N° 74 • June 2026

With so many stars in action you will be spoilt for choice and doubtless everyone will have a favorite player or partnership they want to follow (Bridgerama readers can see Léo and Jérôme Rombaut in action!) but many eyes will be on Michal Klukowski, widely considered to be the best player in the world.

During the FFB Top 16 Final, he found himself looking at ♠A7 ♥AJ1065 ♦J87 ♣842. He duplicated Thomas Bessis’s initial pass and saw Cedric Lorenzini open 1NT, which was raised to 3NT. Appreciating that in all probability the only realistic chance of defeating the contact was for his partner to lead a Heart (and that even then it might not be enough), he produced an inspirational double!

The spotlight was now on his partner, Jacek Kalita, who held ♠95432 ♥Q92 ♦65 ♣Q65. His length in Spades meant it was unlikely that partner had a significant holding in that suit. Backing his judgement, he led the ♥Q and when dummy produced ♠Q106 ♥K84 ♦1093 ♣AJ73, the defenders finished with six tricks. In the other room, there was no double and West’s Spade lead saw declarer take eleven tricks.

I suspect you will see many inspiring pieces of bidding, play and defence during both events. 

For all the information go to: 
www.bfi.net.in/tournament/asia-cup-2026/ and www.eurobridge.org

Number 74 – Monthly – June 2026 – Director of publication Olivier Comte – Publisher Éditions de Presse Spécialisée Le Bridgeur – 33 avenue Emile Zola, 92100 Boulogne Billancourt  – France – Executive Director Karine Meyer-Naudan – Editorial CommitteeMichel Bessis – Muriel Clément – Philippe Cronier – Mark Horton – Vincent Labbé – Karine Meyer-Naudan – Assistant Editor-in Chief Vincent Labbé – Editorial Secretary Muriel Clément – Adverts Bridgerama+ Muriel Clément 01 42 96 25 50  – Subscriptions01 42 96 25 50 – Art Director Isabelle Le Squer-Fontaine/Maya – mayatom@me.com – Translation Monika Kummel – Legal Deposit june 2026, N°7.680 – Joint Committee – 1118 K 85690 – ISSN 0184-8127.