Michael Rosenberg

So much has been written about Zia Mahmood, that I think I better tell you that Zia does not play by himself!! He has forged a succesful partnership with Michael Rosenberg. I was going through the hand records of the Cavendish Pairs, the richest tournament on the bridge calendar (played in Las Vegas earlier this year, a change from the traditional New York) when the following hand demanded closer study.

Looking at the hands, I found that Hamman was in a good spot in 3 Hearts, and this seemed cold. Yet he went 2 down. Cannot be, I pondered, must be a mistake. No mistake!!! Can   you   see how he went 2 down?   Yes, you may look at all 4 hands!

Dlr: West Vul: ALL Rosenberg 10 7 3 10 9 8 3 10 6 5 A Q 2

Goren Q J 6 4 2 - - - K 8 7 2 K 8 5 4       Hamman 8 5 A K Q J 7 2 Q J 3 9 7

Zia A K 9 6 5 4 A 9 4 J 10 6 3

WEST Pass Pass All Pass

NORTH Pass 2 ª How do you think Hamman went 2 down??

EAST 1 Pass

SOUTH 2 3

Rosenberg led the Q !!!

Hamman ducked (can you blame him?), and Rosenberg continued with with a low club!!! Zia won with his 10, cashed his two top spades, and returned a low club. Hamman, thinking that Rosenberg led from Qx in clubs, ruffed high.

The opps collected the diamond ace, and a trump now to make it -2 !!!

Imaginative, huh ?