Janet de Botton

Bridge | 10 August 2024

issue 10 August 2024

What can you say about the Rimstedt brothers that hasn’t already been said? They returned from the American Nationals in Toronto just in time to join their father’s team, and went on to win the Chairman’s Cup in Sweden for the third year running.

This hand was reported to me by a friend who was there, showing that, not only are they incredibly good, they also sometimes like to play to the gallery (see diagram).

West’s little toy showed five-five in two unknown suits (yes, apparently that’s still legal in some parts of the world), and East’s 3♣ just asked to bail out as soon as possible. What was Mikael to do but overcall Sweden’s favourite bid – 3 NT?

The lead was the ♠J, won by declarer, and the King of Hearts was taken by West who continued Spades to South. The ♥Q brought the bad – if not unexpected – news, when West threw a Diamond, and play stopped for a while.

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