The 2010 Bermuda Regional ended last night after seven solid days of play and Tournament Chairman Jane Clipper and her Committee delivered yet another first class event. The numbers were down compared to last year , especially on the opening two days due to the flight delays and cancellations , but the event was proof that quality wins out every time over quantity and the players clearly had a great time.

At the time of writing this on Tuesday night there were already many Bermuda successes , but I will save the details for the final wrap-up of the whole tournament in next week's column.

I did a couple of Panel Shows during the week and since my usual cohorts Jim Linhart and Allan Graves were not here I collared a couple of young professionals to join me on the two days.

McKenzie Meyers from Portland , Oregon is a young pro who is making a name for himself on the bridge circuit and he was my fellow panellist when this hand was discussed.

Board 16….Monday night ….Dlr W …E/W Vulnerable

ªA107

&Copy;754

¨J76432

§10

ª984 ªKJ

&Copy;Q83 &Copy;AK6

¨KQ9 ¨A5

§AQ94 §J87532

ªQ6532

&Copy;J1092

¨108

§K6

One of the audience asked whether East/West should be in the Club slam, and then asked whether he was correct in declining the Club finesse and trying to drop the singleton King in the North hand.

Both Mac and I felt that this was a borderline slam, Mac being a bit more exact in his reasons in not wanting to play slams missing two key cards – here an Ace and the trump king.

The play was a bit easier in that you always finesse with the King and two others missing, so we agreed that a club to the Queen was the correct play and it works here.

I commented at the time that it only worked if South had exactly K6, as with K106 there will be a loser. Something about that stayed with me, however, and looking at it later I realised that the correct play is the Jack of clubs from dummy.

This works if South has K6 or K106, as in the latter case you re-enter the dummy after South covers (he has to) and then finesse against the 10. Interesting!

Low spade lead at trick one from North anyone? Not likely , but wouldn't it have been fun!

Next week: All about the regionals.