Let’s face it, part-score contracts can be a bit of a yawn. When browsing through bridge books or bulletins, I always skim over part-scores to read about games and slams – that’s when my adrenalin gets going. And I must admit, it’s the same at the table: the higher the contract, the more alive I feel.
Big mistake! After all, whether you’re playing pairs or teams, a single IMP can spell victory or defeat. Part-scores deserve our sweat and blood too. l was reminded of this (and gave myself a salutary kicking) while reading Marc Smith’s fascinating interview with the Polish star Michal Klukowski. At just 28, Michal is widely regarded as the best player in the world. When asked for one of his all-time favourite hands, Michal chose this, from the 2022 US Nationals in Phoenix. He was playing the Platinum Pairs, and East was none other than the legendary Jeff Meckstroth:
West (David Berkowitz) led the ♣️A, then the ♣️K. Michal ruffed and cashed the ♦️A. Next he played the ♥️Q to Meckstroth’s ♥K. Meckstroth returned the ♦️J. Michal won with the ♦️K, crossed to the ♥️A , then played the ♥️10! His reasoning? Meckstroth knew he had seven diamonds; if he didn’t hold the ♥️J, he’d have returned a spade ‘because it cannot be wrong’. Meckstroth covered with the ♥️J and Michal ruffed. He crossed to the ♦️Q, threw a spade on the ♥️7, and ran the ♠️J, guessing correctly because, in his view, Berkowitz wouldn’t have doubled 2♦️ without the ♠️A. At the end, the great Meckstroth turned to Michal and said: ‘You’re the only player in the world who would have made this contract’. The rest of us can only dream…
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