CONTRACT BRIDGE Australian Team Now At The Top

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32274, 17 April 1970, Page 10

CONTRACT BRIDGE Australian Team Now At The Top

(Contributed by J.R.WJ

Australia has twice in recent years sent teams to the World Bridge Olympiad, finishing sixth in 1964 and fifth in 1968. These were really splendid performances considering the lack of opportunity for constant highclass competition, but there was one disappointment. On both occasions Australia was beaten by the United States. In 1964, in fact, it was a very sound defeat, but the second match was very much closer. Australia took the lead very early in the game, and hung on grimly to the very last hand when their declarer had the misfortune to misplay a slam. When he went down the match was lost, a bitter blow to a team that had held ah edge over their opponents throughout. This was the second deal of the match, which put Australia in front: N. S—6 H—9 8 D—KQ63 C—QJB764 W E S—J 10 5 2 S—A kB7 4 3 H—J 10 4 2 H—6 D—B 4 2 D—lo 9 C—K2 C—A 10 9 3 S. S—Q9 H—A KQ7 5 3 D—A J 7 5 C—s With North-South vulnerable and East the dealer, the auction was:

All Pass Cummings for Australia opened one spade and Jordan for America made a takeout double. Seres raised to three spades, in this sequence a pre-emptive call intended to crowd his opponents into the wrong contract Robinson made the slightly dubious call of five clubs, which East was happy to pass, but Jordan converted to five hearts. Cummings [realised this contract would

prooaoiy oe oeteatea, out decided to concede a small penalty rather than risk its; {being made. Five spades was i one down when the declarer had to lose one trick inhearts and two in diamonds. Unfortunate Hesitation . The auction was quite; different in the other room: j

Here Roth for America j opened one spade, but Smilde ;

for Australia called three hearts, showing a good suit with additional high card strength. Root passed, and Howard was just good enough to raise to four hearts, After two passes Root gave the matter long and earnest thought To pass seemed pusillanimous, to call four spades risked conceding a large penalty when four hearts was unmakable. Eventually he doubled, hoping to make a trick in clubs, one in trumps and to find his partner with two. There can be little doubt that Roth realised the long trance indicated his partner was not entirely happy about doubling. Although he wanted to call four spades he is a highly ethical player and preferred to lose on the hand rather than risk being

influenced by his partner’s hesitation. Four hearts doubled was easily made with the loss of one club, one heart, and one spade, for a score of 790 to Australia. Since the American NorthSouth had scored only 100, this was a profit on the deal to Australia of 690 points. Though they eventually lost the match, the Australians had their revenge recently when in two matches in Sydney and Melbourne they defeated virtually the same American team before it visited New Zealand. Australia has certainly reached the top as a bridge playing country, as their opponents freely and generously acknowledged. The New Zealand team will be hard pressed when it crosses the Tasman in July.

w. N. E. S. —— —— IS Dble 3S 5C No 5H No No 5S Dble

w. N. E. S. —— — IS 3H No 4H No No Dble All Pass