CONTRACT BRIDGE End of the tournament trail

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32801, 29 December 1971, Page 11

CONTRACT BRIDGE End of the tournament trail

(Contributed by J.R.W.) The South Island bridge calendar becomes more crowded each year as the number of clubs, players and tournaments increases. November was a particularly congested month this year. Traditionally, the Invercargill Club has run its main event over Canterbury’s show week-end so as to attract as many northern visitors as possible. With true hospitality no Southlander pushed his way into the first three places, which were taken by R. R. Hudson and L. G. Townsend of Dunedin, R. J. Brightling and R. Kerr of Christchurch and Mrs C. A. Hartings and H. C. Levy, also of Dunedin. After participating in this tournament one leaves with a feeling of sorrow that Invercargill cannot be moved a few hundred miles, so that more bridge players could enjoy playing there. Dunedin of course has its problems, not least of which is its intermittently recurring liquor war. But when they . heard that the agents for Seagram’s Whisky were sponsoring the Canterbury men’s pairs at Christchurch, many Otago pairs were prepared to try for some of the sponsors’ products at a cost even lower than at home. Spurred on by the bait at' the end of the home run, two ' of them, those stalwarts of ; South Island bridge, L. G. ' Townsend and G. B. P. Wilson, took the title from J. Hay and R. Kerr, with H. ] Pickering and J. D. Thomson, the defending champions, in 1 third place. Both the last two . pairs are from Christchurch. 1 The other contestants per- 1 haps lacked the stamina of 1 the visitors. CHARITY PAIRS

A fortnight later the National Heart Foundation benefited by over $7OO as a result of a tournament sponsored by Ballins Industries, Ltd. The Canterbury Bridge Centre provided the organisation, the Christchurch Bridge Club its rooms, and the women of the English Speaking Union did the catering. There were 176 competitors, and since W. B. Barlow was the jiirector perhaps it was fitting that his mother-in-law Mrs H. R. Pool, in partnership with Mrs K. Ellis, should win. The runners-up were P. J. Oakley and R. B. Vincent, with Mrs D. W. J. Gould and Mrs G. B. McCredie third, both these pairs being from Crockfords Club. Since the aims of the National Heart Foundation are research, education and treatment, and since none can deny that bridge players as a whole are sorely in need of each of these, it is likely the event will be repeated. TENSE AUCTION Before the end of the auction on this deal, South was almost in need of medical attention: N. S—AKB63 H—AK C—AKIOBS4 W. E. S—Q4 S—9 7 H—J H—9B7 63 D—AKJ D—643 108752 C—73 C—QJ6 S. S—JlO52 H—Q 10542 D—Q9 C—9 2

South and North were Mr and Mrs J. Borin, playing for Australia before a large audience, and this was the bidding.

W N E S 2C No 2D 4D 5D No 6H No 7C No 7S All pass ! With both sides vulnerable, (North the dealer opened two clubs to show a strong hand, but unspecified distribution. South replied with two diamonds, a negative response, and West threw a giant spanner in the works with a pre-emptive call of four diamonds. After long thought Mrs Borin bid five diamonds to indicate her great strength and the void. Her husband considered his scattered values justified a jump to six hearts, and another long pause followed before North corrected to seven clubs.

By this time the audience, who could see this contract must fail, was reduced to near hysteria, as South thought and thought. Eventually Borin decided that his wife’s reluctance to play in hearts must indicate a huge black two suiter, so he boldly called seven spades, first mentioning the trump suit, and a poor four card one at that, at the grand slam level. The dummy was a welcome sight. After ruffing the ace of diamonds opening lead, the declarer had just enough strength to reach for the ace then the king of spades. When the queen fell it was all over. The ace and king of clubs were cashed, and a third round ruffed. Then dummy was high. While the grand slam is of course well against the odds, one must admire the courage and partnership confidence its calling displayed.