Robert Hamman (1938, Pasadena California) is a name you will see repeatedly when you read reports of the really big events. He was only 25 when he was a runner-up in the 1964 Olympiad. He won his first (of 10!) World Team Championships (contesting the Bermuda Bowl) in 1970 (he is the current holder), won a World Bridge Olympiad and a World Open Pairs Championship, 50 (!) North American Bridge Championships ('Nationals'), 17 United States Bridge Championships (teams), one United States Bridge Championship (pairs) — the latter two were trials for World Championships — one Cavendish Invitational Pairs and one Buffet Cup. To name only his biggest wins.
He has represented North America on many occasions, with many different partners. He played for many years with Bobby Wolff, later with Paul Soloway and currently his partner is another bridge legend: Zia Mahmood.
He was the World #1 for many, many years, currently he is ranked #7.

Bob Hamman is solidly built, a round faced Rod Steiger, and here is his Bols Tip:
If you ever want to amount to anything at this game, you must build up a picture of the unseen hands. The idea is to know what the problem is before you try to solve it.

In this first Bols Bridge Tip, Hamman went straight to the heart of things: ‘Would you try to play golf or tennis blindfolded? That does not seem a very intelligent thing to do, but most players do exactly that when they play the hand at Contract Bridge.'
Early writers in the Bols competition were allowed less space than later on, and Hamman gave only one deal. Expanding his account, let us look first at the North-South hands only:

S/—		♠	Q 5
		♥	A 10 9 3 2
		♦	8 4
		♣	10 6 3 2
		♠	A K 7 4 3 2
		♥	6
		♦	Q 5
		♣	A Q 8 4

It is instructive now to consider what you know – or need to assume – about each suit. Make a list of all the inferences that are available. Have you done that? It should read something like this:
- First, spades. You haven’t been doubled, so there is a good chance that they will be 3-2. In any case you must assume this, because you are surely going to lose two diamonds and very likely at least one club. This is typical 'assumption'. Since the spades must be 3-2 if you are going to make the contract, you assume they are 3-2 and you build up your picture of the opposing hands on that basis.
- Second, hearts. What do you make of that lead of the ♥4? Could it be a singleton? Hardly, because that would give East ♥KQJ875 and he would have made a bid over two diamonds (especially since, as we shall see in a moment, he surely has a diamond honour). So West is leading low from an honour, or possible two non-touching honours. He might have ♥Kxx or ♥Qxx, something like that. Since he has bid 2♦ and we are placing him with at least two spades, he is more likely to hold three hearts than four.
- Third, diamonds. There is a simple, and very common, inference to be drawn here, but it is an inference often missed. With ♦AK West would surely have led this suit rather than a heart from some very not attractive holding. So the ♦A-K are split, with East probably clutching the ♦K.
- Fourth, clubs. Until we had studied the other suits, there wasn’t much to say about the clubs situation. In fact, we have quite a lot of information. Since we are placing West with at least six diamonds, possibly seven, at least three hearts and at least two spades, he can hardly hold more than two clubs and may have only one. What about the ♣K, a critical card? One pointer is that East is already marked with a high honour in hearts, quite possibly two honours, and with one of the top diamonds. Exaggerating a trifle, Hamman remarks: 'East's silence would be incomprehensible with a diamond honour, at least one heart honour, and the ♣K as well.'
There is another indication, at least as strong. West has chosen an unattractive lead in hearts, and there must be some reason why he preferred a heart to a club. Perhaps his club holding is a singleton ♣K or ♣Kx?

Now we are getting warm. Putting all the inferences together we have arrived at the conclusion that the best way to limit the loss in clubs to one trick is to play West for short clubs, including the king. This is what Hamman did, with good effect, as can be seen from the full deal:

S/—		♠	Q 5
		♥	A 10 9 3 2
		♦	8 4
		♣	10 6 3 2
♠	J 6			♠	10 9 8
♥	K 5 4			♥	Q J 8 7
♦	A J 10 9 6 3 2			♦	K 7
♣	K			♣	J 9 7 5
		♠	A K 7 4 3 2
		♥	6
		♦	Q 5
		♣	A Q 8 4

'Quickly I draw the last trump and concede a club and two diamonds to make 4♠. I notice only my partner is congratulating me. East is eyeing me suspiciously and West has already slid his chair a foot back from the table.'

Before we leave this fine hand, let's just run over the inferences again, because if you think in this way every time you will soon be a champion:
- Trumps had to be 3-2, because otherwise there would be no play for the contract.
- The lead of the ♥4 was probably from ♥Kxx or ♥Qxx, conceivably from ♥KJx.
- The ♦A and ♦K were surely divided.
- East was unlikely to hold the ♣K for two reasons:
   1 With this card he might have had enough to bid over his partner's 2♦
   2 West's awkward lead in hearts pointed to an awkward holding in clubs as well, probably ♣Kx or ♣K alone.