CONTRACT BRIDGE Success Of A Psychic Bid

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31976, 1 May 1969, Page 6

CONTRACT BRIDGE Success Of A Psychic Bid

(■Contributed by J.R.W.)

The selection of bridge teams is always a difficult task, for current form varies considerably. When faced with the problem Of chosing a team to represent the province in an inter-provincial tournament to be played in Wellington over Queen’s Birthday weekend, the Canterbury Bridge Centre sidestepped quickly, it ran a special tournament with the top three pairs to form the team.

In a field of mixed quality, F. P. S. Lu and J. R. Wignail went straight into the lead and won by a comfortable margin from H. Pickering and J. D. Thomson, with Mrs V. Bell and G. W. A. Green in third place. There was general satisfaction with the result, for the first five named have all represented New Zealand overseas. The standard of the bridge was not particularly high and many fancied pairs did little to improve their reputations. This hand led to some discussion in one well-known

With the winners EastWest, the auction at their table was:

After passes from North and East, South opened one diamond. West has a tricky problem now, for an overcall normally indicates a five card or longer suit, and the hand is rather balanced for a takeout double. Nevertheless double is probably best and this was in fact the call chosen. Over North’s one heart, Lu reasoning that

sooner or later enemy bidding would push him to the four level, jumped straight to four spades. South, Mrs R. A. Morris of Timaru, made the well judged bid of five diamonds, which Wignail was happy to double. But Lu, with a hand completely useless in defence, removed the double into five spades where he was allowed to play. Eleven Tricks Made

The contract presented no problems, for the declarer trumped the first round of diamonds, drew two rounds of spades, then allowed the defenders to take their two tricks in hearts. His remaining two hearts were ruffed in dummy, the ace and king of clubs were made, after which the declarer’s hand consisted of spades only. Most pairs duplicated this result, one of them having the good luck to be doubled. Two South’s, however, were allowed to play in five diamonds doubled. The opening spade lead was ruffed in hand and with high hopes of drawing the opposing diamonds without loss and of making his contract the declarer banged down the ace of trumps. When East showed void it became clear that there was no way of preventing West’s queen making a trick which, together with the ace and king of clubs, was enough to put the contract one down. In all South made six tricks in diamonds and four in hearts. It was, of course, an unlucky contract for only the three-none division of the opposing trumps would defeat it, but one down doubled was still a good result on the hand for East could, as we have seen, make eleven tricks in spades. Impudent Psychic

The auction at one table cannot be allowed to go un-

Dble IS No 3D All pass. As before South opened one diamond and West doubled. P. J. Oakley as North decided to enliven proceedings with an out-and-out psychic bid of one spade. One may not agree with the reasoning that led him to

make this call, but one must admire the perfect timing. The distinguished player on his left after some consideration passed to await further developments. These came in the shape of a jump to three diamonds from Mrs Oakley. West passed, there was nothing more that North could add and East had by now left it a little late to unscramble things. Three diamonds thus became the final contract and ten tricks were easily made for the only plus score achieved by any North-South pair on the deal. While it is true that the psychic could have been exposed in several ways, it is not as easy to see this at the table as it is on paper. In any case, had it failed to stop East-West bidding their game it would have spoiled a good story.

w. N. E. S. No No ID Dble 1H 4S 5D Dble No 5S All pass

recorded: W. N. E. S. No No ID