Beaver County Times – Feb 27, 1996
Terence Reese regarded by many as the world’s greatest player died at his home in London at the end of January 1996. One of the originators of the Acol System, he was the mainstay of powerful British teams, including the 1955 World Champion squad.
This hand from the 1964 World Bridge Olympiad qualifying round match between Britain and Switzerland, appeals to us for its beauty and symmetry. The British North-South pair had languished in three-no-trump, making 11 tricks.
Jaime Ortiz-Patiño (North) and Pietro Bernasconi had, thanks to the mirror distribution in the black suits reached an ambitious six-diamond con-tract on the auction shown.
To make the slam once hearts had been cleared and trumps were drawn, declarer had to try to strip a defender of one black suit, then throw him in with the other to force a ruff-and-sluff.
The opening lead was won in dummy and a heart was ruffed. Trumps were drawn in three rounds, ending on the table, and another heart was ruffed. Declarer cashed the king of spades and Reese dropped the queen!
Next, declarer tried the king of clubs — another queen from East. When Reese followed to the ace of clubs with the deuce, declarer continued with a third club. East won but was able to exit with a spade — down one since West’s jack of spades couldn’t be shut out.
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