Lively deals in Canterbury tournament

Press, 18 July 1979, Page 16

Lively deals in Canterbury tournament

CONTRACT BRIDGE

By

J.R. Wignall

There was a time when the Canterbury main centre pairs attracted a capacity entry as a matter of course, but now — and no-one seems to know quite/why — attendances at this sort of tournament have slumped sharply. Being held over the week-end of the Test match, this year’s event was bound to suffer, but a still reasonable turnout at least had the consolation of meeting some very lively hands. There was plenty of action on this one, dealt by South with neither side vulnerable: N. A AK92 V K 10 9 4 ♦ J 5 «¥> AKB W. E. A — A J 8 5 M2 V A J 853 ♦ AQ9743 ♦ 86 A Q 10 9 7 6 4 A J 52 S. A Q 107643 V Q 7 6 ♦ K 10 2 A 3 North-South can make a four-spade contract-without much difficulty. Assuming South becomes the declarer, West will probably lead a club. After dummy’s king wins, trumps are drawn in three rounds, and the ace of clubs allows South to discard a low heart. A diamond is led from the table to the 10 in hand but West wins with the queen. Though the defenders subsequently make their two red aces South has 10 tricks via six spades, one heart, two clubs and a diamond. Only one pair was allowed to play in four spades, however, and they made an overtrick when West precipitately led the ace of diamonds at the first trick, thus establishing the declarer’s king. Most West players, following the philosophy of bidding on until doubled, reached five or six clubs, doubled firmly by an affronted North. A top

spade was the popular opening lead, giving the declarer a comparatively easy ride. After ruffing in hand, he crossed to the ace of hearts to lead a diamond. When South played the two, West put in the queen which held the trick. The ace of diamonds and a diamond ruffed in dummy cleared the suit. All that remained was to lead trumps allowing North to make his ace and king, and then claim 11 tricks.

The top qualifiers were J. S. and Mrs Ussher from the Timaru Club who performed splendidly to head

the field after the first two sessions. They were unable to maintain the pace, however, and the event was comfortably won by B. R. Anderson and F. D. Power, with R. P. and Mrs Kerr the runners-up. Her second placing gave the last-named sufficient master points to attain the rank of Life Master, one of only a handful of women to have achieved this status. This week-end some of New Zealand’s top players will gather at the Otago Bridge Club to contest the Dunhill Masters interprovincial championship. The favourites will probably be Canterbury with a strong team (Mrs K. Boardman and M. Sykes, S. J. Burgess and P. H. Marston, R. P. Kerr and J. R. Wignall), though a strong challenge can be expected from Auckland. In the plate section for intermediate players, Canterbury is represented by Mrs R. V. Morton and Mrs S. Walker, P. A. Dewar and C. D. W. Jenkins. P. D. Harris and G. M. Ward.