Star-News – Dec 19, 1977 by Omar Sharif
Reigning world champion Eddie Kantar has just published a new book. Bridge Humor is a collection of his humorous articles, most of which have appeared previously in number of magazines. Some time back we wrote about a hand where the defenders, holding AQJ98 of trumps between them, managed to take only one trick. We let Kantar tell the story of today’s hand, which he defended with fellow world champion, Paul Soloway:
“North opened two diamonds showing a strong, three suited hand. South responded two hearts announcing he would like to play in hearts if that happened to be one of North’s suits. “No luck. North rebid two spades showing a singleton heart.
Not wishing to strap his partner into playing a 4-2 fit, South rescued to three clubs. North, reading the situation perfectly, raised to four clubs. South, showing great imagination, passed and the obvious contract was reached.
“Paul made the ‘normal’ lead of the five of clubs! Dummy played low and, perceiving the position with my usual astuteness, I played the eight, which lost to the ten. “At trick two a heart was led to the king and ace. Can you see it coming?
Of course you can, I played the ace and a club. No book can describe the look that passed between Paul and me as his club honors came tumbling down.
“Of course, four clubs was such a gruesome contract that we beat it one trick in spite of ourselves. Paul, once he had regained his composure, even managed to pay me a compliment of sorts:
‘Edwin, it is not easy to figure out the only way that our side could take one trump trick with a combined holding of AQJ985, but you managed beautifully.’ ”
Fool, didn’t he realize that history was in the making. I (we) may have set a record for futility that will last for years.”