CONTRACT BRIDGE Mixed competition is the rule

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33962, 1 October 1975, Page 10

CONTRACT BRIDGE Mixed competition is the rule

(By

J.R.W.)

Overseas bridge congresses almost invariably have a number of separate events for the two sexes, but the idea has never really caught on in New Zealand, where mixed competition is the rule. In fact, the entries for both the Canterbury men’s pairs and the Canterbury women’s pairs were distinctly below capacity. Nevertheless, women from a wide range of South Island clubs saw the defending champions Mrs V. Bell and Mrs J. P. Mather (Crockfords) set off in great style with a very big first session score.

In the next two rounds Mrs E. G. Garbutt and Mrs G. A. Nutt gradually pegged them back and went on to score a good victory. Theirs was a popular success because they had quite a lot to do with establishing the tournament some seven years ago. In third place were Mrs M. B. Smith and Mrs R. Sutherland of Ashburton repeating a success of two weeks previously in bringing country bridge forcefullv to the city. The top places in the men’s championships were fought out by pairs from the Christchurch Club. At the end R. J. Brightling and K. G. Wooles were just ahead by 11 points to give them some consolation for missing the national title so narrowly. The runners-up were R. P. Kerr and J. R. Wignail, with S. M. Blackstock and D. A. Humphries in third place. This event produced any number of interesting hands that were tackled in a variety of ways. This model from the early stages called on the South player to display strong nerves:—

AQJ97 VK9842 ♦ A 64 ♦ 3 W E AKB6 AA4 V 10 7 6 VQJ ♦ Q 1083 2 ♦KJ 7 5 I AJ4 AQ 10752 I S A 10 5 3 2 ♦ A 53 ♦ 9 ♦ AK9B6 With North the dealer and neither side vulnerable the auction at one table was:— W N E S No 1A No !♦ Dble 24 4 A All Pass How often does one bid a ten-high four-card suit for the first time at the four level? South was quickly for the moment. West responded one diamond whereupon North threw in a double. This was of course for takeout, indicating length in the major suits and a desire to compete. Over East’s raise to two diamonds, South had a problem. With a shortage in one minor suit and controls in the other plus some sort of fit for both the majors he clearly had an ideal hand for his partner. Backing his judgment he jumped to four spades, despite the very

attenuated nature of his trump suit. After a pass from the dealer. East opened one club effectively silencing South proved right when it transpired that the contract was unbeatable. The defenders could take two tricks in trumps and one in hearts but the declarer made the rest. PROMOTION

When the top two pairs met in the final round this deal had several points of interest:— N A 106 VQ9B ♦ 10 8 4 3 A AQ J 3 W E AAJBS2 A 97 VAIO3 V 762 ♦ AKS2 AQJ6 A 6 A 10 8542 S ' A K Q 4 3 VKJS4 ♦ 97 AK97 ! To the uninitiated the auction will look rather peculiar: IS W N E !♦ 1A Dble No 2 V All Pass Playing the Precision Club !South had a familiar problem. An opening bid of one i heart or one spade would show a five-card suit, one club would indicate 16 points and one no-trump 13 to 15. So he fell back on the only bid left to him. one diamond. West overcalled one spade, and North doubled. Obviously this was not a penalty double. Rather it indicated

scattered values, a wish to hear his partner bid on. but no good suit of his own The opener now admitted to the possession of a heart suit, and everyone passed — West rather conservative!}, he was afterwards to think Before going on. can you Isee how West managed to make all three of his hearts'.' No. he did not ruff two clubs. The opening lead ot West's singleton club was won in dummy, and a spade was led to the king and ace. West now played the ace of diamonds, under which his part ner dropped the queen, conventionally showing he held the jack as well. So the two of diamonds was continued, and allowing East to win and return a club for West to ruff.

The latter got off lead with the jack of spades, smothering the 10 and nine, and forcing out the queen. South now trumped one of his losing spades with dummy’s eight of hearts. Unable to over-ruff East discarded his last diamond. When the declarer led a diamond from the table, East brightly trumped in with the heart six, forcing the declarer to over-ruff with his jack. South’s last spade was trumped with the heart nine, and the last diamond led from dummy. Again East ruffed in. this time with the seven of hearts. The declarer had to use his king to overruff. but now when he led a heart from hand West could make both his ace and ten. Since the defence had taken one trick in spades, two in diamonds, and West had made all three of his hearts, the contract was one down. The lowly spot cards in the trump suit had certainly been put to good use.