Bridge

The World Bridge Tour had its first event of the year in combination with the wonderful Bridge Festival in Reykjavik. Only team Black, of the four British teams, made the play-offs, eventually finishing fourth, while the event was won by the American McAllister team with – who else – the Rimstedt twins on it.

I don’t know who coined the term ‘Nutmeg’ (a football term meaning playing the ball through an opponent’s legs) – but I heard about it probably ten years ago and wrote it up in this column at the time. I heard it again in the break between matches in the WBT round robin.

This was the auction at one table, but obviously there were variations. About half the field was in 6NT, the other half in the safer 6♣. South explained to me that he was sure partner had the ♦A to go with his million Clubs, and that entries to dummy therefore would not be a problem. But he was wrong; the Heart lead from West knocked out the vital entry to the blocked Club suit, and desperate measures were needed.

This particular South won the lead, unblocked the Ace of Clubs, and played the six of Diamonds up. With the ♦A almost certainly in the East hand, when West followed with the ♦4, Declarer asked for the 9. East had to take or he wouldn’t get any tricks at all, and with an entry to dummy it was a claim.

So what about the ‘Nutmeg’?

Well, suppose West realises the situation and puts up the Jack of Diamonds on the first round….