We discuss the problem of finding the most favorable conditions for closing the detection loophole in a test of local realism with a Bell inequality. For a generic nonmaximally entangled two-qubit state and two incompatible bases to be adopted for alternative measurements of two observables $\mathrm{a\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}$ and $\mathrm{b\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}$ on each party, we apply Hardy's proof of nonlocality without inequality and derive an Eberhard-like inequality. For an infinity of nonmaximally entangled states we find that it is possible to refute local realism by requiring perfect detection efficiency for only one of the two observables, say $\mathrm{b\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}$, to be measured on each party: The test is free from the detection loophole for any value of the detection efficiency corresponding to the other observable $\mathrm{a\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}$. The maximum tolerable noise in such a loophole-free observable-asymmetric test is also evaluated.