This is a hand that the late great Eric Murray, Canada’s top player along with Sammy Kehela, Canada’s top pair, represented a U.S team which finished a close second to the forever champion Italians. Eric was proudly showing this hand around at a Fall Nationals in Phoenix. He will be sorely missed.
| Dlr: North | North (dummy) | |
| Vul: None | ♠ A 10 7 2 | |
| National Championship Deal | ♥ A 8 6 | |
| ♦ K Q 8 7 | ||
| West | ♣ A Q | East |
| ♠ K 3 | ♠ J 8 6 4 | |
| ♥ Q J 7 2 | ♥ K 10 5 4 | |
| ♦ J 10 9 3 | South (Eric Murray) | ♦ 4 2 |
| ♣ 4 3 2 | ♠ Q 9 5 | ♣ K 6 5 |
| ♥ 9 3 | ||
| ♦ A 6 5 | ||
| ♣ J 10 9 8 7 |
| North | East | South | West |
| 1♦ | Pass | 1NT | Pass |
| 3NT | All Pass |
Opening lead: ♥2
Eric was pretty sure that nobody would make the right play after winning the third heart, and say, discarding a diamond from your hand. I will put the problem to you, what would you play from dummy at trick four?
Most players fall into the trap of playing the ♣A Q. However, if East ducks the queen, you can never come to nine tricks without developing the spade suit. And as soon as East or West get in with their spade trick they can take five tricks; three hearts, a spade and a club. So.what is the proper play?
The bridge world will sorely miss Eric Murray, a wonderful player with a great sense of humor. I know I will.
