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It’s time for a golden oldie
 IT’S
time, once again, for a golden oldie. This deal comes from the 1930
match between USA (captained by Culbertson) and Great Britain (captained
by Colonel Buller). At that time the Americans played their opening
two-bids so strong that they very rarely opened with a two-bid. Here
Waldemar Von Zedwitz opened just 1H. If West had passed, this would
surely have been passed out. Cedric Kehoe overcalled 1S (a bid described
as ‘wretched’ by Colonel Buller, in his book on the match) and the
American South then rebid 4H. How would you have played this contract on
a lead of the trump jack?
 Von Zedwitz drew two
rounds of trumps with the ace and king, then played the ace and king of
diamonds. The queen refused to drop, so he played a third round of
diamonds towards the jack. West won with the queen and switched to a
club, won by his partner’s ace. Realising that two club tricks would
not defeat the game (even if West held the club king), East correctly
switched to spades. South had the spade ace and now scored an overtrick.
At the other table Mrs Gordon-Evers (South) opened with a strong 3H.
Colonel Buller passed and game was missed, the Americans gaining 670
points.
— David Bird
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