Juniors to the fore

Press, 23 October 1984, Page 8

Juniors to the fore

. If memory serves me correctly, it was Somerset Maughan who said that bridge was a wonderful solace in old age — it • also enabled one to get there more quickly. At the other end of the scale, so to speak, the European Bridge League has a very active youth programme. The Junior European championships are open to players of 25 years or less and are run every two years. .The 1984 event attracted 19 countries with ' the youngest competitor a German boy aged 16. The top tournament directors were in charge of the organisation, and the French, who took the title by the narrowest of margins ' from their old rivals \ the Italians, sent along the nonplaying captain of their very successful national open team. He inspired his team to eand defend above iselves. Look at this hand dealt by West with neither side vulnerable:— - N ♦ AKQBS VJIO ♦ J 96 ❖ 832 W E ❖ 104 2 4J63 VKQ743 V 98652 4 K 43 4975 4 96 4 A 7 S 4 97 V A ♦ AQIO2 4KQJ1054 With the French silent in the East-West seats, the auction was:— W N E S No 14 No 34 No 34 No 44 No 54 No 64 All Pass Against the excellent final contract of six clubs, West led the king of hearts.. After winning with the ace, the declarer continued with the king of clubs, taken by East. If a heart is returned at this stage, the declarer has an easy task. He ruffs, draws the outstanding trumps and tries the spades. When both opponents follow to the ace king and queen the 8 and the 5 are both good, so South is able - to discard three diamonds from hand. ' Five tricks in trumps, five in spades and two red s aces give him his slam. But of course, had the spades; failed to behave, he would have had to resort to taking a couple, of finesses in dia- - monds. •; So much for what the, cards had pre-ordained. The ' French East managed to frustrate destiny. After winnings the second trick with the ace of clubs, he gave his

CONTRACT BRIDGE

J.R. Wignall

next play some thought. Surely the declarer, who had in the bidding revealed that he held at least 10 cards in the' minor suits, could 1 not have a loser in hearts. ■ If he had he would have played two or three rounds of spades in order to discard it So East found the diabolical switch to a low diamond, and the declarer was in the hot seat Were the spades divided three-three? The odds were against it, in theory by about two to one. On the other hand the diamond finesse offered a straight 50 per cent chance. Going with the odds, the declarer played the queen of diamonds and West’s king defeated the “cold” slam. If one makes opponents .guess, sometimes they will go wrong. Occasionally signs of youthful impetuousity appeared. Put yourself in the East seat, and decide whether you will take the money or the bag in this hand with North the dealer and neither side vulnerable:— N 4 10843 V - ♦ AQIO2 4 KQ532 W E 4 75 4 KQ92 . VKQ9S 4AJ8763 ♦ 875 ♦ - 4J964 4 1087 S 4 AJ6 , V’1042 4 KJ9643 4. A • The auction was a little :unusual:- ! W N E S. • - 14 24 Dble 3V No 44 54 ” No No Dble No ■j No 64 Dble 64 .No No Dble All, . . Pass East was right most of . the time. Five spades was not going to be made, and neither was six clubs, so in a way he was correct to double. On the other hand when six diamonds proved toi.be unbeatable all he had done was topush his opponents’.; ihtb),thelr best spot. Whil e; we have all done this' on occasion, after a while if we! .are East when they want to play in five spades we take the money. Heaven alone: knows what might be in the bag- ‘ .