A player of great renown

Press, 29 November 1978, Page 13

A player of great renown

All bridge plavers will have heard of the death of G. B. P. Wilson with deep regret. As one of the earliest members of the Otago Bridge Club in the 1930 s he was its most stalwart supporter for more than 40 years. In a playing career spread over two generations he never lost his respect for tradition and oldworld courtesy. At the table and away from it his behhaviour to both partner and oppoents was alwavs impeccable. Baden, as he was known throughout the country, was proof that one need not be a boor to be a champion. He won the Otago Bridge Club Pairs for more than 20 consecutive years with his favourite partner, the late Mrs Dora Black — an amazing record. He captured innumerable provincial and South Island titles, and on one occasion won the New Zealand Teams of Four Championsh'o. He also represented his country in Australia in 1968. where he played with considerable distinction A teetotaller, it is said, until his late thirties, he was introduced to the more social side of bridge during an inter-club match

more than 40 vears ago. Baden came through the “training session” with such flying colours that it became a standard part of his approach to the game. Whether defeated or victorious he invariably celebrated with the same single-minded determination that he had played, and was perhaps fortunate that his huge frame gave him a capacity equalled by few other men. He became a legend in his own day and many stories circulate about him. It was on his trip to Australia that the Baden Wilson coup was invented. Playing an impossible contract, the success of which depended on producing one trick from a holding of queen, four, three in dummy and a singleton in '.is own hand, Baden studied his young and rather brash opponents. Tugging his eye shade even further down his forehead he slyly crossed to dummy to lead'the three away from the queen. His right-hand opponent looked at this suspiciously. Was it. not obvious that the old codger was leading up to the jack in his hand? Holding both the ace and king therefore he won the trick at once and continued his attack on another suit.

Again Baden manoeuvred his way into dummy and again led a small card away from the queen. In went the ace. on went a trump from Wilsoq, and the queen had been established for the crucial trick. This deal comes from a South Island tournament of 10 years ago and shows the

old master at work in a tricky contract of four spades: A A 63 V KJ4 ♦ KJ 854 A 10 8 W. E. A .1 5 2 A Q 8 V 3 VQ 10 98652 ♦ Q 92 4 7 A AQ976 5A K 4 3 S. A K 10 9 7 4 V A 7 ♦ A 10 6 3 A .12 Against Wilson’s four spade contract West led

the three of hearts to the four, eight and ace. After cashing the ace and king of trumps the declarer led his second heart to dummy’s king. When West showed out East was marked with seven hearts. A club from dummy was won by West’s queen, the jack of spades was cashed, followed by the ace and another club. Wilson noted that as well as the seven hearts, East had produced two spades and. three clubs and thus could have at the most only one diamond. After ruffing the third round of clubs in hand, therefore, he cashed his ace of diamonds, led a small one to dummy’s jack and claimed the rest of the tricks. Many of us would have been tempted to attack the diamond suit earlier and while, with a bit of luck, we might have guessed correctly, we would be just as likely to go wrong. For Baden Wilson it. was a typical hand. He rarely did anything elaborate or showy, but always went about his task with care and patience and very, very seldom made mistakes. On this deal he built up a complete picture of the unseen hands so

that he eventually made his contract a certainty. Bridge players everywhere, and not just in Otago, will miss his style, his presence and his skill.

CONTRACT BRIDGE

By.

J.R. Wignail