MEMORIES OF A FRIEND
by Julian Klukowski
Our friendship began in the sixties. Krzys read law in the University, trained bridge under the wings of my partner Zbigniew Szurig, and was a frequent guest in our place where bridge was the main topic (my wife, together with Jola Krogulska, were a constant fixture in the ladies team). In 1966, when Szurig became too involved in his University carreer to play in trials, I suggested Krzysiek that we play together. It didn't take long and we were in the national team. Krzys was a very talented player, and one of the precious few that learned the very complicated "Juvenia" system invented and perfected by Szurig.
The following hand was played in the 1967 European Championship in Dublin.
Axx xx
xx N Ax
AK10xxx W E QJx
xx S AKJ109x
Our opponents in the other room reached 3NT and after a heart lead safely took 10 tricks.
On our table events took quite a different turn:
W (Klukowski) E (Wagrodzki)
-----------------------------------
- 1NT
3D 4D
4H 4NT
5C 6C
7D pass
The 1NT opening was conventional and meant at least 5 clubs with 12-18 points and no four card major suit. 3D was strong and natural, 4D being very encouraging with a good diamond fit. Two old-fashioned asking bids followed telling me about East's two Aces and the club King. With 45 in minors Krzysiek would have opened 2NT (conventional), so in order to have been so encouraging he must have had six clubs, and either Qxx or xxxx in diamonds!
He used the system well, my evaluation was correct, there were no surprises, seven made.
Next year we played in the Junior European Championship in Prague but soon afterwards, after tragic death of my wife, I quit playing bridge for good - or so I then thought.
In the following deal from Prague Krzys showed his courage and vivid imagination:
AK10xxx W N E S
AJxx Klukowski Wagrodzki
x --------------------------------
Kx 1C x 1D 1H
Qxx Jx p 4H p 6H
KDx N xx p p p
K10 W E Qxxxxx
Q10xxx S xxx
xx
1098x
AJxx
AJx
The times were different then, you just didn't jump to game without a very good reason, and my 4H must have meant a very unbalanced distribution - something like 64 - and some very good points to go with it. Krzys understood me well, his decision was courageous and the slam was easily made.
After I quit bridge, Krzys went on playing in the league but concentrated mainly on his carreer as a sport journalist and had less time for bridge. In 1974 I decided to make my comeback, tried to do it with Krzys again, but you can't reach bridge heights while being too preoccupied with your work, and we had to terminate our partnership, but not our friendship.
Krzys tried to go for it again when he quit his administrative job in the newspaper and could concentrate on bridge. Playing with Polec he had many successes, reached the national team but somehow, due to some petty administrative problems, they didn't go to the Championship.
After a time Krzys left Poland, moved to live in Germany, and his very promising bridge carreer came to an early end. He was a great player who never fulfilled his potential, but so few of us ever do. Fate was unkind to him, but did it have to be cruel and take him from us so early?
| J. Klukowski & A. Wagner, Feb. 2001 |
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