Geoff Hampson’s partnership with Eric Greco is one of the most feared in America. Greco has won 20 NABC titles in his career, and Hampson a “mere” 17. We will conclude our 1990s week by focusing on two deals where each of them starred in turn.
Hampson and Greco were playing East-West against Steve Garner and Howard Weinstein. They found themselves defending against three no-trump after Weinstein had reasonably eschewed Stayman. Greco led his fourth-highest club, and Garner won with the club queen to lead a diamond to dummy’s king. Hampson took that with the diamond ace and returned the club six, ducked by Greco to keep a link with his partner.
Now Garner called for the spade queen, ducked by Hampson without hesitation! He had worked out that if he covered, declarer would probably take two spade tricks and four hearts to go with his three tricks in the minors, for nine in total and his contract. It was essential to work out this position in advance so as not to betray possession of the king.
Now declarer assumed the spade finesse was wrong and that the defense would cash out the clubs if he took the losing finesse. Accordingly, his one remaining chance for the contract was to finesse East for the diamond jack. Garner cashed the spade ace and his heart winners (on which Greco threw two spades), finishing in dummy. He then tried the diamond finesse. That let Greco win his diamond jack and cash out his clubs for a spectacular one down.