Bridge

THE UNMAKEABLE IS MADE

Adam Meredith was one of the greatest players of all time. For twenty years - answering to the nickname “Plum” - he was the brightest star on the British tournament scene. In the decade following the second World War, he scored five victories in the Gold Cup, and won two European and one World title.

Meredith was noted for his imaginative and aggressive bidding style. His tactics would land him in improbable contracts, but his brilliant card play often saved the day. As a classic example of his ability to ‘make the unmakeable’, consider the following deal from the 1955 World Championships. At one table in the match, the U.S. North played in one no-trump and misjudged the play slightly, to go one down. At the other table, Meredith found himself in game, and he could see that his long club suit was almost useless, for the defenders would surely hold up the ace for one round. However, he succeeded in fooling West.

FINE IMITATION

Spades were led and continued, and Meredith won the second round with the ace and led the jack of clubs. Instead of playing low, however, he put up his king, giving a fine imitation of a man trying desperately to reach his hand in order to take a heart finesse. West fell into the trap. He won with the ace and led another spade - and there was no longer a defence. Declarer won the diamond switch with the ace, finessed the nine of clubs to bring in four club tricks, and then finessed the jack of hearts to land four heart tricks. Adam Meredith had made four more tricks than the U.S. declarer at the other table.