Master at Work

Hand of the Week

Dlr:
South
VUL:
E-W
North
♠ A 7
J 6 3
J 5
♣ Q J 9 6 4 2
South
♠ K 10 6 5
K 9 8 7 5
A 10 4
♣ 5
West North East South
1
2 2 Pass Pass
2♠ 3♣ Dbl 3
All Pass

–>

Jeff Meckstroth is properly regarded as one of the best bridge players in the world. This deal, from the 1999 Cavendish, won him an award for best-played hand of the year. Meckstroth was South.

West led the A and another heart after Meckstroth had opened on very light values.

Meckstroth immediately formed a picture of the West hand – four spades, six diamonds, a probably singleton club honor (no club lead) and likely split diamond honors (no high diamond lead).

At trick three, Meckstroth led his singleton club, won the return of the ♠Q in dummy, and advanced the ♣Q, covered and ruffed. This was the ending:

North
♠ 7
J
J 5
♣ J 9 6 4
West
♠ J 9 3
K 9 8 7 3
East
♠ 8 4
Q
Q 6
♣ 10 8 7
South
♠ K 10 6
9 8
A 10 4

Meckstroth was on lead as South, needing six more tricks. As you can see, playing on diamonds does not work. East will take the trick and draw a round of trumps. Ruffing a spade in dummy brings you to eight tricks, but not to nine.

Meckstroth found the spectacular coup of leading the ♠10 from hand!

If West takes the trick and leads either spade back (a diamond is no better), declarer wins in hand, pitching a diamond from dummy. He plays the A, ruffs a diamond, ruffs a club and leads a losing heart to endplay East into leading a club from the 10-8 into dummy’s J-9.

West actually ducked the ♠10, hoping his partner had the king. That let Meckstroth cashed the ♠K to pitch a diamond, cash the A and ruff a diamond. He then scored the ♣J and ruffed a club for nine tricks and an award from the International Bridge Press Association.

The full deal:

North
♠ A 7
J 6 3
J 5
♣ Q J 9 6 4 2
West
♠ Q J 9 3
A 4
K 9 8 7 3 2
♣ K
East
♠ 8 4 2
Q 10 2
Q 6
♣ A 10 8 7 3
South
♠ K 10 6 5
K 9 8 7 5
A 10 4
♣ 5

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