Jimmy Sez #9
I come from a bridge playing family. My aunt, who was a great player, ran the Kenmore Bridge Club in Flatbush in Brooklyn, NY. Her boy friend who hosted at the club was a world class player who played on the Culbertson team in 1936 thru 1940. His name was Charles Vogelhoffer. He partnered Helen Sobel on their teams. Here is a hand which he played in the 1937 Asbury Park Regional Master Pairs. He was sitting South with neither side vulnerable.
S- 8 5 2
H- K Q J 9 3
D- Q 8
S- J 9 7 4 C- K 6 5 S- 6 3
H- -------- H- 8 5 2
D- K J 5 3 2 D- 7 6 4
C- J 9 3 2 S- A K Q 10 C- A Q 10 8 7
H- A 10 7 6 4
D- A 10 9
C - 4
N E S W
P P 1H P
4H P 6H P
Lead 2C
East won the club ace after declarer put up the king and returned a small diamond won by declarer’s ace. After a heart to the king, a club was ruffed and heart was led to the queen. Now the last club was ruffed with the trump ace and the last trump was led to the jack. A heart was played leaving the following position.
S- 8 5 2
H- 9
D- Q
S- J 9 7 4 C- -------- S- 6 3
H- ------- H- -----
D- K D- 7
C- ------- S- A K Q 10 C- Q 10
H- -----------
D- 10
Look what happens to West when the last heart is played. He can discard the diamond king making dummy’s queen high or unguard the spade jack. Either play allows Charlie to make 6 hearts.
Note: Don’t rely on spades to break 3-3 only. Give yourself every chance.