Rome News-Tribune – 3 Dic 1991
The other night, in a quiz show on television, a question was asked about the nickname of an old-time baseball player. I had no idea of the answer. But the next day I saw a tray featuring Hall of Famers. There was my man, nickname and all, sitting in the middle. Once you have learned something, it often crops up again almost immediately. The same is true with bridge hands. You spot a cardplay theme in one hand, and another hand requiring the same technique soon turns up.
East’s weak two-bid is hardly classical. In fact, the hand has such good playing strength in two suits that I think the bid is inadvisable. After South overcalled, North invited a game, while promising a heart stopper, and South was happy to jump to four spades.
West’s double was inadvisable too. He had no reason to expect to beat the contract, and his double could only help declarer with the play.
South was Jeff Rubens, editor of The Bridge World magazine. He won trick one with dummy’s heart ace and led a spade to the ace, getting the expected news. His only chance was to discard a red-suit loser on the fourth round of clubs. Also West would have to hold four clubs; otherwise he would obtain a fatal ruff with the spade seven. Rubens cashed the A-Q of clubs, led a club and finessed dummy’s 10. When that won, Rubens discarded his heart loser on the club king. The defense could win only one diamond and two spade tricks.
Do you remember when last you saw this technique? It was in this column 15 days ago.
