The Free Lance-Star – 17 Ago 1992 by Steve Becker
This deal from the United States-Great Britain match at the 1991 World Team Championship brought together two pairs noted for their aggressive bidding styles.
North-South were Eric Rodwell and Jeff Meckstroth of the United States, pitted against Britain’s Tony Forrester and Andy Robson. Both pairs lived up to their advance billing as the auction unfolded.
Robson began by opening an off-shape one notrump (12-14 points in the partnership style). When this rolled around to Meckstroth, he bid two clubs for takeout. Robson then showed his true colors by leaping to three diamonds. This did not silence Rodwell, who cuebid diamonds to ask his partner to choose a major suit, and Meckstroth’s four heart bid ended the auction. Robson led the ace and another diamond, declarer discarding a spade on the king.
Meckstroth was then confronted by the problem of how to tackle the trump suit. With little knowledge of the location of the missing honor cards, Meckstroth decided to delay playing trumps until he could learn a little more about the opponents holdings in the other suits. So at trick three he led a spade to the jack and was gratified to see this force the ace.
Declarer won West’s spade return with the king and reviewed what he had learned up to this point West had to have six diamonds for his three diamond bid, so he could not hold more than three clubs (more than three clubs would give him a singleton — not consistent with his original notrump bid). So Meckstroth next played the A-K and another club, ruffing the third round in dummy without fear of being overruffed by East. Declarer was now ready to tackle the trump suit. Since West had already shown up with the ace of spades, queen of clubs and a strong diamond suit headed by the ace, he could not hold the heart king So Meckstroth played the ace and an-other heart, and when East produced the king, the game was home.