Handbook - International Bridge Press Association

THE 1995 ROMEX AWARD FOR
THE BEST BID HAND OF THE YEAR
David Berkowitz & Larry Cohen (USA)
Journalist: Alfred Sheinwold (USA)
The nominations were:
Sandra Landy & Abbey Walker of Great Britain for
reaching 7 , in the Entente Cordiale match against
France (B369, page 10); Raoul Balshun & Bjorn
Kapplinghaus of Germany for reaching 4 on a 4-2
fit in the World Junior Pairs (B368, page 3); Massimo
Lanzarotti & Andrea Buratti (ITA) for reaching
6NT rather than 6 at the Europeans in Vilamoura
(B366, page 14); David Berkowitz & Larry Cohen
(USA) for 4♠ on a 4-2 fit at the 1994 ACBLs (B364,
page 8)
A Four-Twoish Fit
By Alfred Sheinwold (USA)
Bridge textbooks tell you to look for a trump suit of
eight or more cards. If you can't find one, play the
hand at No Trump, they advise.
Dave Berkowitz and Larry Cohen found an exception
to the rule early in the 1994 ACBL Nationals:
Board 9. EW Vul. Dealer North.
♠ Q 8
J 7
Q 9 8 7 4
♣ A 10 7 3
♠ 7 4 3 ♠ 9 6 5 2
K 10 8 3 A Q 9 6 2
A J 2
♣ J 8 6 4 ♣ 9 5 2
♠ A K J 10
5 4
K 10 6 5 3
♣ K Q
West North East South
Treadwall Cohen Gookin Berkowitz
Pass Pass 1NT 1)
Pass 2NT Pass 3♠ 2)
Pass 4♠ 3) All Pass
88 IBPA Handbook 2010
1) 14-16 HCP (precision)
2) Looking for a fit. North probably has 9 or 10
points and the hand belongs in game but North
doesn't have four spades (no Stayman) and the
two short suits look dangerous.
3) He wouldn't have bid 3♠ on a four-card suit,
would he? If South has only four spades, they
must be headed by the A-K-J. Besides, Sonny
Moyse became famous rooting for 4-3 trump fits.
Maybe bridge players of the 21st century will
celebrate the 4-2 fit.
Dave Treadwell, playing with Robert Gookin, muttered
something about 'When in doubt' as he led a
trump. Berkowitz won his jack and led the K.
He had to set up the diamonds while he had a
trump in dummy to stop the hearts. We can all see
that the defenders can take two hearts, a diamond
and a diamond ruff but nobody pointed this out to
Treadwell and Gookin.
So they took their two hearts and got out with a
second trump. Now Berkowitz drew trumps and
claimed his game.
To start the ball rolling, let's call the 4-2 fit the Larry
Cohen trump fit. Your reporter certainly doesn't want
his name on it.
THE 1996 ROMEX AWARD FOR
THE BEST BID HAND OF THE YEAR
Derek Patterson & Pat Collins (GBR)
Journalist: Brian Callaghan (GBR)
Source: From the 1995 Lederer Memorial Trophy in
Bulletin 371, page 12. Lederer Invitation Teams November
1995.
Dlr: North ♠ 10 9
Vul: Both 5 4
J 9 7 3 2
♣ J 6 5 3
♠ A K 8 2 ♠ Q
A J 9 8 K Q 7 6 3
10 8 4 A 6 5
♣ 9 7 ♣ K Q 8 2
♠ J 7 6 5 4 3
10 2
K Q
♣ A 10 4