Show of Temperament

Dealer: North
Vuln: Game All
Scoring: Point-a-board

  1. spade9 6
  2. heartA 10 6
  3. diamondK J 9 6 5 3
  4. club9 4
  1. spadeA K Q J 8 5 3
  2. heart9 3
  3. diamond10 4
  4. club8 6
club diamond heart spade NT
N 7 7 7 - -
S 7 7 7 - -
E - - - 1 -
W - - - 1 -
Green square in centre
  1. spade10 7 4 2
  2. heartJ 7 2
  3. diamond8 7 2
  4. club10 7 3

Contract: 4NT
Declarer: South
Lead: spadeA

  1. spade
  2. heartK Q 8 5 4
  3. diamondA Q
  4. clubA K Q J 5 2
Double dummy analyser: makeable contracts
West North East South
Pass Pass 1club*
3spade 4diamond Pass 4NT
Pass Pass Pass

*16+, any shape

North-South can make a grand slam in any of three denominations, but No Trumps is not one of them. I was sitting West and even I knew how to defend 4NT. In the post mortem East claimed the credit for not raising to four spades, but I was not listening to him. I was tuning in to the expected recriminations between North and South ... but they never materialised. Not only were there none, or any raised voices, there was no tangible air of angst.

In 50 years of playing bridge, I have never seen such an impressive display of good temperament.

In case you're wondering, and of course you are, North-South were Messrs Graham Kirby and John Armstrong, future European Champions. Many years later I had the pleasure of playing with Graham a couple of times. In a total of 48 boards I don't remember him making one mistake. Different class.
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