New champions at Westport

Press, 25 March 1981, Page 10

New champions at Westport

CONTRACT BRIDGE

J.R. Wiginall

For some years, the Westport Bridge. Club’s Open Pairs Championship has at> . tracted a,, good- representai tion Canterbury players, but aSrireU has been supported. ’Consistent atten- • dance from Nelson-and Blenheim. Consequently, although ‘ tournament attendances have ‘generally been felling, this year’s event still attracted a fairly full field, .ft The favourites were S. R. Burgess and R. P. Kerr who again made the trip across the Alps to defend the title they had comfortably won last yeat. After. tw6‘sessions of play the coinpetition seemed to be all over bar the shouting, for they had estab-

lished a useful lead and were playing up to their nbrmal nigh form. Then, however, disaster struck for them and they had a nightmare session which resulted in their slipping back to second place. The winners were a Blenheim partnership who performed quite splendidly to overhaul the leaders in the last round, G. Holmstead and J. Murray. It is not easy for a pair in one of the smaller centres to acquire the’experience against top class opposition that is essential to be consistent winners, but they showed no lack of skill in 'taking advantage of a small slip on the declarer's part when they defended this

deaL North was th® dealer with both sides vulnerable:

The final contract was the reasonable one of five clubs played by South who became the declarer as a result of a rather artificial bidding sequence. West’s opening lead of the queen of diamonds was won by dummy’s king after which South ruffed a small diamond itf hand. He then made, the error of returning to dummy with a: club to the king in order to ruff yet another diamond. Stuck in his own hand at this stage with only one trump remaining, he required a quick entry to dummy which was unfortunately not; available. He therefore! tried the effect of leading,the, jack of hearts but West, ~ wfip was

wide awake, played .low, 1 allowing his partner to take the trick with the queen. The excellent continuation of a second round of clubs now spelled defeat to the contract for it removed the declarer’s last dub. Tricks had to be lost to the two major suit aces and a third to the jack of diamonds. For this bright defence Holmstead and Murray earned an excellent score’ at a crucial stage of the tournament, but to some extent the declarer was to blame. After taking th® first trick with the . king of diamonds it is probably slightly: better to cash the ace before leading a

' ii{ ft i; third round of the suit to ruff in hand. A low heart now ■ establishes communications : between the declarer and his dummy.-'The • defenders can’ lead trumps when they arfe ih : but South, still, retains two . clubs with’which to ruff the ;two ; remaining ‘lsmail . dja;;monds'. on the table. In fact ■ he cross-ruffs fpr. 11 tricks, .losing ' only' one trick in. 'spades and one in hearts. ; / In third (position.were two jvery consistent, supporters of /South Island - -tournaments,' -Mrs. J. Thomas and J. D. ?<) A-