Goren bridge: Nerves of steel

Today’s deal is from a recent National Championship pair game contested in Memphis. South was Geoff Hampson, one of the USA’s leading players. Hampson’s threediamond bid showed a fit for diamonds. He would have bid three clubs if he did not like diamonds. North bid game hoping there would be nine tricks.

Hampson saw that there were only eight tricks and the heart suit was wide open. The heart suit would not be so easy to run on this deal, as West would have to unblock his nine of hearts – not an impossible play but beyond the imagination of many. Hampson couldn’t know this, and he showed nerves of steel by smoothly ducking the opening spade lead. East’s play to this trick might well have been an encouraging signal. West wasn’t sure and shifted to the king of clubs. Hampson played low again! West reverted to spades and led the eight. Hampson won with dummy’s jack, giving him nine tricks, and he ran all six of dummy’s diamonds. In the ensuing four-card ending, West had to come down to queen doubleton in both black suits. Hampson led a spade to his ace and, reading the position perfectly, led another spade, discarding the jack of clubs from dummy. West won and had to lead a club into Hampson’s ace-10, giving Hampson an overtrick! He will be arrested if he keeps this up.