Handbook - International Bridge Press Association

top North South score in New York City. On the diagrammed
deal they outwitted the official analysis, they
pushed to six Notrumps, with a natural sequence that
included a strongly invitational raise from 3NT to 5NT.
West led a small heart, which does not appear to
help declarer. But it did. Mahmood, known to be a
brilliant analyst, finessed, won in his hand, and formed
an expert plan involving a Morton's Fork Coup. He
would, he decided, take some diamond winners –
three or four but not five – and then lead a low spade.
He would then be safe if the spades split evenly or if
East held the King. In the actual situation East was
due to be victimized by the coup. If he spent his king,
South would have three spade tricks, and if he saved
it South would eventually surrender a heart trick to
make his slam. The reference is to the Chancellor of
King Henry VII of England, who extracted money from
the wealthy merchants: "You are spending a lot, so
you can spare some for the king." Or, "You are not
spending a lot, so you can spare some for the king."
The official booklet noted that "Twelve tricks can, it
is true, be made on a neutral lead – declarer starts
spades by leading low from the table – but this would
not be a natural play to make." That analysis was
accurate after a diamond lead, or after an unlikely club
lead, which attacks South's communications. But it
was wrong, as Mahmood demonstrated, after a heart
lead and a winning finesse. And after a spade lead,
which happened at many tables, East is forked immediately
when South plays low from the dummy.
For making the slam Mahmood and Rosenberg
scored 87 match points out of a possible 100.
We thank all the journalists who sent in contributions
and those who published stories, without submitting
them, for their work. Those who sent in articles will
receive a small memento. The prize winners, who
should receive their prizes through the post, were:
1st Prize: Alan Truscott (USA) for his hand published
in the New York Times played by Zia Mahmood.
It is a beautiful hand and the article is very
good.
Truscott also contributed another very good article in
which he spoke of K Wei and B Wolff, in Beijing.
2nd Prize: Guy Dupont (FRA) and Marc Kerlero (as
player). His article had a very good presentation in the
"Figaro Magazine".
3rd Prize: Santanu Ghose (ITA) for his article in The
Independent , Calcutta.
4th Prize: Alexander Athanassiathis (GRC) for his
article published on the 24th June in the newspaper
Thessaloniki.
5th Prize: Svend Novrup (DNK) for his article "Eva,
Omar and Epson" published in the International Popular
Bridge Monthly last September.
Special Prizes
Phillip Alder (USA) – Newspaper Enterprise Assn.
Sue Emery (USA) – ACBL Bulletin for their articles on
Fields & Morris. Their score, which was wrongly reported,
has generated many articles. The hands were
very interesting proving their aggressiveness and
determination.
Anders Wirgren (SWE) – Skånska Dagbladet
Sune Fager (SWE) – for the presentation in Arbetarbladet.
IBPA Handbook 2010 207