It was almost 20 years ago that I partnered Omar – in Juan-Les-Pins. He really did play well then and I heard the great news that the old magic hadn’t disappeared.

On one deal Omar held ♠ x ♥ - ♦ Axxx ♣ AKQJxxxx. He heard his left-hand opponent open a “Multi 2 ♦ (showing a weak hand with a sixcard major) and right-hand opponent bid 2 NT (strong ask). Omar tried 3 NT – for now – and was surprised to be left there. Left-hand opponent led the queen of diamonds and dummy tabled ♦ Kxxx and nine low cards. Omar was not hard pressed to score the first ten tricks for a top, but commented that he wanted to duck trick one, expecting a second diamond and an 11th trick (with a long diamond – on a 3-2 split).

Our featured deal from the Men’s Pairs was kindly given to me by Kent’s Jeremy Willans (West). He and Sussex partner Ian Lancaster failed to find their nine card
spade fit, but ironically this was to work rather well. The issue of whether to bid 7 ♠ over the opposing 7 ♥ sacrifice was never in the frame. Those East-Wests at other tables who bid on to 7 ♠ made it easily and registered +2210.