This is a deal set by Mr. Anant Bhagwat, from the Hirabaug Invited Pairs event held on 17th May 09. 16 pairs were invited from Mumbai, along with 16 pairs from Pune. Surprisingly, in an event that tested technical knowledge of the game, 11 Pune pairs finished in the top 16! Surprising because most of the Mumbai players are professionals.

The first session had 30 deals set by Anant Bhagwat, while the second session had 32 deals set by Mr. S. V. Cholkar. At the end of the tournament, participants were given a booklet with analyses of all 62 deals. Excellent deals, with good educative value for serious students of bridge. Photocopies of the booklet can be made available for those interested.




South plays in 4 ♠ after West opens 1NT.
West leads A,K,J. South ruffs the third round and plays?

It is tempting to start those trumps immediately, but wait..
West is known to have the ♠ A and the ♣ K.
If you touch trumps, West can win and lock you in dummy with a heart.
Now you must promote the ♠9 for West if he started with ♠ A 9 x x.

The solution? Cash the A, K before playing trumps!

Terence Reese calls this type of a play the 'Dentist's coup', as declarer 'extracts' a defender's safe exits.