A period followed that was the stuff of dreams. In the space of ten days in early January 1990, Tony and I won the two most prestigious invitational events in the Bridge World, the Cap Gemini in The Hague, and the Sunday Times/Macallan in London. Beating heroes such as Italy’s Benito Garrozzo, and USAs Meckstroth-Rodwell, was almost too fantastic to be true.

In the space of two years, I had moved from relative unknown British Junior to world beating Open player. “Who is this Robson?” I was the talk of the town. I remember feeling something of an imposter: how can I be winning all this, when I am barely out of shorts (or the Bridge equivalent)?

What were the secrets of the Forrester-Robson glory days? (1). Tony never made a mistake (although I did). (2). My “flair” bids seemed to work more often than not. (3). We seemed to have the better of the luck.

Take this Cap Gemini deal, perhaps the most fortunate hand I have ever played. Bizarrely, my partner was the genial and talented Dutchman Kees Tammens, substituting for poor Tony who was in his sickbed that day.