Bridge & Humor: The Unpredictable John Collings

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Tony Forrester
John Collings
John Collings

John Collings was known as the ‘enfant terrible’ of the British bridge and was a character with a charismatic personality.  

It was during a game of rubber bridge that John Collings made one of the most remarkable hands in history, according to Daily Telegraph bridge correspondent Tony Forrester in Vintage Forrester (1998).

Dealer North. North—South Gameaa

after South’s 7heart…West doubled and ended the bidding.

When clubK was led, South won with dummy’s ace and led the diamondA. East trumped with the five and South overruffed. He went to the spadeA and led the diamondK. East ruffed low. Declarer overrufed and returned to dummy with a spade to the king.

When diamondQ was led, East ruffed low for the third time. South orerruffed again and laid down theheartA.

The two outstanding trump honours fell in a heap and John Collings claimed the rest.

«We were lucky trumps broke, partner»; Collings said.

There is no record of what West said to East. Maybe it was the old maxim about not ruffing tricks when your trumps were winners anyway.