Twins

Jason Hackett
Justin Hackett

 

Jason and Justin Hackett are undoubtedly the best-known bridge-playing twins. They were introduced to the sport by their father, Paul Hackett, himself a distinguished International player. They had an outstanding record as junior players, culminating in victory in the World Junior Championships in Bali in 1995. They are now established stars on the International circuit, and travel all over the world. They made an amazing start to the millennium, winning major events in Bermuda, Australia and Japan! In a recent interview, they revealed that their ambition is to win the World Pairs Championship - don’t bet against it!

Although they play most of their bridge outside England, they always contest the trials for the national team. Justin kindly supplied the Editor with these deals from the recent qualifying competition, where by chance they faced another well-known pair of English twins, Gerald and Stuart Treddinick, who won the World Junior Championship in Nottingham in 1989. Not only that, but the opposition was captained by their father!

 

Dealer East. E/W Vul.
  ª
©
¨

§
K 8 6 4
A 5 2
Q J 3
K J 4
 
ª
©
¨

§
A
Q J 7 3
A 10 9 6
A 9 5 2
Bridge deal ª
©
¨

§
J 7 5
K 10 9 6 4
K 8 4 2
7
  ª
©
¨

§
Q 10 9 3 2
8
J 7
Q 10 8 6 3
 

 

West
Jason

Dble
Dble
North
Gerald

3ª
All Pass
East
Justin
Pass
4©
South
Stuart
2ª
4ª

 

An almost perfect dummy rewarded South’s undisciplined bidding. Jason led the ace of spades and switched to the queen of hearts. Missing the club ruffs meant declarer escaped for just one down, -100.

At the other table, Mossop-Rees didn’t get into the auction and Monachan-Senior recorded +620 to gain 11 IMPs for Paul Hackett’s team.

 

Dealer West. E/W Vul.
  ª
©
¨

§
A J 10 5 4 3 2
9 6 2
Q 9
2
 
ª
©
¨

§
-
A J 10 7 5 4 3
10 4 3
8 6 4
Bridge deal ª
©
¨

§
K 8 7 6
-
A K J 8 7
K Q 9 2
  ª
©
¨

§
Q 9
K Q 8
6 5 2
A J 10 7 5
 

 

West
Jason
3©
North
Gerald
3ª
East
Justin
Dble
South
Stuart
All Pass

 

A normal looking auction that gave East-West +200.

 

West
Monachan
2©
All Pass
North
Mossop
3ª
East
Senior
Dble
South
Rees
Rdble

Austrian Team Profile

Austria

Martin Schifko is 24 years old and a student of mathematics. Martin enjoys tennis and snow-boarding. To this man there is no such thing as a game-invitation; to miss a makable game is a great tragedy so he just bids game himself in case partner might decline an invitation. Martin is known as ‘Chicken’.

Andreas Gloyer is a Junior World Pairs Champion. Andreas is 23 years old, He also enjoys tennis and snow-boarding. Andreas partners Chicken and so, naturally enough, he always wants to play partscores but is never allowed to do so. Andreas and Martin are the anchor pair in the Austrian team and are likely to play almost all the boards here in Antalya.

Iris Grümm is 19 years old and a student of economics. She loves skating, dancing and having fun. Iris likes the company of people from all over the world. Iris always wants action, both in life and at the bridge table - Pass is not in her vocabulary.

Susanne Kriftner is 25 years old and works in an investment bank. Susanne enjoys roller-blading and going out and having fun. She partners Iris, and every time Iris makes a jump bid her heart misses a beat.

Markus Jerolitsch is nicknamed LeiLei and is 23 years old. Markus is a student of mathematics. His hobbies are bodybuilding and reading bridge books. Markus is involved with Jovi in teaching Austrian youngsters to play bridge, specialising in the youngest players in the 10-12 year old group.

Alexander Veverka is 23 years old and is an assistant professor at the Vienna University Institute of Finance. Alexander partners Markus. They are a new but very successful partnership.

Jovi Smederevac is the long-suffering captain of the team. A regular Austrian Ladies international, she was a young woman at the start of these championships but after only one day of captaining this team the grey hairs are already beginning to appear. Jove is very proud of her team which is very much together with an excellent team spirit.

Gunter Plachetzky is the owner of the bridge club in Vienna where Jovi works and all the team plays. It is the biggest club in Austria. Gunter is the team’s social secretary, organising all the fun things away from the bridge both here in Antalya and back home.

West’s calculated underbid rebounded horribly. Declarer made the same eight tricks as at the other table to give team Forrester 13 IMPs.

 

 


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