Malmö’s first Striptease

Under Swedish law, the gentle art of disrobing in public by younger members of the female gender is forbidden. However, at the bridge table there is no restriction against stripping an opponent, as Sabine Auken demonstrated on this board from Germany’s match with Croatia. The deal has already appeared in the bulletin, but with a somewhat cursory analysis.

Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
	ª A Q 10 7 3 © 3 ¨ K 5 § A Q 5 4 2
ª 2 © J 10 7 2 ¨ Q J 10 7 4 § J 9 6		ª 9 6 5 4 © 9 8 5 4 ¨ 9 8 3 § K 3
	ª K J 8 © A K Q 6 ¨ A 6 2 § 10 8 7

West	North	East	South
	Auken		Von Arnim
Pass	1ª	Pass	2§*
Pass	2©*	Pass	2ª*
Pass	2NT*	Pass	3§*
Pass	3ª*	Pass	6ª
All Pass

2§ Artificial game force
2© Clubs
2ª Relay
2NT Maximum
3§ Relay
3ª 5-5

East led the three of diamonds and Sabine won in hand and drew trumps in four rounds, discarding a club from dummy. West had to find three discards, and was under pressure. A club was out of the question, so it was a question of which red cards to dispose of.

Knowing her partner could look after the third round of diamonds she elected to part with three diamonds. Confident that West was 1-4-5-3, declarer realised the contract could be made regardless of the location of the king of clubs. She played four rounds of hearts, ruffing the last one in hand and then played a diamond to the ace and a diamond. With all her exit cards removed East had to lead into the club tenace.

Your Editor told Sabine that her play had been matched by someone in the Open series and invited her to guess, the clue being that his name began with B and ended in i. Bocchi! No, Balicki! ‘Great’ said Sabine, ‘I am so pleased I played like Balicki.’ When we told Cezary he said ‘Great, I am so pleased I played like Sabine!’

Grosvenor Deluxe

Do you remember what a Grosvenor Coup is? When an opponent makes a play that gives you your contract, but you don't believe him so you go down anyway, you have been the victim of the Coup.

Alan Mould reported this delicious gambit by Scotland’s Ken Baxter from the match against Wales, where declarer was tempted into risking his contract for the sake of some overtricks.

Board 11. Dealer South. None Vul.
	ª A K 6 © K J 10 6 ¨ K § K 10 9 8 7
ª J 10 7 3 © 8 7 5 4 2 ¨ J 5 § 6 4		ª Q 8 © 3 ¨ Q 10 8 6 4 3 2 § A Q 5
	ª 9 5 4 2 © A Q 9 ¨ A 9 7 § J 3 2

West	North	East	South
McGowan	Thomas	Baxter	Denning
	1NT!	3¨	3NT
All Pass

South might have doubled Three Diamonds, but then there would have been no story. East led a diamond and declarer won with the king, crossed to dummy with a heart and took a club finesse. East won with the ACE and played a second diamond. Declarer won and ran the jack of clubs. Alas, Tacchi was not on hand to capture the look on declarer’s face.