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Crossing back to hand via K, declarer cashed the last trump and discarded 9 from dummy to begin a fatal triple squeeze on East. It was all over.

A nail-biting half hour followed while the score was computed. "Gentlemen" called the TD, "I will announce the result in reverse order, beginning with 4th place.
4th with a score of 59.46% is Alf Flavell
3rd with a score of 60.12% is Peter Lang
2nd, and in the prizes, is Spike Gibson with a score of 62.58%
But this year's winner with a total of 63.02% is Jim Spencer!
I now call upon Miss Samantha Lake to present the trophy . . . . "

Samantha opened the door to her parents' apartment and quickly deactivated the alarm. As the door closed behind him. Jim could see the panoramic views of the Côte d'Azur out of the window at the front.
"Well James, would you like some coffee?"
"Yes please."
"Tell me, why did you decide to play for the singleton K? "
"I had no option, Jim's Rule would have been of no use on the deal so the K just had to drop instead - I suppose you could call it Modified Jim's Rule."


08/04/2026: Kit's note: I wrote this article, my first rather pathetic attempt at bridge writing, in early 1988. Back then, in it's original form, it was embarrassingly crude and would be completely unacceptable today. Most definitely non-PC! I hope that it's now slightly more acceptable.
By the way, there really was a Jim Spencer, and he really was the inventer of "Jim's rule".
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