CONTRACT BRIDGE MEN’S AND WOMEN’S PAIRS TOURNAMENT

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33655, 3 October 1974, Page 18

CONTRACT BRIDGE MEN’S AND WOMEN’S PAIRS TOURNAMENT

(By

J.R.W.)

The Seagram’s Canterbury men’s pairs attracted a slightly Improved entry this year, but in numbers at least it could not compete with the provincial women’s pairs run at the same time. For both events players came from most leading South Island clubs; the men played a rather complicated but very effective movement in comparative silence at Crockford’s Club, and the women a less complicated but still new format, at the Christchurch Club. With his mind, perhaps, on the party to come later, one very good young player went

So as to bid both his black suits at a convenient level, South opened one club. North’s raise to two clubs was in accordance with a convention known as the “inverted minor.” With a weak hand and a fit in clubs, North has to jump to three clubs with the primary intention of making it harder for his opponents to compete. With 11 points or more, however he raises to the two level only, which is forcing and gives his side maximum bidding space to develop the auction.

On the second round, South called his spades and was raised to game. Five clubs and five hearts were cue-bids, showing first round control'' so the dealer assure fit in both black suits . irst and second round ols in the reds, jumped to six spades. West’s opening lead of a small spade was covered by the queen, king and ace, after which the dealer drew trumps cashed the ace king of diamonds and the king, ace and queen of hearts finishing in dummy. Having thus eliminated the red suits in approved style, South led a low club from the table to his own nine. West won with king, a false card that met with unmerited success. He continued with the queen of diamonds, ruffed in dummy as the declarer discarded his five of clubs. The best play at this stage is to claim the last three tricks, but obsessed with the idea that East must have the jack of clubs. South led a club to his own ten. One down, and the dealer’s face was a study in disbelief. To his credit, North said not a word, but he has not spoken to his partner since. In fourth place were P. J. O. Robinson and I. J. Shearer of Ashburton, third were I. Garrison and P. G. McClure, the runners-up were I. Jackson and W. A. Sadler, while the winners of the Seagram trophy were L. S. Julian and J. D. Thomson. The first deal of the women’s pairs struck me as

■ Generally,' North finished ■ in a contract of four hearts. | She had to lose one trick to ■ the ace of trumps, and another in spades. All, therefore, boiled down to the position of the ace of clubs. When it sat over the king, the declarers had to lose two more tricks in the suit for one down. A few South’s reached three no trumps, making their contract when the defence fell asleep. West naturally chose the queen of spades for the opening lead, won by the declarer’s king.

Hearts were attacked and when East won her ace, she lazily led back another spade. Quickly South claimed five tricks in hearts, the two top spades and two top diamonds for nine in all. If East, on lead with the heart ace, switches to the queen of clubs the defence can take four tricks in the suit to defeat the contract. On the whole she should find the switch, for the declarer has eight tricks clearly visible, five in hearts, the ace and king of spades and the diamond king, and must have another high card in her hand. So the best hope for the defence is to find West with the ace of clubs. The winners of the Canterbury women’s pairs were the New Zealand internationals Mrs V. Bell and Mrs J. P. Mather, of Crockford’s Club, while Mrs E. G. Garbutt and Mrs G. A. Nutt were second. Third were Mrs D. A. Ballantyne and Mrs H. Smart and fourth Miss S. K. Harrison and Mrs I. D. Leggat, all of whom are from Christchurch Club.

Otago provided the fifth place and Mrs G. Morgan and Mrs J. W’olken might have finished higher had they not had an unlucky final session. _____