Ludington Daily News – 4 May 1994
Continuing our look at bridge professionals, we come to Eric Rodwell. Opposites attract, they say, and it is true for Rodwell and his partner, Jeff Meckstroth. While Meckstroth is a natural, quick player, Rodwell is slower and more methodical, always trying to find the right technical play. It is a formula that works; they have been one of the world’s most successful pairs over the last 15 years.
On today’s deal, Rodwell made a play that would be overlooked by many. Actually, a world champion playing at another table missed it. North’s slightly ambitious jump to five hearts asked partner to bid six with good trumps.
South, with the fourth-best heart holding, was happy to oblige. West leads the spade three and the dummy covers with the four.
Which spade should East choose?
Most players have “third hand high” firmly locked in. They play, the queen first and think second. But it is fatal here.
South draws three rounds of trumps before leading a low spade. It cannot help West to ruff, so he discards. After winning with dummy’s ace, declarer finesses the spade nine through East, picking up the whole suit. South loses just one trump trick.
Rodwell doesn’t make automatic plays. After looking closely at the spades spots, he put in the seven.
South won with the jack and drew three rounds of trumps. But now, after declarer had led a spade to dummy’s ace, Rodwell still held the Q-10. He had to score a spade trick to go with his partner’s trump trick: one down. The spade seven was a simple yet effective play.