There is an audible buzz in the international bridge world and it centres around a few Scandinavian juniors. The youngest is Norway’s Nicolai Heiberg-Evenstad (obvs known as the Kid), who is 16 now but started playing with his father, Stian Evenstad, aged about seven and was quickly noticed as an outstanding talent. When two or three world-class players with egos the size of a mountain tell you that a 14-year-old boy (which he was at the time) could become the best player in the world, while they themselves are still playing, you sit up and take notice. At least I did.

He played on my team with Thor Erik Hoftaniska in the Lederer Trophy, at the end of February and they won the Butler. Funny, charming, polite and super confident. And he can play bridge.

Today’s hand is not particularly complicated but it needs thought (see diagram).

Nicely bid to the top spot! West led a Diamond which dummy won. The King of trumps was cashed, followed by the King of Diamonds and a Diamond ruff – very important as it turns out.

A top Heart shows the bad break in trumps, but thanks to the Kid’s foresight he was well placed. A club to dummy was followed by another Diamond ruff, then another Club to dummy and a Club ruff. Declarer successfully reduced himself to the same number of trumps as East, so he could just exit with Ace and another Spade, and claim the last two tricks!

Congratulations to Mark Moran’s Irish team who beat us to the Trophy by 1VP!