The Curse of Scotland
Goren Bridge
Bob Jones
| Dlr: South | ♠ K 7 3 | |||||||||
| Vul: None | ♥ J 10 6 5 2 | |||||||||
| ♦ A | ||||||||||
| ♣ 10 9 7 5 | ||||||||||
| ♠ 5 | ♠ Q 9 6 4 2 | |||||||||
| ♥ K Q 7 4 3 | ♥ — | |||||||||
| ♦ 9 5 | ♦ Q 10 8 7 4 3 | |||||||||
| ♣ A K 8 4 2 | ♣ Q 6 | |||||||||
| ♠ A J 10 8 | ||||||||||
| ♥ A 9 8 | ||||||||||
| ♦ K J 6 2 | ||||||||||
| ♣ J 3 | ||||||||||
|
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*Hearts and a minor
Opening lead: ♣A
The ♦9 has been known as The Curse of Scotland for some 300 years. The reason why is lost to time, but West is studying the issue right now. North-South both overbid, but all would be well if South could make it.
West shifted to the ♦9 at trick two to knock the entry out of dummy. South led a spade to his jack at trick three and then the ♣J to East’s queen, and East exited with a spade to South’s 10. Declarer crossed to dummy with the ♠K and led the ♣10 to West’s king. West led a club to dummy’s nine to set up his eight. Declarer discarded hearts on the last two clubs. This was the position:
| Dlr: South | ♠ — | |
| Vul: None | ♥ J 10 6 5 2 | |
| ♦ — | ||
| ♣ — | ||
| ♠ — | ♠ Q 9 | |
| ♥ K Q 7 | ♥ — | |
| ♦ 5 | ♦ 10 8 | |
| ♣ 8 | ♣ — | |
| ♠ A | ||
| ♥ A | ||
| ♦ K J 6 | ||
| ♣ — |
South cashed his ♥A and East had to discard a spade to prevent South from setting up a long diamond. Declarer now cashed the ♠A and exited with a low diamond. East won but had to lead another diamond. South put in his jack for a remarkable nine tricks! Had West held onto his ♦9, he would have prevented this endplay. Yes, the defense wasn’t perfect, but it gave us a good story to tell.
