Reports from the Spring 2025 NABC Memphis

Photos source: ACBL

112 Pairs set out in pursuit of the Norman Kay Platinum Pairs, the two-day qualifying and semifinal sessions reducing the field to 28 pairs. Tim van de Paverd and Oscar Nijssen finished just behind Vincent Demuy and Dror Padon on day one, but their positions were reversed on day two. There is a carryover at each stage, but it was the pair who qualified in 19th place, Kevin Rosenberg and Zia Mahmmood, who lifted the trophy, almost two tops clear of the field.

Man of Steel

When you can see that your contract is in mortal danger it takes a lot of courage to turn a blind eye to the danger. Look at this deal from the semifinal of the Kay Platinum Pairs:

When North indicated a fit for diamonds South bid game, hoping there would be nine winners. East led the ♠K and declarer could see that not only were there were only eight tricks, but the heart suit was wide open. Nevertheless, he calmly withheld the ♠A as West followed with the ♠9. When East switched to the ♣K, West contributing the ♣6, declarer once again withheld an ace.

When East continued with the ♠8 declarer won with dummy’s ♠J and cashed six diamonds, forcing East down to ♠Q10 ♣Q7. A spade to the ace and second spade discarding the ♣J meant ten tricks, +630 and 98%. If East exits with a diamond at trick three, declarer will cash six tricks in the suit. East, down to ♠Q10 ♥K9 ♣Q7, will be forced to part with a heart on the last of these. Declarer can then exit with a heart and if West tries going up with the ♥A and playing a spade declarer wins and exits with a spade, endplaying East. Amusingly if East then exits with the ♣7, declarer’s ninth trick will be the ♥10.

Memory Lane

If you are of a certain age you may recall the Bols Bridge Tip series, in which the world’s best players offered their advice. Tony Forrester’s contribution revolved around the power of declarer’s hidden hand. This deal from the semifinal of the Kay Platinum Pairs shows how declarer can sometimes create a smoke screen that the defenders cannot penetrate:

The combination of the 4-1 trump break and the singleton diamond is enough to ensure the demise of 4♥, but even so one must admire Zia’s lead of the ♠A followed by the ♠4.

Paoluzi/Botta as East/West had the same auction against Donati/Kolesnik, but Finn Kolesnik started with the ♦Q and declarer won in dummy and played three rounds of hearts ending in dummy, North discarding the ♦6 and the ♠2. Declarer pitched a spade on the ♦K, but South ruffed and switched to the ♣3. Declarer had four black suit losers and that meant -100.

Todd Werby decided on a different approach with the East hand and played in 3NT:

South led the ♥J and declarer won with the ♥A and played two rounds of diamonds discarding the ♠5 as South parted with the ♠4. Appreciating that the hearts were probably not breaking, declarer’s next move was to play the ♠3 for the two, jack and queen! South exited with the ♥10 and declarer won with dummy’s ♥K, as North pitched the ♦8. He cashed the ♦J pitching a club and ran the ♥8, North discarding the ♣Q. When South exited with the ♣3 for the ten and ace, declarer cashed two more hearts and on the last of them, North, down to ♠K8 ♣J7, discarded the ♠8. Declarer exited with a spade and when North won with the ♠K he had to lead into the club tenace for a majestic +430. It was a brilliant piece of deceptive play.

See more articles from NABC Memphis