The mighty five

North opened an off-shape 1 nary trump, which did not person overmuch effect connected the auction. North-South reached the champion crippled declaration disposable to them. West successful today’s woody was Gunnar Hallberg. Hallberg is simply a autochthonal of Sweden, but helium has lived successful London for galore years, playing rubber span for the highest stakes helium tin find. He has made occasional forays into the tourney satellite with notable success. All the world’s champion players cognize precisely who helium is.

Hallberg started by cashing his 2 apical hearts. Not seeing thing amended to do, helium continued with a 3rd circular of the suit. Declarer ruffed with dummy’s jack and discarded a debased nine from his hand. He led a spade to his queen, losing to Hallberg’s king. Hallberg led a 4th circular of hearts. East ruffed this with the 5 of spades, promoting Hallberg’s trump holding into different trick. Down 1 aft a beauteous defense. It would not person helped declarer to ruff the 3rd bosom with dummy’s six of spades. If helium past overtook the jack of spades with the queen, Hallberg would triumph and a 4th circular of hearts would execute the aforesaid promotion. Should declarer tally the jack, Hallberg would duck and South would not beryllium capable to get disconnected the array effectively. There is simply a winning play. South has to triumph the archetypal circular of spades with his ace and proceed with the queen. That would forestall the uppercut and bring location the contract.