The World Bridge Games are taking place in Buenos Aires and I’m glued to my screen, kibitzing and checking the results at every opportunity. The superstars are out in force, and it’s riveting to compare the way they approach the same hands – and a great way to learn. That said, you’ll see certain bids which you probably shouldn’t try to emulate: their instincts and imaginations are on an altogether higher plane than most of ours. Indeed, I saw a number of bids which, if anyone I teach had made, I’d have ‘corrected’ at once!
Representing the USA in the Seniors Teams, for instance, Zia Mahmood (South), picked up ♠️J ♥️-♦️AKJ107643 ♣️AK82. When East opened 1♥️ he passed! West jumped to 3♥️ and when the bidding came back to Zia, he sprang to life with 4NT (showing both minors). When his partner bid 5♣️ he jumped to 6♦️. Could there be a more beautiful way to show both minors with longer, solid diamonds? He was obviously void in hearts, so it wasn’t hard for his partner to raise.
Another legend, the Polish player Michal Klukowski (representing Switzerland), also made an odd-looking bid on this hand against France (see diagram).
Every other West transferred into hearts and EW either ended up in an unmakeable 3♥️ or 4♥️, or else allowed North to play in 3♦️. Klukowski decided that 3NT was the best shot at game. How right he was! South led the ♠️Q, and when North played the ♠️7, East, Jacek Kalita, played a deceptive ♠️8. You can hardly blame South for continuing the suit – and Kalita had his nine tricks.
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