The following deal was played some two decades before the www.poorbridge.com website was set up. Nevertheless, both North-South pairs seemed to sense that one day they might achieve fame — if only they could bid their hands sufficiently badly. See what you make of the two auctions.

Both Vuln Dealer W	A Q 8 2 Q J 10 2 K J 5 2 10			West North East South 1 X 1 1 AP
J 10 3 7 A 10 8 4 K Q J 9 2		9 6 9 8 6 5 3 6 A 8 6 5 3
	K 7 5 4 A K 4 Q 9 7 3 7 4

Can you believe South's underbid of 1? Holding 12 points, he was much too strong for a response of 2 and should have cue-bid 2. At double-dummy, a spade game can be defeated: ace of diamonds, four of diamonds (suit preference) for a ruff, club underlead and a second diamond ruff. West preferred to lead the king of clubs, of course, and declarer scored four overtricks for +200.

This was the bidding at the other table:

West	North	East	South
1	1	Pass	2
Pass	2	Pass	4
AP

South was not confident that his partner held four spades and preferred the safety of the 'known 5-3 heart fit'. East attacked with ace and another club, forcing the trump length. Declarer ruffed and lost control for two down.

Well, this would be a very poor standard of bridge at the bottom table of your local Swiss Teams. Can you believe that it actually happened in the 1985 Bermuda Bowl final between USA and Austria? At the first table the players were (West first): Wolff, Berger, Hamman and Meinl, with the latter-named gentleman assessing the South hand as an upper-range 1 response. At the second table the players were Terraneo, Martel, Fucik and Stansby.

The general standard of play in the 1985 final was the worst on record, with the players clearly exhausted after ten days play. Since I myself reach this state after a single week-end's play, perhaps I should not have been so critical.