Bridge is a lifestyle for the world champ

Press, 25 February 1987, Page 15

Bridge is a lifestyle for the world champ

CONTRACT BRIDGE

J.R. Wignail

World champion and top American expert, Paul Soloway, is the most professional of all professional players. Virtually his whole life is bridge: even his two dogs are called Ruff and Sluff. He played for pay, deriving his income from the fees he earns partnering clients and teaching them. Since there is a tournament somewhere in the United States virtually every week he has a full and busy schedule. Every year there is fierce competition among American experts for the largest total of master points, awarded to the winners of championships and tournaments on a scale reflecting the difficulty of the event. Two years ago Soloway as usual was in the running, though not really interested. He had a commitment at the last event of the year, but a snowstorm prevent him meeting it. Most players would have moved heaven and earth to find another reachable event. Not Soloway; he shrugged, returned home, and read a book. When at a tournament, he refuses to play if it is not professional. It is not a question of money; he feels it is not fair to his clients, present or future, to compete against them if he is not working. Even in the prestigious national teams events, he plays in a sponsored team with four other professionals and a wealthy manufacturer.

They earned a berth in the play-off to select the next U.S. representatives by winning a major team championship in which Soloway was in good form. On the following three deals he was more or less solely responsible for earning large scores for his team.

He did nothing brilliant, tfjt used his judgment in dlose bidding situations.

♦ AQ764 V A 9 ♦ KQJB 4 95 W E ♦ JB3 4K1092 VJ5432 VKQB6 ♦ A 64 ♦ 75 ♦ 86 4 J 10 4 S ♦ 5 ▼ 107 ♦ 10 9 3 2 ♦ AKQ732

On the third round of bidding, over his partner’s three clubs, there was a great temptation to call three no-trumps, and this was in fact the contract reached in the other room. Against it hearts were led, and with eight tricks on top the declarer took the spade finesse in search of the ninth. When it lost to East’s king the defenders took four heart tricks to defeat the contract. Soloway’s three hearts was a much more flexible choice, showing something in the suit and a desire to play three no-trump but only if his partner also had a high card in hearts. The partnership duly reached their best spot of five clubs, the declarer making six tricks in trumps, three in diamonds, and two aces. On this next deal Soloway made the simple bid that helped his partpEr to the right conclusion. '”

W E ♦ A96532 4 10 V7 4AJ985 ♦ 4 ♦ K73 ♦ AKQJ7 * 10965 The unopposed auction was: W E 1* 1 NT 3* 5* 6* Pass The declarer was able to establish his long spades by ruffing in the East hand so the slam came home. Soloway, as the responder, realised that since his E' er had at least 10 cards he would not be interested in hearts, so chose instead to show his excellent club support. At the other table, East-West rested in five clubs. Finally, this hand was dealt by North, with neither side vulnerable. N ♦ Q74 V 9 ♦ QJ7 ♦ KJ9642 W E ♦ A 10 * K82 V Q87643 * AK102 ♦ 53 ♦ 1096 ♦ Q53 *A108 S * J9653 V J5 ♦ AK842 ♦ 7

Note that smooth, in tempo, four spade bid from Soloway. Who could make what? He did not know, but then neither did East-West, Four spades would probably have been defeated by two tricks, but five hearts went down one, for another swing to Soloway when his team-mates at the other table were permitted to play in and make four hearts.

The auction was: W N E S No 14 No 24 No 24 No 34 No 3V No 44 No 54 All Pass

w N E S No 14 14 44 44 No No 54 All Pass