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By FRANK STEWART Tribune Media Services

Published: October 7, 2007

The most successful U.S. team of the past 15 years is one of two U.S. entries in the 2007 World Championship going on in Shanghai. Nick Nickell's sextet (Nickell-Freeman, Hamman-Soloway, Meckstroth-Rodwell) won a trials and is competing alongside a team led by George Jacobs.

In the trials final, Nickell beat Russ Ekeblad, but the match was in doubt near the end. In today's deal, Bob Hamman played at three hearts for Nickell. North's one club was strong and artificial; East's one diamond conventionally showed length in both red suits or both black suits.

East took the ace of clubs and returned a low club, and Hamman's jack won; dummy threw a spade. Bad breaks were likely, and declarer might have started the diamonds next: In a tough contract, it's sound play to set up your side suit quickly.

Instead, South took the Q-K of trumps. He still could have survived by leading the ace and a low diamond but tried to cash the A-K.

East ruffed, and though South scored his remaining trumps separately, he won only eight tricks.

In the other room, Brad Moss, North for Ekeblad, played four hearts, and East led a trump. North won and tried the A-K of diamonds. East, Jeff Meckstroth, ruffed and led his last trump. (Taking the ace of clubs first, a difficult play, was best.)

North won, ruffed a diamond and led a club to the king. East won but was end-played: He had to give declarer a club trick or the king of spades for his 10th trick, 10 international match points to Ekeblad.

West dealer

E-W vulnerable

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