The evil moment

By Djanwar Madjolelo

Last year, the ACBL (American Contract Bridge League) rated an American on his success in the top five ACBL events: Spring National (Vanderbilt Teams), Summer National (Spingold Knockout Teams), Fall National (Reisinger Board A Match Teams), Blue Ribbon Pairs, Life Master Pairs, and four World Championships (Bermuda Bowl, Bridge Team Olympiad, Rossenblum Teams and Open Pairs World Championships).

Dealer: South

Vulnerable: Both

NORTH

(S) 3

(H) K 4

(D) A Q 9 4 7 2

(C) A K 6 3

WEST EAST

(S) A 9 7 5 (S) void

(H) Q J 10 7 6 (H) A 8 5 2

(D) K 3 (D) 10 8 6 5

(C) J 10 (C) Q 9 8 5 4

SOUTH

(S) K Q J 10 8 6 4 2

(H) 9 3

(D) J

(C) 7 2

The top rated player is Bob Hamman. He is ahead of Howard Schenken, B.J. Becker, Bobby Wolff and George Rapee.

Helen Sobel made the top 25 (she died in 1969), everyone tells us she was good as she was as good as the top men.

This deal occurred during a needle match in Vanderbilt Knockout Teams in 1940.

After South opened and closed the auction with 4 Spades, Helen Sobel as West led Queen Hearts. The defenders took the first two tricks in that suit then Sobel exited with the Jack Clubs.

The declarer led a trump to his King. After winning with the Ace, Sobel exited with the 10 Clubs.

Now declarer had to return to hand to draw trumps. Delaying the evil moment, he called for the Ace Diamonds. With a full count of the deal, Sobel smoothly dropped her King Diamonds.

After some furtive glances, declarer took this card at its face value.

So, he ruffed a Club. No doubt smiling inside, Sobel over ruffed to defeat the contract.

One final point: Perhaps declarer should have used the Dentis's Coup. After winning with the King Clubs, if he had cashed the Ace Clubs and Ace Diamonds before playing a trump, he couldn't have been stranded in dummy.