1981 Bermuda Bowl (Port Chester) – Meckstroth’s 7♠ Sacrifice that Changed the Rules
Bridge history is full of bold bids and brilliant plays, but few are as legendary as Jeff Meckstroth’s 7♠ sacrifice in the 1981 Bermuda Bowl final. Meckstroth – now regarded as one of bridge’s all-time greats with multiple world championships to his name – was only in his mid-20s at the time. This daring bid not only helped his team swing a huge score, it was so remarkable that it ultimately prompted a change in the rules of bridge scoring. In this post, we’ll relive the dramatic sequence of bidding and decisions that led to the infamous 7♠ bid, and explain in friendly terms why it was so controversial. We’ll also look at what rules were changed because of this hand, and how tournament procedures (like scoring and alerting) were impacted going forward.
Setting the Stage: 1981 Bermuda Bowl Finals
The scene is the 1981 Bermuda Bowl in Port Chester, New York – the world team championship of bridge. The finalists were USA and Pakistan, the latter an underdog team making its first finals appearance (with rising star Zia Mahmood on the squad). In a critical deal of the match, Pakistani pair Munir Attaullah and Jan-e-Alam Fazli reached an impressive grand slam contract in hearts. Little did they know, this board would become one of the most famous in bridge lore.
The Deal
| Direction | ♠ | ♥ | ♦ | ♣ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North | A K | A Q | J 9 | A K 10 9 6 4 2 |
| East | 10 3 | 9 7 3 | Q 9 7 6 3 2 | Q 8 |
| South | Q 7 6 4 | K J 10 6 2 | A 10 5 | 7 |
| West | J 9 8 6 2 | 8 5 4 | K 4 | J 5 3 |
North-South’s cards were strong enough that a grand slam in hearts was on the table – and indeed, their auction confidently headed that way.
The Auction to 7♥
- North opens 2♣ (strong, artificial)
- South responds 2♥ (positive, with hearts)
- North rebids 3♣ (showing a long club suit)
- South bids 3♥ (confirming hearts)
- North raises to 4♥ (setting trumps)
- South bids 4NT (asking for key cards)
- North replies 5♠ (showing two key cards and the ♥Q)
- South bids 6♦ (possibly asking for kings)
- North jumps to 7♥
The grand slam contract is reached. With perfect information and normal play, 7♥ is cold. Pakistan was poised to score 2210 points.
The 7♠ Sacrifice
Enter Jeff Meckstroth, sitting West. After two passes, he’s left with a final opportunity to act. He holds:
- ♠ J 9 8 6 2
- ♥ 8 5 4
- ♦ K 4
- ♣ J 5 3
On the surface, this hand has no business bidding. But Meckstroth recognized a rare opportunity for a strategic sacrifice. His logic:
- Letting 7♥ make would score 2210 for the opponents (a vulnerable grand slam).
- If he bid 7♠ and was doubled, and went down 9 tricks (making only 4), the penalty would be only 1700 non-vulnerable.
- Even if he went down 10 (–1900), or 11 (–2100), it would still be a smaller loss than 2210.
- Only going down 12 or more (–2300 or worse) would be a losing sacrifice.
So he took the leap. He bid 7♠, and was promptly doubled.
The Play and Result
The defense didn’t slip much, but they did allow Meckstroth to take four tricks, going down 9. The penalty: –1700.
Compare that to –2210 if 7♥ had made. The USA gained 510 points, a massive swing in a close match.
To many watching, the idea that a player could sacrifice at the 7-level, be down NINE tricks, and still gain IMPs felt absurd. But the math backed it up. Meckstroth had executed a perfect save.
Why This Was So Controversial
- Scoring imbalance: Under 1981 rules, non-vulnerable undertricks weren’t harsh enough to punish extreme sacrifices. Meckstroth showed how the math could be exploited at the highest level.
- Spectator shock: A grand slam bid on a weak 5-point hand was unheard of. To the gallery, it felt like a mockery of sound bridge principles.
- It worked: If the play had gone differently and Meckstroth went down 12, he’d have lost IMPs. But he didn’t—so it entered the annals of bridge legend.
The Rule Change That Followed
As a result of this hand, bridge’s scoring rules were reviewed. In 1987, the laws were amended:
- Doubled undertrick penalties escalated more sharply.
- After the third undertrick, each additional trick doubled would now cost 300 points, instead of 200.
- This meant that a 7-level doubled sacrifice that goes down 9 now costs 2300, which is worse than conceding a vulnerable grand slam.
In other words, Meckstroth’s 7♠ would no longer be profitable under today’s scoring.
A Legacy That Lives On
The hand had other effects too:
- Stop card procedures became more standardized to handle surprising skip bids like 7♠.
- Players and directors became more vigilant about disclosing unusual partnership tendencies.
- The hand became a cautionary tale and a teaching tool: understand your vulnerability, the scoring table, and how much a save is really worth.
And of course, it cemented Jeff Meckstroth’s reputation as a player of incredible courage, calculation, and presence. Over the decades, he and partner Eric Rodwell would go on to win nearly every major title, forming one of the most dominant partnerships in bridge history.
When Genius Collides with the Rulebook
The 7♠ sacrifice in the 1981 Bermuda Bowl isn’t just a great story—it’s a moment when the game evolved. It showed how deep understanding of the rules can create opportunities that feel impossible. But it also exposed a flaw, and the community responded. That’s the beauty of bridge: even the boldest move has ripple effects.
Meckstroth’s 7♠ didn’t just swing a board. It changed the rules.
