CONTRACT BRIDGE Mountain air affected tournament at Hanmer

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32563, 24 March 1971, Page 10

CONTRACT BRIDGE Mountain air affected tournament at Hanmer

(Contributed bg

J.R.W.)

In Europe and America bridge tournaments are usually held in the off season in the larger hotels, but in New Zealand, where the clubs are generally larger, most of them run these events in their own premises. Recently, however, the overseas trend has been catching on here. For some time a major North Island tournament has been held at the Chateau Tongariro and another at Brent’s Hotel, Rotorua. In the South Island the Golden Central Motor Inn at Alexandra has acted as host, and last year the Lodge at Hanmer Springs was the scene of the first open event run by the Westport Bridge Club. It was so successful that it was repeated this year, when again players from all over Canterbury and the West Coast met thera While less misguided souls tackled the golf course, 27 tables of bridge players spent the week-end in the main lounge of the hotel. It is pleasing to report that many of them were affected by the mountain air. One distinguished international player heard his left-hand opponent open one heart, raised to two on his right He made a take-out double, expecting his partner to call his best suit, but to his surprise everyone passed. The declarer duly made nine tricks and the international demanded an explanation from his partner. This was soon overlooked, however, when it transpired that what he had heard as a bid of two hearts was in fact a call of four, and one down doubled was the best score for the defenders in the room.

The eventual winners needed no such luck. Mrs R. J. Eckersley, wha two years ago represented Canterbury against the visiting Australian women, was partnering Mrs G. A. Nutt, who thus won her second tournament in a row. Since they had played together only twice before, they approached the event cautiously. They bid carefully, played steadily, took few risks, and finished with three very sound scores. In second place were E. Rickard and his wife, also of Christchurch, who thus earned a just reward for consistent support of tournaments, while in third place were Nelson visitors, J. Ashley. and A. Collyer.

N. S—A9B6 H—K 9 7 D—JB6 C—Q 10 3 W E. S—7 4 3 S—K Q 10 2 H—Q 8 4 3 2 H—J 10 6 5 D—K 5 D—lo 4 C—A 6 2 C—J 9 4 S. S—J 5 H—A D—A 0 9 7 3 2 C—KB75

On this hand from the Saturday evening session, East was the dealer, with only North-South vulnerable. The third place-winners had a more or less typical result when they played in three diamonds from the South hand and made 10 tricks. After winning the heart lead with the ace, the declarer crossed to the ace of spades, discarded his second spade on the king of hearts, and led a diamond to the queen and king. Subsequently, two club tricks were lost, but the contract was never in

■ Much the same happened at the Rickards’ table, except that the contract was five diamonds and for defeating it by one trick they earned a very good score. ? Most experienced tournament players are reluctant to play in five of a minor suit if there is any hope at all Of making nine tricks in notrumps, and Mrs Eckersley and Mrs Nutt duly arrived in three no-trumps after a

slightly forward auction. In fact, it is not by any means a hopeless contract and the defence has to be free from the effects of the mountain air to beat it.

West led a small heart, won perforce by Mrs Eckersley with her singleton ace. The declarer quickly realised that if the diamonds lay favourably with East holding the king the suit would produce six tricks, which together with the two top hearts arid the ace of spades would be enough. If however, a trick had to be lost in diamonds, it would be necessary to win an extra one elsewhere and the club suit offered the best chance. She therefore immediately led a small club from hand and West played low, allowing dummy’s queen to win. The jack of diamonds was run around to West’s king and another heart was taken in dummy. Five diamond

tricks followed which, with one in clubs and two in hearts with the ace of spades still to come, made nine for an excellent score on the board.

West was a good enough player to have known much better. On the heart opening lead East had followed with the ten, and when South won with the ace she obviously did not hold the knave. Since she had bid and rebid diamonds it was most unlikely she could make nine tricks without developing the suit, particularly as there was no long suit in dummy. When South leads a club, West, if he is awake, should hop in quickly with his ace to continue with a second round of hearts. The declarer takes this with dummy’s king and sets about the diamonds, but West will win the first or second round with his king and cash three tricks in hearts to defeat the contract