Such amusing things can happen at the bridge table. Here is a case in point from Denver’s summer tournament. The names have been withheld to protect the guilty. The hand has been turned for convenience (at the table, the heart-club hand was held by West).
Both vulnerable, North dealer.
NORTH
A K 7 2
Q J 10 9
A 8 7 2
2
WEST EAST Q J 10 8 3 9 6 5 4
8 7 5 4
9 6 4 K Q J 10 5
9 8 6 3 10
SOUTH
Void
A K 6 3 2
3
A K Q J 7 5 4
With the opponents passing throughout, North opened a normal one diamond and South bid one heart. (One might want to bid two clubs, planning to reverse in hearts as responder to show longer clubs).
Now North jumped to four hearts, an overbid. Three hearts would best describe the extras. Remember that South has only promised four hearts and six points with the one heart bid. South could hold three small spades, four hearts to the king, three small diamonds and three clubs to the king and there could be a bundle of losers. Three hearts might even fail.
As it is, of course, South would be looking for slam even opposite a three-heart rebid. South bid four no-trump, Key Card Blackwood, where the king of trumps counts as an ace. North’s five spade response showed two aces and the queen of trumps.
South could count 13 plus tricks (almost surely seven clubs, plus likely five hearts and the two aces) and bid seven no-trump.
No, we haven’t gotten to the amusing part, yet.
West led the nine of clubs against seven no-trump, small from dummy, high club winning for declarer. However, now declarer forgot the contract was seven no-trump, and thought the contract was seven hearts. Despite the fact there would have been no reason to ruff a club even if the contract was seven hearts (the clubs are running, being no worse than four-one), South led the four of clubs!
West played the three. West either forgot the contract as well, or just didn’t think South had solid clubs so partner had to have a higher club. South called for the nine of hearts from dummy, thinking this was a ruff, and then tried to lead a card from dummy. Quite properly, dummy reminded partner that the lead was still in the South hand. Since the contract was still seven no-trump, the nine of hearts was only a discard.
Playing in seven no-trump, the second round of clubs was won with the four. Had West just happened to play any club but the three, it would have won the trick, setting the contract. (That’s the amusing part.) South then proceeded to make seven no-trump.
Next Sunday: What’s the worst hand you ever held? All of the North players in one event at Denver’s summer bridge tournament held a hand probably far worse than the most motley assortment the fates have ever dealt you at the bridge table.
