Bridge Spectaculars 2
Dilemma at Waterloo Station
(London, 1985)
Previous deal - Home - Next deal

Contract : 6♠ by South       Lead : ♣K

  Dummy (N)
♠ A Q 8 7
♥ 5 4
♦ Q 3 2
♣ A 9 7 3
 
West (Mollo)
♠ 2
♥ K 10 9 8 3
♦ A J 8
K Q 1 0 2
Answer
East (Flint)
♠ -
♥ Q 7 6
♦ 10 9 6 5 4
♣ J 8 6 5 4
  Declarer (S)
♠ K J 10 9 6 5 4 3
♥ A J 2
♦ K 7
♣ -
 


In October 1985 two of Britains top bridge players, Victor Mollo and Jeremy Flint, set up a bridge table in Waterloo Station inviting passing travellers to play some special hands with them. They had plenty of takers.
The deal here features the Dilemma Coup, also know as Morton's Fork Coup.

Declarer can see two possible losers, one in each of the two red suits.
How can he reduce it to just one loser ?

The first 2 tricks are decisive to set up this coup. Can you find them ?

Cardinal John Morton, chancellor to King Henry VII, was a zealous collector of taxes.
He believed that rich people who lived lavishly could afford to pay tax, while poor people who lived modestly must have plenty of savings to pay their taxes. There was no answer to Morton - he got you on his fork ether way.

© 2002 Andrew Ward, from his book 'Bridge's Strangest Hands'
Published by Robson Books, 64 Brewery Rd. London N7 9NT