The Lederer Memorial Trophy attracts almost all of the country’s top players, together with visitors from abroad. Prizes are awarded for the best played, bid and defended hands of the tournament, and today’s deal caught the eye of the judges. Game all, dealer West.
When Espen Erichsen, a Norwegian who has lived in London for many years and represented England at international events, held the North cards he decided that they were worth a strong no trump opening. East overcalled the obvious four spades, and South’s double was showing values rather than purely for penalty. We are taught that when we have made a limited opening such as 1NT we leave future decisions to partner – but this was no ordinary 1NT opening, and Erichsen removed his partner’s double to five diamonds. East led the king of spades and declarer won with the ace. He laid down the ace of diamonds and next led the 10 of hearts from his hand. East won the ace of hearts, cashed the queen of spades, and led the 10 of clubs. Erichsen put up dummy’s ace, led a diamond and finessed his 10, drew trumps and threw his losing club on dummy’s fourth heart. That was a very fine piece of card reading, and that won him the award for declarer play.
At the other table North..[ilink url=”http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/dec/01/zia-mahmood-bridge-lederer-memorial”]click here[/ilink] to continue reading