Criss-Cross
Goren Bridge
Bob Jones
| Dlr: South | ♠ Q J 7 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| Vul: E-W | ♥ 5 | |||||||||||||||||
| ♦ A J 9 7 6 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♣ J 4 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♠ 9 8 | ♠4 | |||||||||||||||||
| ♥ Q 10 9 8 7 6 | ♥ K 4 3 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| ♦ 8 | ♦ Q 10 5 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| ♣10 9 8 6 | ♣ K 7 5 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| ♠ A K 10 6 5 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♥ A J | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♦ K 3 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♣ A Q | ||||||||||||||||||
|
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*Splinter bid — a raise to four spades with shortness in hearts
Opening lead: ♦8
Today’s deal is from an important pairs competition in Australia not long ago. South was young Australian expert Nye Griffiths. The slam contract was rock solid. This was a pairs game, however, and an overtrick would turn a good result into a great one.
The opening diamond lead was covered with dummy’s nine, East’s 10, and won by Griffiths with his king. The ♠A and a spade to the queen drew the trumps, and a club to the queen held the trick. The opening lead marked the ♦Q with East, who was also known to have the ♣K. Griffiths now cashed the ♥A, ruffed a heart, and cashed all of his trumps. This was the position with one trump to go:
| Dlr: South | ♠ — | |
| Vul: E-W | ♥ — | |
| ♦ A J | ||
| ♣ J 4 | ||
| ♠ — | ♠ — | |
| ♥ Q 10 | ♥ — | |
| ♦ — | ♦ Q 5 | |
| ♣10 9 | ♣ K 7 | |
| ♠ 5 | ||
| ♥ — | ||
| ♦ 3 2 | ||
| ♣ A |
Griffiths cashed his last trump and discarded the ♦J from dummy. East was cooked. A club discard would see South cash the ♣A and cross to dummy with the ♦A to cash the ♣J. A diamond discard would also give the overtrick in a similar way. Very well played!
