Best Ever Played? by Jean Paul Meyer

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:

Dealer South. Both Vul

	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
	1	Pass	1NT
Pass	Pass	Dbl	2
3NT	Pass	Pass	Pass

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 A 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.