CONTRACT BRIDGE Auckland’s Record In Team Event

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31657, 18 April 1968, Page 7

CONTRACT BRIDGE Auckland’s Record In Team Event

(Contributed by

In more spacious and leisurely days, the New Zealand learns of four championship was the premier event on the bridge calendar. When it was started in 1936 it was indeed the only event, and players from all over the country were prepared to spend a long week-end travelling and playing in it. It received such support that the annual meeting of the contract bridge association was held on the eve of the championship. Play used to be over five sessions—Saturday afternoon and evening, Sunday afternoon and evening, and Monday morning—with a party and prize-giving on the Monday afternoon. The most interesting rule of the championship is that each member of a team should play two sessions with each of two other members and one with the third. This makes the event unique, for so far as one is aware there is no other like it anywhere else. Gradually the popularity of the tournament waned. Fewer people were prepared to extend their week-end from Friday midday to Tuesday morning. Part of the glamour of the event was stolen when the New Zealand pairs was started. The greatly increased number of other local pairs tournaments also had its effect. It is clearly considerably easier to find one congenial partner than three more or less congenial teammates. In an attempt to arrest the decline in popularity, the championship was shortened from five to four sessions, but without any real result. Magnificent Record

The event has now lost all pretension to being a true national tournament. Last year in Auckland of the 23 entries only two were from outside Auckland Province, including only one from the South Island. This year in Christchurch. of 15 teams two came from the North Island, two from Otago, and the rest from Canterbury. In some ways this was unfortunate, for the event has never been better run than it was by Crockfords Club. Moreover, the magnificent achievement of a team from Auckland could not help but be slightly dimmed. The winners, with 3410 points, were B. C. Bell, Mrs H. O. Taylor, H. K. Brainsby, and R. Evans. This was the sixteenth occasion out of 23 that Bell’s team has won, and no small part of the reason is that he has been able over the years to retain substantially the same four. The runner-up, for the second year in succession, was

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i Christchurch team led by Sir Joseph Ward (E. Dalton, L. Julian, F. Lu, and J. R. Wignail) with 3293 points. Third was the team with 3116 points—H. S. Wilkinson and Mrs Wilkinson, H. Pickering and J. D. Thomson. This deal from the championship caused no little trouble: N. S—A 1087653 H—A 9862 D—J C W. E. S—KJ2 S—Q9 H—J H—K7 D—A106432 D—Q75 C—7 6 4 C—A KQJ 9 8 S. S—4 H—Q 10 54 3 D—K9B C—lo 53 2

North was the dealer, with East-West vulnerable. There are many opinions about the correct treatment of a hand like North's. Some cannot bring themselves to open the bidding on only nine high card points, nor can they bring themselves to pass. One very good player compromised with a pre-emptive opening of four spades. He duly lost tricks to the queen and king of trumps, the king of hearts and ace of diamonds to be one down. Several North players passed on the first round and came in later, but although they called both spades and hearts it was difficult for their partners to realise how very useful the South hand was, and the opponents were allowed to play in clubs or diamonds at the level of four or five. The declarers were usually held to nine tricks.

The best score for EastWest was at a table where North opened one spade and East over-called three clubs, showing a long, strong suit with some outside strength. After a pass from South, West tried three no-trumps and everyone passed. The declarer can always make six tricks in clubs, the ace of diamonds, the king of hearts and at least one spade, for his contract The defenders, however crossed their wires when discarding on the long suit, allowing West to emerge with 12 tricks. Bold Bidding

At only six tables was the obvious game contract in hearts called by North-South This was the auction which featured most fireworks and the strongest nerves: W N E S IS 3C No 3NT 4H 4NT 5H Double All Pass North decided that the power of his two-suiter would be impossible to show if he did not open the bidding. He was slightly surprised to find that he had to make his second call at the four level, but having embarked on his course he was not lacking in courage. Over four hearts East attempted to win the contract for his side with four notrumps, so South raised his partner to five hearts. West’s double concluded an entertaining auction. North had no difficulty in making his contract, for he was able to trump two spades in dummy, thus establishing the rest of the suit. He then conceded tricks only to the ace of diamonds and king of hearts, thus being well rewarded for his aggressive bidding. .