In the late Sixties and Seventies, Dorothy Hayden was in many eyes the best woman player in the world.
Dorothy Truscott, was attending the Hammamet,Tunisia 1997 Championships where she was a contestant in the Transnational Open Pairs.
In the Press Room the other day I reminded her of the time I played against her more than 20 years ago in the World Pairs. I was about to remind her of a hand she played when she stopped me in my tracks and said, «I remember you now.You’ve changed in size a little but you’re rolling Scottish accent hasn’t. I bet you’re going to tell me about a 6
I played.»
I was quite amazed that she remembered.
With no other losers she had to play 6 with J 5 opposite A K 8 7 6 3.The correct percentage play is low to the jack. If this loses you cash the ace and king an 85% chance.
However, without hesitation Dorothy led the jack from dummy. I covered with the queen. She returned to dummy and passed the 5 bingo!
I held Q 10 9 4, so the contract was made.
I knew who she was, and I could not fathom why she played against the odds. When play was over I asked her why.
She answered politely, «Did you not notice that your partner asked if I had opened 1? If he had held the queen he would have remembered that fact. Knowing you had the queen, the rest was easy.»
That’s what champions are made up.