Where Eagles Dare

Where Eagles Dare is a 1968 World War II action movie classic about a group of dare devil commandos, led by Lieutenant Morris Schaffer (Clint Eastwood) and Major John Smith (Richard Burton) sent behind emery lines to rescue a Brigadier General Carnaby ( Robert Beatty) before he could be interrogated by the Germans.

At the recent 2012 Monaco Cavendish Pairs, the dare devil action of Agustin Madala and Zia Mahmood caught my eye.

Final 2/2 session. Board 4. Dealer West. Both vulnerable.

Madala (North) held : ♠ Void ♥ K73 ♦ KQJ64 ♣ J9632

The auction :

Would you take any action?

Madala didn’t let the vulnerability bothered him, balanced with 4NT (two places to play).

The rest of the auction :

Zia with tolerance in all three suits correctly passed and let partner chose. Madala picked his strong minor.

The Deal :

The play was simple, Madala set up clubs for heart discards.

Made 11 tricks for +600 was worth 52 imps, as most sold out to 4 ♠.

Eagle eye may have noticed 5♦ by South was hopeless on a heart lead.