The Play's the Thing 

by Willie Zurfluh

I was playing in a Swiss team match at the Fallfest sectional with Bill Malesevich when this unusual hand came up. I was declarer in 3§ with the ª A lead, which I ruffed. Next, I led a Club to dummy to take the losing Heart finesse. It would have been much easier if I had led a low Diamond from dummy at trick three.

Back came another Spade, which I ruffed. Now, I led a Diamond to dummy's nine, which lost to the ten and back came another Spade, which I ruffed. Then, I led another Diamond to dummy's Queen, which lost to the King and back came a trump.

At this point I led a Heart to the dummy to pull the last trump. On the lead of the last trump from dummy East is squeezed in three suits. If he discards a Heart, my long Heart is good. If he pitches the ¨ A, my ¨ J is good. So, he parted with his last Spade. Now, I cashed the © J and led a Diamond. East had to give me the last trick with the © A.

This end position is known as a Winkle. It was first analyzed and named by Terrence Reese in the last chapter of his book, Master Play, which I reviewed in the last issue of Brewer Bridge. It was all the more unusual because it took a dummy reversal to bring about the ending.