A lucky escape
By Djanwar Madjolelo
JAKARTA (JP): American Jeff Meckstroth was fortunate to escape after ending up in a contract he should never have got to. Norwegians Geir Helgemo and Tor Helness were the victims, a role they are not used to, in this hand from a match between USA II and Norway.
Vulnerable: All
Dealer : East
NORTH
(S) K 7 5 3
(H) K 8
(D) K J 9 7 4
(C) 3 2
WEST EAST
(S) 10 4 (S) A 9 8
(H) Q 3 (H) J 10 6 5 2
(D) 5 (D) A 10 2
(C) A J 10 9 7 6 5 4 (C) K 8
SOUTH
(S) Q J 6 2
(H) A 9 7 4
(D) Q 9 6 3
(C) Q
The contract was 5 Clubs by Meckstroth as West (Yes, 3 NT is much easier!). Helness led a low Diamond, and Jeff played the 10 from dummy. Of course Helgemo's Queen held the trick.
Now South, a young, promising and confident player, played back a Diamond. And suddenly there was no longer any efficient defense!
Meckstroth discarded a Heart on the Diamond Ace and led a Heart to his Queen. Helness won this and fired back a Spade -- but it was too late. Meckstroth rose with the Ace and played the Heart Jack. South had to put up the Ace, which Meckstroth ruffed in hand.
He cashed the Ace of Clubs and crossed to the Club King and the Heart 10 took care of his Spade loser.
"I tell you this man is dangerous. We shall do everything possible to keep him under control" reported Jean-Paual Meyer (France) in an IBPA special bulletin in Hammamet, November 1997.
Not everything Meckstroth does finishes with such a Houdini act however.
The ACBL (American Contract Bridge League) Appeals and Charges Committee met last July to consider several procedural violations allegedly committed by him and his partner Eric Rodwell at the 1997 U.S. international team trial.
The Committee, after a full and fair hearing, determined:
1) That Jeff Meckstroth was guilty of looking at on opponent's hand after becoming dummy, and
2) That both Jeff Meckstroth and Eric Rodwell were guilty of being together in a restroom without an escort while a hand was in progress.
On Board 86 of the match between the Nickell and Katz teams, Meckstroth and Rodwell were alone in the Men's Room after Meckstroth had seen a defender's hand and before Rodwell had begun to play the hand.
The Committee issued a reprimand which will be made public, but will not be made a matter of record on either player's disciplinary file. There is no allegation that either player actually spoke to the other, or that Rodwell gained any advantage in the play of the hand.
The Committee did not receive any evidence that the violations were motivated by improper reasons and both players apologized for having created the situation which gave rise to the charges.
The Committee believes that the ACBL should be more diligent in conducting this type of event to ensure that players follow established rules and regulations.