SLAM ON A YARBOROUGH

Updated 13th October 2024

SLAM ON A YARBOROUGH

LONDON , 1949

This hand was dealt in a rubber game at a London club. North—South thought they were sacrificing in Six Clubs but in fact the contract made. This was astonishing as North had only seven points and South (declarer) had a Yarborough (no card higher than a nine).

The odds of holding a Yarborough are 1,827 to one. The odds of making a slam with one are somewhat longer. A Yarborough is known by many other names, such as 'a load of rubbish', 'a hand like a foot' and 'train tickets'. I have seen players bark, 'Who dealt?' as if they were looking for someone to blame. But this hand proves that points are not everything.

	Dealer West	ª
	EW Vulnerable	©	8 4
		¨	A 9 7 6 5 4 3
		§	K 10 8 3
			N
ª	AQ106			ª	K J 9
©	A K J 10 9 7		W E	©	Q 6 5 3 2
¨	K Q			¨	J 10 8
§	A			§	Q J
			S
		ª	8 7 5 4 3 2
	Lead §Ace	©
		¨	2
		§	9 7 6 5 4 2

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