Handbook - International Bridge Press Association

In the replay the same contract was reached, failing
by two tricks after a trump lead for a penalty of
500. If Hamman had routinely over ruffed, his team
would have lost seven points instead of gaining them,
and would eventually have lost the match instead of
winning it.
Card-play of this class should serve to retain the
world title for the United States in Brazil. But they will
face strong opposition from the host-country, from
Europe, and elsewhere.
THE 1987 PRECISION AWARD
FOR BEST DEFENCE OF THE YEAR
Michel Lebel (FRA)
Journalist: Ton Schipperheyn (NLD)
This article was published in the IBPA bulletin 268.
Two brilliancies
By Ton Schipperheyn
CPP, sponsored by a Dutch software firm, lost to a
strong French team (Jose Damiani. Paul Chemla,
Michel Lebel, Michel Perron and Jean-Louis Stoppa)
after winning two knockout matches. In their VuGraph
match, the French played at such a high level of competence
that even the commentators wondered who
could stop this team. Most impressive was the speed
with which the French handled even the most difficult
decisions.
For example:
Dlr: North ♠ K 10 6
Vul: None A K J 4
A 10 9 5
♣ K 7
♠ J 9 7 2 ♠ 8 5 4
– Q 9 8 6 3
J 8 3 K 7 2
♣ A 10 9 8 6 3 ♣ Q 2
♠ A Q 3
10 7 5 2
Q 6 4
♣ J 5 4
In the Closed Room, Mulder opened a big club
62 IBPA Handbook 2010
West North East S South
1♣ 1 Dbl
2♣ 3♣ Pass 3NT
All Pass
West led the ♣10, small from dummy, and Lebel —
DUCKED! Well, you can see that Rebattu can make
the contract if he also ducks – but who can blame him
for winning with the Jack? Would YOU have ducked?
As you can see, if Lebel takes the first trick with his
queen of clubs, declarer can manage nine tricks very
easily by setting up the diamonds and hearts without
letting West into the lead. But once declarer had won
the first trick, his fate was sealed. As soon as Lebel
got the lead in the red suits, he could play his remaining
club, and the defence could cash out for down
three tricks.
On VuGraph this was the bidding:
West North East South
1 Pass 1
Pass 3NT* Pass 4
All Pass
As you can see, this is in no way an easy contract, but
Chemla made the hand in just 40 seconds. A spade
was led to the king, followed by the A, revealing the
5-0 break. Chemla took two more spades and played
a diamond to the 10 and king. A diamond back was
taken by the queen. Next came a small club to the
king, the A and a diamond. This was ruffed and over
ruffed, followed by a club to the ace. A club was ruffed
and over ruffed, but then East had to play away from
his hearts into North's K-7. That gave Chemla 10
tricks and his contract.
THE 1988 PRECISION AWARD
FOR BEST DEFENCE OF THE YEAR
Primo Levi (ITA)
Journalist: Paulo Frendo (ITA)
For the deceptive sacrifice of the trump queen, which
led to the defeat of an apparently easy game. IBPA
Bulletin 284.
DECEPTION, ANYONE?
By Paulo Frendo, Rome
The area of deceptive plays in defense seems to be
boundless as we keep on admiring brilliant and successful
moves by inspired defenders.
The latest comes from Milan, in a big money game
at the local club: it should certainly figure well in Zia
Mahmood's collection.