"Nothing fascinated me more than bridge and the company of bridge players in my social life," says Khawaja Ehthesham, a veteran and ardent bridge lover. He said that he started playing bridge nearly fifty years ago when the auction bridge was in vogue but it gave way to the contract bridge in the country gradually. He stated that the charm of the game was greatly enhanced with the induction of the contract bridge with the enduring and tangible refinements.

"In fact, I was infatuated and attracted more towards the game for its intellectual challenge in very deal. So much so, I took up bridge seriously after innovative contract bridge system. From casual social sessions of Rubber Bridge, I entered into competitive field of bridge and took part in a tournament at 57 Club in the city in 1957, in partnership with my friend, Ghaffar Qureshi, another bridge enthusiast of nearly my age and now he is one of the leading bridge players of the country," he added.

Encouraged by initial successes, Khawaja Ehthesham formed a regular bridge team under the title of Khawaja Four, which performed well to earn top positions in some of the local tournaments until it dispersed in 1987. But Khawaja, after winding up the team and withdrawing from regular competitive bridge engagements continues to play rubber bridge at Karachi Gymkhana with religious consistency every evening almost to the point of addiction to this intellectual pastime.

In the course of the evening bridge sessions at the Club, Khawaja demonstrates high skill in bidding and play in innumerable deals that he plays. A hand, which he played recently in a friendly match, is reproduced here to show his understanding of the game that can be compared with top class performance in bidding and play anywhere.

West led spade 3

Khawaja's redouble was a signature of emotionally charged bidding, a peculiar characteristic associated with rubber bridge sessions most of the time.

The East demanded a spade lead from his partner by doubling 6 H, accordingly the West led his singleton spade. The South played the king from the dummy; East covered with the ace South ruffed with small heart. Having won the first trick the South took stock of his hand and the dummy to materialize the contract which, apparently looked bleak. But with the trump breaking even 2+2 there was a bright chance of success. So guarding against the lead of singleton spade, he played small heart towards the dummy's queen and played small spade from the dummy and ruffed with Jack of heart in hand. Then, next he played the Ace of diamond and ruffed a small diamond in dummy. At this point, the stage was set for another spade ruff in hand with the King of heart and played the Ace of club and King of club discarding one small spade from the dummy and ruffing the third club in the dummy with a small heart and heaving a sigh of relieve for not getting over ruffed by the East, he drew remaining trumps with the opponent by playing the ace of hearts. Finally, he played the queen of spade and a trump from the dummy conceding last spade to the opposition thus making twelve tricks for a difficult contract.

The redoubled contract was a bonanza for his side and a well deserved small slam.

THE BIDDING:

==========================================

South          West      North        East

K.Ehthesham    Sarwar    K.Khusrow  Jaffer

               A.Khan                    

1 D            Pass       1S          Pass

2H             Pass      4 NT(1)      Pass

5H             Pass      6 H           Dbl

Rdble          Pass      Pass         Pass

==========================================

Dealer South:

Both sides vulnerable:

NORTH

S KQ9754

H AQ874

D 6

C 7

WEST

S 3

H 109

D KJ752

C QJ854

SOUTH

S -

H KJ65

D A10984

C AK93

EAST

S AJ10862

H 32

D Q3

C 1062

GOLDEN TIP: A favourable distribution is a blessing for making difficult contract.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2004