Frank Morgan

I fell to an amazing play by Harriet Walcott partnering Baby Vistenzo on Board 6 at the Karen Sylvester’s Cape May County Duplicate Bridge Club March 30, 2023. Declaring 4H in the North I won the Diamond lead with the J, led a Spade to the Ace, a Club to the King, and ruffed a Spade. As West popped the King, I could now turn my attention to trumps. A Heart to the King lost to the Ace. West returned a small Spade, I discarded a small Club, and Harriet smoothly discarded a Club, convincing me that West held the remaining Hearts (and even if not, Harriet held the guarded Jack). I confidently led the Heart 10 for a finesse, Harriet won the Jack, and led a Diamond for a ruff by her partner’s remaining Heart 7. They still had two Club tricks for down 2 and a top.

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Made the following impossible 3NT playing with Mark Blanchard at the national Lebhar IMP Pairs in New Orleans March 12, 2023. As North I dealt and passed, East opened 1S, Blanch overcalled 2D, I raised to 3D, Blanch bid 3H, and I bid 3N. When dummy comes down, it is apparent that the opponents can cash at least 5 Clubs and the SA. On the lead of the S8 I have eight top tricks, but where is the ninth? The Heart finesse seems unlikely. So I need East to lead a Heart or a Spade. I desperately lead the CQ from dummy. When the expert East wins with the CK, it is “obvious” that I have CAJ as well as the SK, that his partner has the HA, and that his best shot is to lead to his partner’s HA and get a Spade back through me. His Heart play gives me my ninth trick. He was astounded when he realized what had happened.

I loved the New Orleans Nationals, with one sorry exception: the literary quality of the limericks. To remedy this unfortunate situation, I hereby submit the following (featured on the May 4, 2023, Sorry Partner podcast):

While trying my hand at Pairs Silly*
I suddenly brought out Gazilli.
Pard jumped to a grand
With no Ace in his hand;
I guess I’ll just have to Ask Billy.

*term for the Silidor Pairs, courtesy Adam Grossack.

See also TV clip (opening with the back of my head) from Good Morning New Orleans.