Reputation is its own Reward

by Mark Horton

When Oscar Wilde arrived in the United States of America in 1882 he was asked if he had anything to declare. ‘Only my genius’ was his retort.

When he arrived in Sao Paulo, a customs officer asked Zia Mahmood if he had anything to declare. ‘Only my reputation’ he replied.

It served him well on this deal from the match between Norway and USA I one of the most interesting of the championships so far:

Dealer West. None Vul
	♠ J 8 6 5 3 ♥ K J 8 2 ♦ Q ♣ 9 6 5
♠ 4 ♥ A Q 10 5 ♦ A K J 5 3 ♣ J 8 7		♠ A Q 2 ♥ 9 4 ♦ 10 9 ♣ A K Q 10 4 3
	♠ K 10 9 7 ♥ 7 6 3 ♦ 8 7 6 4 2 ♣ 2

Closed Room

Eschewing the traditional (and overrated) lead of a trump against a grand slam Zia led a very testing six of hearts, removing a vital entry. Declarer had good reason to enter the think tank. Knowing Zia was more than capable of underleading the king of hearts, he eventually concluded that his best chance was to finesse at trick one, so he was a fast one down. Had been up against a lesser mortal he would no doubt have sought an alternative line of play.

While we were waiting for East to play a card (one of the Editors read the first chapter of War and Peace) we considered the following line:

Rise with the ace of hearts, cross to the ace of spades and ruff a spade. Now it costs nothing and offers a miniscule extra chance if you cash the ace of diamonds. You plan to run your trumps, taking the diamond finesse in due course, making the contact when the suit behaves or when South, in addition to the assumed diamond queen has one or more of the major suit kings, when he will be squeezed.

When the queen of diamonds appears you simply run your trumps, squeezing South in the pointed suits.

Open Room

4♦ Keycard ask
4NT 2 keycards
5♥ Asking about diamonds
7♣ ♦AK

Here South led the three of hearts and declarer went up with the ace, crossed to hand with a trump and ran the nine of diamonds (the best line). North won and cashed the king of hearts for two down and a 2 IMP pick up.

Although the grand slam was made a few times it was only when a trump or a diamond was led, no declarer managing it on a heart lead. Other deals from this match can be found on page 11.