Good scores made in 1982 national simultaneous pairs

Press, 17 November 1982, Page 12

Good scores made in 1982 national simultaneous pairs

CONTRACT BRIDGE

J.R. Wignall

Every November the New Zealand Contract Bridge Association runs a nationwide Simultaneous Pairs in which players in clubs all over the country tackle the same hands at the same time. The best scores from each club are forwarded to a central organiser, and regional and national winners are then determined. The proceeds go to the N.Z.C.B.A.’s travel fund. Hands for the > event are obtained from the American Contract Bridge League’s computer which can usually be relied upon to provide a lively collection. This year was no exception with the deals giving plenty of interest and excitement. The overall results are not yet collated, but anyone who heads off the likely Canterbury winners, Mrs R. P. Kerr and K. G.. Wooles who scored a little over 70 per cent will have done exceptionally well.' On this hand they thoroughly deserved their good score for aggressive bidding and excellent defence. North was the dealer, with only East-West vulnerable:

The auction was very competitive: W >’N E S ; < - .. 1* ■ !♦. 2* <2* ;/ 3* 3* 4*< • ’s< No No ■. -all pass . When North opened with one club, Mrs Kerr had no hesitation in overcalling one spade, What her hand lacked in high cards, it more, than made up for in distribution. South weighed in with two ; diamonds leaving Wooles with a nice problem of hand valuation. Eleven high card points and four card trump support opposite a vulnerable overcall would normally justify a raise to three spades, but his hand was very balanced and the queen of clubs was unlikely to be worth much so he was content with a simple raise of two spades. North pushed on to three clubs,and East made the aggressive call of three spades. Over four- diamonds I

West, conscious of his earlier underbid, felt fully justified in trying four spades. This was the optimum on the East-West cards, and would certainly have been made. , South- starts the defence with a club, and North cashes two tricks before leading a third round. East ruffs, crosses to the ace of diamonds and leads the jack of spades. When North declines to cover, the declarer plays low and the lead remains in dummy. A diamond is ruffed on which North’s king falls, and the ace of spades drops the king. Now the declarer knows that North started with the. ace and king of clubs, the king of spades and the king of diamonds. To justify his bidding, South, as well as the queen and jack of diamonds, must hold the king of hearts. \ It is a simple matter tb continue with the queen. of hearts from hand, and when this is covered by the king to win with the ace. The nine drives out the jack, giving the defenders their third trick, but the 10 of hearts is established and the declarer has the rest of the tricks. . In the event,. North decided, over four spades, to sacrifice in five diamonds, duly doubled by West. After everyone had passed, Wooles led the jack of spades, which was allowed to

win. Recognising that the defenders were most unlikely to take any more tricks in that suit, and looking at dummy’s very strong clubs, he decided to establish what tricks there were in hearts. He therefore played the ace arid nine of hearts. The declarer won with the king, and attacked trumps. A diamond to the king won, on which East’s 10 dropped, but a diamond to the jack lost to the ace.

The stage was set for the coup de grace. West continued with a heart to his Sir’s queen, and the thirheart gave South ,an insuperable problem. If he ruffed with the queen of diamonds, West’s 9 would be promoted, and if he ruffed low West would over-ruff.

Either way the defenders were‘bound to make a fifth trick to put the contract down three and collect a well-earned 500 points.