The Denver Gazette

GOREN BRIDGE

UNUSUAL ENDING

WITH BOB JONES ©2023 Tribune Content Agency LLC (Bob Jones welcomes readers’ responses sent in care this newspaper or to Tribune Content Agency, LLC., 16650 Westgrovce Dr., Suite 175, Addison, TX 75001.)

South won the opening spade lead with dummy’s ace to preserve his 10 as an entry to his hand. A low heart to the jack held the trick as East ducked his honors. The 10 of hearts ran to East’s queen, and East continued with the ace and another heart. It looked almost impossible from here. South thought his only chance was to find East with a doubleton ace of diamonds, so he led a low diamond to his queen, winning the trick. He led another diamond and played low from dummy when West played the jack. East also played low, so South had two diamond losers to go with two heart losers for down one. Look what would have happened had South run his spades instead of leading a diamond. Both defenders must come down to four cards, and both must keep three diamonds or South can build a second diamond trick. Both defenders, therefore, must come down to a singleton club and three diamonds. South, if he reads the position correctly, can cash dummy’s ace of clubs before leading a diamond toward his queen. His lowly six of clubs would be his tenth trick. Remarkable! It is hard to fault South for not finding the winning line of play. Would you have found it?

LIFE

en-us

2023-12-06T08:00:00.0000000Z

2023-12-06T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://daily.denvergazette.com/article/282329684711926

The Gazette, Colorado Springs