hearts.

West was reluctant to cash his ace with no indication as to where another trick might be forthcoming, so he made the neutral opening of the ten of spades. Declarer could see nothing more to the hand than guessing the location of the diamond ace which he relegated to East when that card was not led at trick one. He therefore drew three rounds of trumps winding up in dummy and led a diamond toward his king. When West produced the ace and the queen, declarer was down one.

South’s assumption concerning the location of the diamond ace was not particularly sound, but what is more important he over-looked a line of play which virtually assures fulfillment. After winning the opening lead, 12 tricks can be won by making, the dummy the master hand. The nine of hearts is overtaken by the ten to ruff a spade. Then the king of hearts is played over to, the ace and the queen of spades is trumped with declarer’s last heart.

Now a club puts dummy in to draw the last trump after which the club suit is run. Two diamonds are discarded on the fourth and fifth clubs and declarer has only to concede a diamond at the end.

Another case of dummy reversal.