MindZine - Bridge

Perhaps it is fitting that when the European Championships were played in Killany, possibly the best defensive hand was played by Pat Walsh for the Irish team. It cropped up in their match against Poland when Walsh was facing Adam Zmudzinski and Cesare Balicki. Walsh played kings to the first three tricks! This is what happened.

Dealer North.
Love all (hand rotated)

A J 8 7 6

10 9 7 6 2

A 6

K 10 9

	N
W		E
	S

3 2

K 9 3 2

5 3

A K Q 8 4

K Q 10 5

J 9 4 3 2

A Q J 7 6 5 4

Q 10 5

8 7

Zmudzinski opened the North hand 2 showing a two suiter, red or black. Balicki bid an invitational 3 which North raised to four. Walsh sitting West led K taken with the ace. Declarer took a spade finesse to Walsh's K and he led the K to the next trick.

Now there was no way declarer could get to hand without incurring a heart ruff for one down!