You’re probably going to think I’ve made up this week’s hand. It’s one of those problems you read about in quiz books which rarely occur at the table — and, even when they do, almost nobody spots the dazzlingly imaginative solution till it’s too late.
Anyway, this is a real hand, played years ago during a game of rubber bridge. But I can’t name the player who made it: he has expressly forbidden me from doing so as he doesn’t want to sound as if he’s been boasting. I know — it’s almost unheard of: a modest expert in a field of trumpet-blowing egomaniacs (remember Bob Hamman’s quip that you should never ask a top player who he thinks is the best in the world, only the second best). Well, a small act of rebellion on my part: the player’s initials are BM, and he’s fairly well known on the bridge circuit. Here’s the hand:
West led the ♥6. West has at most two hearts, so you can’t ruff three in dummy without being overruffed. If you draw trumps, you can’t get to dummy to enjoy your long diamonds. BM’s answer? He ruffed the heart, came to hand with a trump, ruffed a second heart, and ruffed a club back to hand. Then he cashed another high spade, unblocked the ♦AK and…exited with the ♠2! West was forced to win and was endplayed: either a club or a diamond gave BM an entry to dummy. Why would anyone in their right mind want to remain anonymous after playing like that?
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