Eysteinsson, Armannsson capture pairs c'ships

By Djanwar Madjolelo

JAKARTA (JP): Former Bermuda Bowl 1991 world champion, Bjorn Eysteinnson, and Nordic champion S. Armannsson formed a formidable partnership to capture the Reykjavik Pairs Championships in Iceland 1995.

Here is a master defense from Armannsson in this deal from the finals:

Dealer: South

Vulnerable: All

NORTH

(S) 8 5

(H) 5

(D) J 10 9 4 3

(C) 10 8 7 5 4

WEST EAST

(S) Q J 4 2 (S) A 6 3

(H) A 10 7 (H) K 9 8 6 3 2

(D) K Q 5 (D) 8

(C) 9 6 3 (C) A Q 2

SOUTH

(S) K 10 9 7

(H) Q J 4

(D) A 7 6 2

(C) K J

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

Armannsson Eysteinson

1NT Pass Pass Double

Pass Pass 2D 2H

Pass 3NT All pass

South's No Trump bid was 13-15 points, and the other bids were self explanatory. Alert readers are now aware that getting four Hearts would be easy for East/West and it is essential that North/South avoid an overtrick in a No Trumps game.

North led the Jack of Diamonds, eight, deuce (encouraging) from South and the declarer won with the King. The play was not very complicated, the high card situation was very clear and the declarer started on Hearts at once.

He led the Ace, then the ten, which he ducked to South. The defense looks automatic, you play the Ace of Diamonds and another Diamond!

The declarer will win with the Queen and play all the Hearts. When the last Heart is played, South has a five card endplay: K 10 in Spade, one Diamond and K J Clubs. What's his discard?

Yes, it is obvious he is caught in a very ordinary squeeze.

But Armannsson saw the danger right away. When he took the Heart trick, he did not cash the Ace of Diamonds, but led a low Diamond.

This destroyed the declarer's timing completely and when he ran the Hearts, Armannsson calmly discarded the Ace of Diamonds.

Eventually, when he got his black King, he led a Diamond. Nine tricks for the declarer (East/West) and a complete zero.

Truly a master defense.