Today’s deal is from a rubber bridge game in Sydney, Australia. South was Richard Jedrychowski, a top Aussie player known as Jedi. We thought that his nickname was just a simplification of his name, but after this deal, we’re not sure. The opening heart lead was ducked to East’s king. East led a low diamond to West’s king and won the diamond return with his ace. East shifted to a low club and South’s queen took the trick. Jedi led the six of spades to dummy’s seven and the eight of spades back to his 10, both ducked by West. This was the position:
The auction and the early play told Jedi about the opponent’s distribution and high cards. To have a chance, Jedi needed East to hold the 10 of hearts. He led the nine of spades, and unblocked dummy’s king when West played the ace. On a spade continuation, Jedi would have won in hand, led the jack of hearts, forcing a cover from West to isolate the high heart in the East hand, and cashed the jack of diamonds. East wouldn’t be able to keep the 10 of hearts and three clubs. West, however, led a diamond rather than a trump. This seemed to ruin Jedi’s timing, but he found an answer. Jedi ruffed the jack of diamonds! Now the jack of hearts was covered by the queen, won with the ace, and the play of the last trump ruined East.
