Deception as a Fine Art By Ely Culbertson

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – 7 Ene 1936 In many years at, and around, the bridge table I have encountered scores of magnificent plays. Perhaps I have a distorted artistic sense, but I must confess that they appealed to me as pure beauty— comparable to a delicate line of poetry or strain of music. My enthusiasm reached its highest mark when the hand which I am presetting today was brought to my attention. For Sheer brilliance along psychological lines, I never have seen its equal. Dealer South, N/S Vul

	Q 9 7 3 A K 7 3 K 9 6 2 10
K J 10 8 J 9 8 2 — J 9 7 6 4		6 5 4 2 Q 6 4 8 7 4 3 8 5
	A 10 5 A Q J 10 5 A K Q 3 2

West	North	East	South
			1
Pass	2	Pass	2
Pass	4	Pass	4NT
Pass	5	Pass	6NT
Pass	7	Pass	7NT
Pass	Pass	Pass

Let it be understood that. I most heartily disapprove the bidding. Which was nothing short of fantastic. The hand happened to be played in a match-point duplicate game and South was out for a “top” on the board, hence his choice for no trump rather than the diamond grand slam, which quite obviously would have been a laydown.

However, this was the explanation, certainly not an excuse. West, who was to the declarer’s knowledge an excellent player, opened the six of clubs. Before he played a single card, either from the dummy or his own hand, declarer studied the situation carefully. In sight were five diamond, one spade, two heart, and three club tricks, a total of 11. If dummy’s ten of clubs should hold, another trick would be added. But where to get the thirteenth? It was unthinkable that an expert such as West could have led a low club from four to the jack against a seven no trump contract. Such a lead would be a bridge sacrilege. Then, if the ten were to hold, the club suit still would not break. But if West, if he actually had a long club suit and a stopper in hearts, could be persuaded that the latter suit was the vital one to guard, success inevitably would follow. The ten of clubs was played only after all this reasoning–South could not afford to allow the play to come to his own hand before going into his huddle without exciting suspicion. When the ten was not covered by East, declarer promptly overtook the trick with his queen! Then he proceeded to run five diamond tricks. How could West, despite his expertness, fail to be fooled? In discarding to the diamonds, what player would not have thrown away his clubs, counting declarer for A K Q blank; in order to guard the heart suit? West was not clairvoyant—he fell! And the grand slam became- a laydown with all five clubs, five diamonds, two hearts, and one spade.