Like many people, I assumed that online bridge would fade away once people began playing face-to-face again. I’m so glad I was wrong. The social aspect of the game is, of course, largely lost online, but on the other hand, quite apart from the convenience, it’s a great way to improve; I always replay hands afterwards and compare what others did. Best of all – for me, at least – is getting the opportunity to play against legends of the game like Jacek Kalita and Simon de Wijs in the invitational online tournaments (I’m lucky enough to be on Jonathan Harris’s team). Name me another sport where that can happen! It’s the equivalent of a tennis enthusiast joining a local club and getting to play against the likes of Nadal or Federer.

Peter Fredin is another of my heroes who regularly plays online. One of my favourite hands this year comes from September’s WBT Champions Cup – a typical flash of magic from the Swedish illusionist (See diagram).

West led the ◆4. Fredin knew it was probably a singleton, and, on seeing dummy, realised something dramatic was required to beat the slam. So when declarer won with the ◆Q, Fredin followed with the ◆J! Fearing the ◆J was a singleton, and that if he took the spade finesse and it lost, East would get a ruff, declarer tried to play safely – a spade to the ♠A and a deceptive ♠10. Fredin won with the ♠K and was now able to give a surprise diamond ruff to his partner – down one.

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