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Brilliant deceptive play***
Wednesday, 14 July 2010 07:00

In the 4contract below, from a team match (IMP scoring, therefore) Frenchman Dominique Pilon found an ingenious defensive play. It was a manoeuvre any bridge player will wish to have thought of himself. As is so often the case with deceptive plays, it presents the opponent with an extra, losing option. Without the deceptive play he couldn't have gone wrong.

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Italian tour de force ***
Thursday, 01 July 2010 07:00

Every year an IBPA (International Bridge Press Association) jury awards prizes for best declarer play, defence and bidding.
Italian bridge-legend Benito Garozzo received the 1974 award for best declarer play. The deal was from the Italian team trials for the 1975 World Championship. By skilfully interpreting the bidding he made a slam on a combined point count of 19! 'Brilliantly bid and played', observed the jury...

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Reese was a great player...***
Saturday, 19 June 2010 07:00

Although his reputation was thoroughly damaged by the infamous Buenos Aires cheating scandal in 1966, friend and foe agree that Englishman Terence Reese (1913-1996) was a hugely talented bridge player. He declared the deal below during the 1955 World Championship, playing for Great Britain against the USA.

Let us first follow events at the other table where William Rosen (USA) declared the same contract as Reese. Rosen, an acknowledged crack in those days, was totally outplayed by Reese.

E/AllA J 9 3 
 K J 8 7 4 3
A 3
4
  windroos  
    
 Q 5 4 2 
A 10

A K J 10 9 7 6

WestNorthEastSouth
Pavlides
Ellenby
Meredith
Rosen
pass1
3346
passpasspass 

WestNorthEastSouth
Mathe
Schapiro
Moran
Reese
pass1
3356
passpasspass 

At both tables West led the 9. 
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Santa's sting***
Friday, 25 December 2009 07:00

Santa Claus sighed. How on earth was that contract to be defeated?
He would have to do it quickly as well, since he was late already. He still had his three fellow players to hitch up in front of the sleigh. Then he had to fly South like a bat out of hell. As the years passed he more and more felt the burden of having to deliver these accursed presents, if only because of their ever increasing number. Furthermore it became ever more dangerous with the air space teeming with Ultra Light airplanes, paragliders, hang gliders and whatever diabolic objects men would send up. So far no accidents had happened... not yet, that is! He shuddered at the thought of the near-collision last year with that base-jumper over Norway. It had been very fortunate Rudolph had seen him coming.
Funny though, Santa contemplated, that Rudolph was still the leader of the pack, the best reindeer in leading the sleigh. After all, he drank like a fish, which was evident from his shiny (some even say it glows) red hooter.
Mentioning Rudolph's name alarmed Santa. Rudolph was a fine player and the question remained: how to defeat this contract? Santa reflected on the bidding and play so far:

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Brilliant dummy play in San Remo ***
Sunday, 25 October 2009 07:00

San Remo, 2009, the final of the Open European Championship. Team 'Netherlands White' (Sjoert Brink - Bas Drijver and Bauke Muller - Simon de Wijs) plays Israeli team Herbst.
A brilliant manoeuvre by Ilan Herbst gains his team 10 IMPs.

E/AllJ 9 6 3
 
 Q 10 8 7
9 5
A J 2
-windroosK 10 8 7
A 5 4 3 2K J 6
K 8 7
4 3
K 8 6 5 4
10 9 7 3
 A Q 5 4 2
 
9
A Q J 10 6 2
Q

WestNorthEastSouth
BarelDrijverZackBrink
--
pass1
2NT1
pass33
pass4passpass
pass   

1 at least 5-5 in hearts and clubs

Barel leads the A and continues the suit, declarer ruffing. Brink lays down the A and it becomes clear he will have to lose two trump tricks. West might have bid 2NT even without the K, so East might have that card (although West is more likely to have it). In the end Brink finesses in diamonds and ends up one down.

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'The best played deal against me' ***
Thursday, 01 October 2009 07:00

The year is 1970 and Italy rules the bridge world; the Blue Team is invincible.
In Winnipeg the Italians play the Dallas Aces, a specially formed American team of professionals that is hoped to be the first team to beat the Italians in 15 years.

E/-7 6 5 4 
 A 8 3
J 3 2
K Q 5
  windroos  
    
 A Q 10 
K 7 5 4
A K Q 10 7 6
-

WestNorthEastSouth
EisenbergGarozzoKantarBelladonna
--45
pass5pass6
passpasspass 

Belladonna's 5-bid is extremely aggressive. In fact he goes to 6 on his own.
Eisenberg leads the
8. Later he said this was the best played deal against him ever.

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