This deal occurred in the very first Bermuda Bowl world championship, way back in 1950, in the match between Great Britain and the United States. Despite the fact that the North-South hands contained only 20 points in high cards, both the English and American pairs arrived at four spades after identical auctions.

At the first table, with a U.S. pair North-South, the British West led the ace and another heart. Declarer (Sam Stayman) ruffed the second heart and played the ace and another spade. West rose with the king and led a third round of hearts.

Stayman ruffed and led a spade to the queen followed by a club to the ace. When West’s queen appeared, Stayman could claim 10 tricks — five clubs, four spades and the ace of diamonds — for a score of 620 points.

At the second table, with a British pair now North-South, the play differed considerably. West (John Crawford) chose the singleton queen of clubs as his opening lead. Declarer won with the ace and also played the ace and another spade. Crawford went up with the king and then made the dramatic — but absolutely necessary — lead of a low heart. East won with the jack and returned a club, ruffed by Crawford, and declarer eventually lost a diamond trick for down one.

Thanks to Crawford’s inspired defense, the U.S. team gained 720 points on the deal.

Tomorrow: Battle for survival.