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THE TIMES
19th August 1999
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BRIDGE
BY ROBERT SHEEHAN
Today's hand was recounted to me by Stefan, my man at the St. John's Wood Bridge Club in London. I funked giving his surname last time I mentioned him, and this is why: it is Grzeszczynski. It is pronounced, according to Stefan, 'like a steam train starting to move', i.e. Sche Sche Schezinski. As an officer cadet at Sandhurst in 1944 he had the official name Smailpolski, to distinguish him from the other Pole in his class, Bigpolski. Stefan was North on the hand below. Before you look at the bidding, what do you think is the
worst that could happen to North-South?
| Dealer
South |
Game All |
Rubber
Bridge |
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| NORTH |
 9 8 |
 Q J 7 6 3 |
 J 8 2 |
 10 8 3 |
| WEST |
EAST |
| - |
A K J 10 7 5 |
| A 8 5 |
10 9 4 |
| A K 10 9 7 6 |
5 3 |
| A 9 7 6 |
5 4 |
| SOUTH |
| Q 6 4 3 2 |
| K 2 |
| Q 4 |
| K Q J 2 |
| |
| S |
W |
N |
E |
| 1 S |
Double |
All Pass |
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Contract: One Spade Doubled, by South. Lead: ace of diamonds.
South has a difficult choice when East passes West's take-out double of One Spade. In practice he would have done better in Two Clubs, though I'm not sure that is the right call.
West started with ace, king and a third diamond, which East ruffed with the seven of spades. South overruffed and now should clearly have played clubs or hearts. That way he would have scrambled a few more tricks. But he incautiously tried a round of trumps. When East had finished drawing all the trumps, West's hand was high. Six down, with East turning the screw with his claim for 100 honours, 1800 to East-West.
The third Mind Sports Olympiad starts on Saturday at the Olympia Conference Centre, London. It goes on until the 29th. There is MiniBridge from 24th to 26th at lOam-2pm (complete beginners welcome). Bridge proper is from 24th to 28th, with a complete programme of pairs and teams events. Further details from Mind Sports Olympiad, PU Box 13388, London NW3 5FB; tel:
01707 659080 or visit them at www.mindsports.co.uk.
Alternatively just turn up on the day.
Robert Sheehan writes on bridge Monday to Friday in Sport and in the Weekend section on Saturday.
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