Sandbin for Sandqvist by Ace Ventura This nicely played hand comes from the second session of the Mixed-Pairs Semifinal A. North opens 1♠ and South shows support in spades later in the auction. How many tricks as East would you make in 4♥ when South leads the ace of spades then switches to the nine of diamonds? ♠ 3 ♥ K J 7 ♦ 5 3 2 ♣ 1 0 9 8 6 ♠ K 8 7 ♥ Q 1 0 5 4 ♦ Q 1 0 ♣ 5 4 2 Well, one can hope the diamond honours will be well-placed in North’s hand. In that case a second finesse in diamonds provides the tenth trick. Shall we agree on ten tricks? Nicklas Sandqvist, the Swede who, for a quite number of years now, flew from all the Swedish good-looking girls to a better weather climate (?) in England, was the only one in the field to make eleven tricks. This was the full layout: Dealer North, All vul Board 13   ♠ Q J 10 6 5 4 ♥ 2 ♦ K J 8 6 ♣ K Q ♠ 3 ♥ A K J 7 ♦ 5 3 2 ♣ A 10 9 8 6 ♠ K 8 7 ♥ Q 10 5 4 ♦ A Q 10 ♣ 5 4 2   ♠ A 9 2 ♥ 9 8 6 3 ♦ 9 7 4 ♣ J 7 3 West North East South Dhondy Sandqvist 1♠ Pass Pass Dble Pass 2♠* Dble 3♣ Pass 3♥ Pass 4♥ All Pass     At some tables North/South judged correctly and took a sacrifice in 4♠, for a maximum of –500. However, back to Nicklas. When South switched to the nine of diamond at trick two, North played the jack and Nicklas won the queen. Next came a club to the ace and a successful diamond-finesse. Ace and king of trumps exposed the bad trump-break. Nicklas changed tactics and continued with a diamond to the ace then the king of spades and a spade ruff. This was the ending:   ♠ Q J 10 ♥ - ♦ - ♣ K ♠ - ♥ J ♦ - ♣ 10 9 8 ♠ - ♥ Q 10 ♦ - ♣ 5 4   ♠ - ♥ 9 8 ♦ - ♣ J 7 A club followed – and North was thrown in. He had only spades left to play for a ruff and a discard. This brilliant performance contributed to a sixth place for Dhondy/Sandqvist at the end of the Semi-Finals.

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