Contract bridge New look for women's national team

Press, 5 October 1977, Page 39

Contract bridge New look for women's national team

At last year’s Far East Bridge Federation championship in Auckland, New Zealand won the women’s title which it will defend in Manila from October 31 to November 10. It will however, be a very different team that goes to the Philippines. After the second series of trials, the selectors announced that Mrs J. Cormack and Mrs E. Taylor, Mrs R. Cunningham and Mrs S. Seeker (all of Auckland), and Mrs J. Kinsella and Mrs O. Lenart (Wellington) would form the national team for the next twelve months. Only Mrs Taylor remains from last year’s champions, but Mrs V. Bell and Mrs N. Mather (Christchurch) will be the reserve pair. While there will be general disappointment that the heroines of Auckland will not be together again, there can be no doubt that the three pairs selected produced the best results at the trials, and will be worthy representatives. Strangely, the open team, which performed with a singular lack of distinction last year, has only one change in it. After two lots of trials R. P. Kerr and J. R. Wignail, P. H. Marston (all of Christchurch) and M. L. Sims, and M. Mayer and L. Wright (all of Auckland) were selected. Nevertheless, it is a team with by now a lot of experience and, if properly led, could perform very well. The standard of the F.E.B.F. championships varies considerably, but at times reaches very high levels. Any pair would be pleased to reach a small slam in 21 high card points, redouble when doubled, and make the contract in waltz time: N. 4 KJ9S V 4 ♦ A 10982 ♦ K 54 W. E. A 4 A 107 V J 9852 V AKQ6 ♦ 764 ♦ KQJS A J 1098 A Q 72 S. A A 08632 V 1073 ♦ 3 A A 63 After South the dealer had opened the bidding with one I spade, the auction became : fast and furious until a final 'contract of six spades was I reached. East, who. with by .'far the best hand at the table, had listened to the North-South exchanges with mounting indignation,

doubled the small slam with some confidence and not a little gusto. To his surprise North redoubled, and to his subsequent amazement the contract proved unbeatable. MORE TO COME Vfl The opening lead of the jack of clubs was won by the ace in the declarer’s hand, the ace of diamonds was made and a diamond ruffed. The ace and king of spades were cashed, then the third round of diamonds was trumped in hand. The declarer gave up a heart trick, won the club return with dummy’s ace and ruffed the fourth diamond. Now he was able to trump a heart on the table, and cash the established fifth diamond on which he discarded his remaining club. He then cross-ruffed the last two tricks to make the redoubled slam. The perpetrators of this episode were the Pakistanis, who were defending the next hand: N. A AKJ3 V A 2 ♦ K 10652 A 73 W. E. A 987642 A JlO 1,83 VKQIO74 ♦ Q 8 ♦ J 97 A Q 42 A 1084 S. A Q 1, J 965 ♦ A 43 A KJ965 The auction was: S. W.> N. E. No No 14 No 2A No 2A No 2NT No 3NT All pass Against South’s eminently reasonable contract of three no trumps, West led the unbid suit, commencing with the eight of hearts. When dummy played low East’s queen won and a low heart was returned to the ace. South could now see nine tricks, four spades, four diamonds and a heart, but he had to keep his right hand opponent off lead. So he led the two of diamonds from dummy, intending to follow with the three if East played the seven. But East rose to the occasion by putting up the nine, so South had to win the ace.

Now the spot-light was on (West, who without a flicker dropped the queen. The declarer continued with the king and another diamond, and East won with the jack. The king of hearts was the third trick for the defence, then a club switch allowed West to make both his ace and queen and defeat the contract.