Boye Brogeland, of Norway, is one of the most respected people in the bridge world. He has an outstanding record as a player, but he also spearheaded an investigation a few years ago that helped to expose some of the world’s most successful pairs as cheats. He became known as the “New Sheriff in Town”, and his work during that period has had a lasting effect on the world of bridge. He was West in today’s deal.

Declarer won the opening trump lead with dummy’s queen and immediately led a low club from the table toward his jack. It was almost impossible for East to find this play, but had he risen with his king, he could have defeated the contract by either leading another club or shifting to a heart. When East ducked, declarer looked to be in good shape. West could win with his ace, but South would have time to draw the trumps and lead another club, setting up dummy’s clubs for discards. The nine of spades would be a sure entry to dummy.

Brogeland foiled all this by making a great play. He ducked his ace of clubs! This allowed his partner to win the king of clubs later before dummy’s clubs were set up. A heart shift from East then defeated the contract. What a play!