Brilliant bridge from noted Chch player

Press, 2 August 1983, Page 12

Brilliant bridge from noted Chch player

BRUCE BELL, an Auckland bridge writer, pays tribute to “a man who has done much for the game in this country,” John Wignall, bridge columnist for “The Press.”

A veteran player, John Wignall, of Christchurch, has the scars of many international bridge battles to show since he first played for New Zealand with me in Tokyo, back in 1964. During the years his skill has not diminished. This he proved in the recent New Zealand trials in Auckland, when he captained his team to a comfortable lead over the country’s brightest and best. Here is a deal from the event where John showed his expert ability in dealing with that rara avis, a trump squeeze.

portunity to show his brilliance. East led a club at the third trick. Dummy won with the king to lead the queen of spades. The finesse lost to West’s king. Back came another club. This removed It was time to remove trumps and tidy things up. It took three more rounds of spades to draw West’s remaining trumps. At the ninth trick, John Wignall led the queen of hearts and East found himself faced with a dilemma. Dummy came down to ace, king of diamonds and two little clubs. East held three diamonds and two clubs. Now he had to find a discard. Had he discarded a club, declarer would ruff a club and dummy’s remaining cards would all be winners. So East decided to keep his two clubs and let go a diamond. Perhaps his partner could control that suit. John read the position like a book. He changed his tactics and played off the ace and king of diamonds on table. He gained access to his own hand by ruffing a club, and the established winner, the 9 of diamonds, brought home his well-merited contract.

Against Wignall in four spades, West led a small heart. East won with the king and chose to cash the ace. Not the best of plays, but understandable.

Faced with the necessity to open up a minor suit, East chose the wrong one and gave declarer the op-

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