North-South Vulnerable
Dealer East

	NORTH ª J84 © QJ ¨ AK9832 § QJ
(Omar Sharif) ª none © AK987432 ¨ Q7 § 984		(Christian Mari) ªAK10973 © 5 ¨ J10654 § 3
	SOUTH ª Q652 © 106 ¨ none § AK107652

In January I made my annual pilgrimage to the Macallan World Invitation Pairs in London. The older bridge players amongst us can take heart from the fact that Boris Shapiro was playing. Boris, erstwhile partner of the late Terence Reese, is a current world veterans' champion. As he is now in his 90th year, this makes him the oldest reigning world champion in any recognised game. The world's best known bridge player, Omar Sharif (who, among his other talents, speaks fluent French) partnered Christian Mari of France. The above deal appeared in their match against the Polish champions, Michal Kwiecien and Jacek Pszczola (try that for size, typesetters!). Omar, sitting West, found himself defending a contract of five clubs by South, doubled by his partner.

Leading a top heart, Omar noted that his partner followed with the five, the lowest card not already visible. Having a void in spades, the suit bid by his partner during the auction, Omar was unable to lead his partner's suit. As his partner would have followed with his higher heart if he held a doubleton, Omar led the nine of hearts (a high spot card showing an interest in spades, even if his partner did not hold the top honours) trusting that his partner was now able to trump it. His partner duly trumped, then led ace, king and then a small spade, which Omar trumped to record an 800 penalty. There is a case for West continuing with a top heart at trick two, just in case East is void in trumps, but East then needs to trump his partner's master card to record the maximum penalty, something that requires courage even at this level of bridge. At the other tables, all game contracts were defeated, except for one East-West pair who made four hearts, when North led the ace, then king of diamonds and switched to a spade. The only other East-West to record an 800 penalty were the Chinese pair, Xu Hongjun and Zhuang Zejun. On this occasion, Xu did lead the second top heart against five clubs doubled, but his partner had enough oriental wisdom to trump it.

The overall winners for the second year in succession were the Norwegian pair, Helmego and Helness. Sharif and Mari came third in the event, out of sixteen of the world's best bridge pairs. Proof, if you still need it, that Omar is not just a film star who plays bridge; he is a world class player. Maybe they will invite me to play next year. Well, we all have our fantasies, don't we?.

LOCAL NEWS Abingdon Congratulations to Debbie Roberts and John Clifford for winning the Large Cup for mixed pairs. Wessex League Results Wallingford A 6 University 14, Abingdon B 11 Oxford D 9, Abingdon C 6 Aylesbury C 14, Abingdon C 14 Wallingford C 6, Blewbury 7 Aylesbury C 13, Blewbury 6 Thame B 14, Abingdon D 16 Wantage 4, Wantage 14 Bicester B 6.
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