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By Joe Andrews
I call this hand "Magic." It is the only word that can truly describe what happened. David Copperfield would be very impressed at the "disappearing act" of the winning cards in West's hand!
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North
Q 9 8
Q J 5
J 9 8 7 5 4 3
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West
K J 10 6 2
A 5 4 2
A K
6 2
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East (Dealer)
A 7
9 8 7 6 3
10 8 7 2
K 10
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South
5 4 3
K Q J 10
9 6 4 3
A Q
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South
3
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West
5
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North
1
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East
1
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It was the Semifinals of a tournament, and the score stood at 440 (East-West) to 380 (North-South). Each side had two bags -- no problem there! The bidding appeared to be normal, albeit a bit conservative. West opened with a five -- as he wanted to make sure of his bid, and allow his partner the opportunity to "balance in" with a bid of one. North was tempted for a NIL, but feared the trump and Diamond suits. East now bid his one (a two may have been better). He added 60 to the 440 and that was enough for game. South concluded the round with his bid of three. Anyone looking at the East/West hands would agree that a contract of six was lead-pipe cinch. We had two happy campers here! Now it was time for "magic"!
South (on lead) led the his Heart King. It was a perfectly normal choice, but now the "Card Gods" were about to take over! West hesitated, and finally flew with his Ace. The spade Eight was used to ruff the Heart, and a jolt was sent through West! The best was yet to come!
North shifted to a low Club, and East hesitated before playing his Ten. South read this hesitation as a Club problem (most likely the presence of the King), and his insight proved to be quite correct as he played (finessed) the Queen. Now the Queen-Jack-Ten of Hearts were cashed, as East and West helplessly followed while North UNLOADED HIS THREE DIAMONDS! Next came the Diamond Three by South, as West played the Ace, and North -- freshly out of the suit -- ruffed with the Spade Nine. Another Club to South's Ace was followed by another Diamond lead, and North's spade Queen ruffed out West's King. The big "wood" had been felled from West's hand.
By this time, North/South had taken the first eight tricks, and the opponent's contract of six was in the tank -- along with the game! The remainder of the tricks were cheerfully conceded, as the East/West score dropped by sixty points. The game ended on the next deal.
Was it "magic"? Was it "serendipity"? Was it just blind luck? I leave that up to you. All I know is that I had another hand for the book. You just don't see two suits of "ruffing finesses" in the same hand every day. A rare bird indeed!
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