Tips from Barnet Shenkin: Hail Mary
Those members of Clyde BC that came to watch the World Championship final witnessed something highly unusual in our game. In American football they call a "Hail Mary” a move made in desperation but with little chance of success.
After 2 sets in the final Rosenthal trailed Fleisher by 69 imps. The Vugraph commentators thought the match almost beyond revival. Boye Brogeland had not come to Poland just to give up hope in the final of a World Championship, and he decided on a similar move to try and revive his team's fortunes.
♠ Q4
♥ QJT2
♦ KT42
♣ J64
♠ KJT63
♥ A5
♦ 87533
♣ A5
♠ A2
♥ K86
♦ AQ
♣ KQ9872
♠ 9875
♥ 9743
♦ J96
♣ T3
| West (Martel) | North (Bakke) | East (Fleisher) | South (Brogeland) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 H* | |||
| 1 S | 3 D** | 4 S | All Pass |
The Hail Mary
** Hearts with values
West had a normal 1 S overcall and North's bid showed a heart raise with some values. East saw the action before him and decided to settle on game in partner’s suit. So, the opening was there for a big swing – in the other room.
| West (Willenken) | North (Drijver) | East (Schaltz) | South (Brink) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pass | |||
| 1 S | Pass | 2 C | Pass |
| 2 D | Pass | 2 H | Pass | 2 NT | Pass | 3 C | Pass |
| 3 S | Pass | 4 C | Pass | 4 H | Pass | 7 C | All Pass |
With the same idea of going for a swing Martin Schalz jumped to 7♣.
He received the lead of the ♥3.
He had a choice of lines. Either draw trump and play three spades or play spades before trumps. If north had a small doubleton spade, and three trumps, he could then ruff a spade, back to the ♣A to ruff another spade, draw trumps, back to the ♥K, pitch a heart on the long spade, and take a diamond finesse. If spades were 3-3 or Qx in either hand this line would be successful or 4-2 with the ♦K right.
When the ♠Q fell he could claim after trumps broke.
The operation by Brogeland was a success and worth 16 imps to Rosenthal.
The set ended 38 – 5 and the deficit now was 36 imps with 14 boards to play.
We now had a bridge match with the outcome uncertain. Rosenthal did pull back a further 10 imps in the final set- which did give a couple of opportunities. However, team Fleisher survived, Brogeland’s effort will be displayed in bridge columns around the world and perhaps as well as his silver medal he should also receive a medal for bravery,
