Herald-Journal – 28 May 1937 BY WM. E. McKenney Secretary, American Bridge League.
It was an important tournament and the defenders on today’s hand were going strong. The East player, experienced in such contests, felt that another “top” would give them a championship, and there remained only two boards to play. The first went quickly. It was just another hand with no opportunity for anything spectacular or exciting.
On the last hand of the tournament, when his opponent to the left, opened the bidding as dealer, his partner passed, and the other player responded with a forcing bid, it was apparent that the chance to get a top was not in the bidding. The slender chance rested in the play. The bidding went spectacularly and unsoundly, until the pinnacle of seven spades was reached. This gave our hero, seated East, his opportunity.
He had a void suit and the ace of another. If, he mused, his partner could be induced to lead his void suit, the contract would be set and there still remained the ace for a possible two-trick set and the wanted top.
Double, was his conclusion. The Lightner convention, demanding an unsual lead when partner had doubled a slam bid, made it certain that his partner would find the wanted lead.
East was stunned by his partner’s failure to make the hoped for diamond leads.
“Don’t you know my double called for a diamond lead?” he asked, as South won the first trick, drew trumps and then spread his hand.
“Yes, I know, his partner replied, “but what do you do if you haven’t a diamond to lead?”
And perhaps the makers of bridge conventions should do something to bridge this gap. No, our East and West heroes did not win the tournament.