Bridge

This deal won the Digital Fountain Best Played Hand Award from the International Bridge Press Association for the Norwegian star Geir Helgemo. It did not occur in a major event, but on the internet.

South opened the bidding with One Heart, North responded One Spade, East intervened with Two Diamonds, and the final contract was Four Hearts. On a NT lead there is an easy route home, a diamond ruff in dummy supplying the 10th trick.

But it was a trump that emerged from West, to the four, queen and ace. Now, when in with a diamond, king and another heart scuppers the ruff.

So, Helgemo set out to establish the fifth spade, hoping for a 4-3 break. He cashed the ace and king in dummy, discarding a diamond from his hand. However, East showed out on the third spade. Helgemo ruffed, then led the heart jack to East's king. Back came a heart to dummy's nine. West cannot release a black card without assisting declarer, and did well to discard the diamond king. Helgemo now ducked a diamond, East winning. If East plays a club, declarer ducks, West wins - and is endplayed. In fact a diamond was returned. This was the position:

East: 3Q954 284.

South: 110 38 2AK65.

West: 4Q9 2QJ93

North: 4104 3A 21072.

West could not afford a club, so released the spade nine. Dummy won, a spade was ruffed, and a low club towards the ten left West without resource. Brilliantly handled.

Love all; dealer South

North

4 A K 10 4 2

1 9 7 4

3 A 2

2 10 7 2

South

4 3

1 A J 10 8 6

3 8 7 6

2 A K 6 5

West

4 Q 9 8 6 5

1 3 2

3 K 10

2 Q J 9 3

East

4 J 7

1 K Q 5

3 Q J 9 5 4 3

2 8 4