BRIDGE
Best of British
Susanna Gross
THE WORLD's spotlight may be on Syd- ney, but to bridge fans the really important sporting showdown took place a week earli- er at Maastricht, where 72 countries battled it out in the World Teams Olympiad.
The eventual winners of the Open Cham- pionship were Italy, but the British team caused huge excitement back home by com- ing fourth — the best result we've had in almost 25 years. The six British players were on top form throughout. The audience par- ticulary enjoyed the defence put up by Brian Callaghan and David Burn against the Nor- wegians Helgemo and Helness on this hand: Dealer East K Q 9 3 ♦ A Q 5 • 6 3 J 9 8 5 4 V • • 10 6 J 10 10 8 10 7 5 8 3 2 Love All 2
• A 8 2 V 7 6 ♦ K Q J 7 5 4 6 6 3
N W E • J 7 4 ♦ K 9 4 ♦ A 9 • A K Q 4 2 The Bidding East South West North Helness Callaghan Helgemo Burn 1♦ 1NT Double 2V 3♦ pass 3NT All pass Burn led the •J and Helgemo won and played on diamonds. Callaghan won the second diamond, with Burn signalling an odd number. Callaghan knew that Helge- mo had only two diamonds and three hearts, and must hold at least four clubs. He therefore led a low club, hoping Burn had Jx, which would defeat Helgemo, or 10x, which would put him to a guess.
It was now Helgemo's turn to think. Callaghan was marked with most of the points, but would he really underlead +AKQ? While Helgemo is a household name in bridge, Callaghan is not (yet) was this unknown Englishman capable of such a brilliant defence? Finally, he decid- ed he was, and put up the +J. The Norwe- gians gained nine 'imps' (international match points) on the board — but were left in no doubt that the British were a team to be reckoned with.
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