1995 Bermuda Bowl
It is difficult to say a hand is the best ever played. What I can say is that Michel Lebel said it was the best hand HE had ever played. When such an experienced player says this, it means something. Let’s have a look at the board:
 K Q 6 5 4 K 10 6 4 10 8 4 3 |
||
| 3 2 A 7 5 A 9 7 6 5 Q J 9 |
A J 10 9 7 Q J 2 K 8 2 K 10 |
|
| 8 9 8 3 Q J 4 3 A 7 6 5 2 |
| West | North | East | South |
| Pass |
|||
| Pass | 1 |
Pass |
1NT |
| Pass | Pass | Dbl | 2 |
| 3NT | The end | ||
So Lebel, West, was declarer in 3 NT. A club was led and the king was allowed to hold. Lebel played the DK and let the 8 ride. A third round went to the A, and a fourth round of diamonds was played, North having discarded a heart and two spades.
In hand with the Q, South exited with a small club. West had six tricks in the bag when he played his last diamond:
| K Q 6 K 10 6 8 |
||
| 3 2 A 7 5 5 J |
A J 10 9 Q J 2 |
|
| 8 9 8 3 A 7 6 |
On the 5 North discarded a spade, as did East, and South has to discard a heart. Now came a brilliant J:
| K Q K 10 6 8 |
||
| 3 2 A 7 5 J |
A J 10 Q J 2 |
|
| 8 9 8 A 7 6 |
South took the CA and another high club, but in the final position:
| K Q K 10 |
||
| 3 A 7 5 |
A J Q J |
|
| 8 9 8 6 |
SOUTH HAS THE CHOICE FROM AMONG THREE EQUALLY BAD ACTIONS!
A club squeezes his partner.
A spade allows East to throw North in hand to play a heart away from his king.
A heart is ducked and declarer makes two heart tricks.
Yes, educated readers would have found a pedestrian way of winning the contract by taking the first trick in hand and playing a spade, which has to be ducked by North, and then attacking diamonds. But Lebel’s play is so much nicer.