Bridge writers select best hands

Press, 26 December 1984, Page 13

Bridge writers select best hands

COTRACT BRIDGE

J.R. Wignall

At its meeting in Seattle last month during the World Bridge Olympiad, the International Bridge Press Association presented its annual awards. The Solomon Award for the best played hand of the year went to the Pakistani star Zia Mahmood. He was sitting South when this hand was dealt by East with neither side vulnerable:—

During the auction West had shown a great deal of interest in the meaning of South’s bids. This, and his double of four clubs, convinced Zia that the club suit was not going to break favourably. The opening lead of the eight of diamonds was covered by the queen and king, and ruffed by the declarer. South ruffed a club in dummy, returned to the king of spades, trumped a club, came back to the ace of spades, ruffed a third club, then trumped a diamond in hand. This was the position:—

Backing his judgment, Zia played off three rounds of hearts before putting West on play with a spade. With only the king and 10 of clubs left, West had to give the declarer the last two tricks by leading into the acequeen. That was certainly a brilliantly played hand, but per-

haps next time West will not talk so much. The Precision Award for the best bid hand went to the Italian stalwarts Giorgio Belladonna and Benito Garozzo:— West East Garozzo Belladonna ♦ AQ9865 4 J 7 V A 3 V 82 ♦ AKBS4 4 Q 73 4- 4AJ 109 8 2 Their auction was:— West East 1* 14 14 24 24 24

3$ 4* 4V 4* 4NT 5* 64 Pass

One club was strong, the one heart response showed at least 8 points and either one ace or two kings, but the rest of the auction was fairly natural. West announced he had long spades and at least five diamonds, and East that he had tolerance for spades with support for his partner’s second suit. Four hearts was then a cue-bid, four spades denied any fur-

ther interest, four notrumps was a slam try and five clubs showed the ace. That was all West needed to place the contract in six diamonds.

When the trump suit broke reasonably and the ace, king and queen drew the missing diamonds, the play presented no problems. The declarer discarded his low heart on the ace of clubs, gave up a spade to the king and claimed 12 tricks.

Sometimes bridge seems a very easy game.

The bidding was:— W. N. E. S. — — No 2* No 24 Dble 24 No 34 No 4* Dble 5* No 54 No 6V All Pass