Less gas, fewer bidders

Press, 9 May 1979, Page 18

Less gas, fewer bidders

If any further proof were required of the effect of the week-end petrol restrictions, it was surely supplied by the attendance figures at this year’s Otago provincial pairs bridge championship.

What has always been one of the most popular events on the South Island bridge calendar could attract only 36 pairs, of which a mere eight or so were from outside Dunedin. It is only right to add. however, that one or two partnerships were rumoured to have been seduced away by the opening of the duck-shooting season. The standard was still good, and it is a fair supposition that all three major prize-winners would have figured prominently in any tournament. They came equally from Christchurch and Dunedin. One of the most consistent Otago Bridge Club partnerships, C. Ackerley and M. Johnson, was third, and the runners-up were S. Burgess (Christchurch) playing with his old club mate R. Scott (Otago). The winners, by the very narrow margin of five match points, were Mrs K. Broadman and M. Sykes (Christchurch). All of the competitors had problems with the following deal, not surprisingly since it is one of those hands where no-one

can make anything. West was the dealer, with only North-South vulnerable: N. A K 93 V 6 ♦ K ♦ QJ 10 76532 W. E. A A A 10542 V Q J 10 8 V - ♦ 10 542 ♦ QJB73 A A 9 A KB4 S. A QJB76 V AK953 ♦ A 96 A - On a terrible misfit like this, the best policy is to let the opponents play the hand, in the hope that they will concede a penalty. But this is easier said than done, as the runnersup found after one of the more exhilerating auctions of the week-end: W. N. E. S. 2V 3A No 3A No 4A Dble Redble All Pass West’s opening bid of two hearts was the weak variety, showing a good longish suit and about six to 10 high card points, and the rest of the bidding was natural, especially East's penalty double. South can perhaps be pardoned for his enthusiastic redouble, for four spades is a playable contract on the two hands and might even be made on a lucky day. As it was the

foul breaks left the declarer with no chance and he finished up two down for a penalty of 1000 to East-West. The winners, also sitting North-South, fared somewhat better after somerather indiscreet bidding by their opponents:

W. N. E. S. 2 V 3 A Dble No No No 4V No No Dble All pass

The first two bids were the same as previously, but then East could not refrain from entering the fray de-

spite the likely misfit by calling three diamonds. With best hand at the table. South doubled, but his partner removed to four clubs.

This contract would probably have been defeated by two tricks. East cashes the ace of spades, leads another for his partner to ruff, trumps the heart return and the defenders must still make the ace and king of clubs. West however came t.o the rescue with a bid of

four hearts, gratefully doubled by South.

The defence, though not perfect was good enough. The queen of clubs was led and ruffed by South. The ace of diamonds felled the king, but a diamond was continued and trumped by North.

After ruffing another club. South made his two top hearts to put the contract three down and collect a 500-point penalty.

West was left to reflect that four diamonds would have played rather better, had he supported his partner.

This was in fact the final contract against the third place-winners and it was, of course, doubled. On paper it looks as though East can make a lot of tricks by cross-ruffing, and so it seemed to South.

The latter, therefore, found the very fine lead of low trump. North, a little suprised, won the first trick with the singleton king and returned the queen of clubs. Now South, after ruffing, could cash the ace of trumps. In this way, two rounds of trumps had made severe inroads into the crossruffing potential of the East-West hands, and try as he might the declarer could collect only eight tricks for a 300-point penalty to the defenders.