Caught on "Morton's Fork". Bridge Column for June 4, 2004, Harvey Bernstein Special To The Plain Dealer North-South vulnerable. North deals. North S: 9 4 3 H: A Q 10 D: K 6 5 3 2 C: A 8 West East S: Q J 10 S: 8 7 2 H: 7 3 H: 4 D: 10 8 7 D: A J 9 C: J 10 6 5 4 C: K Q 9 7 3 2 South S: A K 6 5 H: K J 9 8 6 5 2 D: Q 4 C: Void The Bidding: North East South West 1D 2C 2H 4C 4H 5C 6H Pass Pass Pass West leads the jack of clubs and you can count eleven tricks. If spades divide three-three, you can set up a long spade for the twelfth trick, and if they don't divide, you could trump the long spade in dummy. The problem is, in either of these scenarios, you have to lose a spade to set it up. The ace of clubs is also a loser, so even if you can set up the twelfth trick, can you do it before the defense can come to two tricks? If you assume from the bidding that East holds the ace of diamonds, you may have a good play for this slam. At trick one, play low from the dummy and trump with a small heart. Play a heart to the dummy and lead a small diamond. Do you know what you have done? You have guaranteed your contract, that's what you have done. If East plays the ace of diamonds, you will win any return and cash the queen of diamonds. You cross to the dummy with a trump and cash the king of diamonds and the ace of clubs, discarding small spades. In all, you score seven hearts, two spades, two diamonds, and a club. What if East doesn't take his ace of diamonds? Not a problem. Win the queen of diamonds and play a heart to the dummy, drawing the last outstanding trump. Play the ace of clubs, pitching a small diamond, and then play three rounds of spades. Either the long spade will be good or you can trump it in dummy. This type of play is known as a "Morton's Fork Coup". It is named after Cardinal Morton, Chancellor under King Henry the VII. Morton collected taxes from wealthy London merchants. His approach was simple - if a merchant lived well, he could obviously afford to pay the taxes, and if he lived poorly, he was obviously saving his money and could afford to pay his taxes. Either way, the subject was caught on "Morton's Fork". Upcoming Special Events The annual Worldwide Simultaneous Pairs will take place this evening and tomorrow afternoon at bridge clubs around the world. Contact your local club director for times and locations. District 5 of the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) will sponsor a STaC (Sectional Tournament At Clubs) during the week of June 14 to 20. Local club directors will be able to tell you if and when their club will be hosting a session of this silver point event. Unit 125, the Cleveland Whist Club, will be holding a session on Wednesday, June 16th at 7:15 p.m. at St. Michaels Woodside, 5035 Mill Rd., Broadview Heights. High scores scores are submitted to the District for overall awards. For additiional information, call 440/248-3983. Unit 125 is also hosting a Summer Imp League starting on Wednesday, June 23 at 7:15 p.m. This is a round robin team of four competition open to all players. Play is at St. Michaels Woodside. The event will be "bracketed" so teams will compete against other teams with similiar masterpoint totals. If you want to sign up, or need a pair, a partner, or a whole team, please contact 330/225-5155. This competition will continue on July 21, August 11 and August 25. On the internet, go to www.whistclub.org for current information concerning all of the events in the Cleveland area. _______________________________________________________ Bernstein is a free-lance writer in Solon.