It’s a tough game at the top

Press, 12 March 1985, Page 14

It’s a

tough game at the top

CONTRACT BRIDGE

J.R. Wignall

The book of the 1983 World Championship, -produced by the American Contract Bridge League, will soon be on sale here. Recording what is probably New Zealand’s best result so far in international competition, it promises to be compulsory reading for local bridge players. Eight teams participated in the round-robin, and all played the same hands so that there was plenty of scope for comparison of methods. This hand was dealt by North with only his side vulnerable:

When it came up, New Zealand was playing North America, and my partner K. G. Wooles and I were West and East. The auction was rather spirited:— W N E S

Under his methods North

was a little short of a gameforcing bid, so he started with one heart. After East’s obvious pass, South’s response of one no-trump could hardly have been weaker but he did have a few hearts for his partner.

Wooles came in with a straightforward three diamonds, showing a pretty good hand, and North tried four clubs, his second suit. East did not have much, but a singleton heart and five of his partner’s suit certainly justified a raise to four diamonds. In fact, he considered bidding five then and there.

When West called four spades he showed a very strong hand, so over five clubs from North, East had no hesitation in bidding five diamonds. There is no doubt that Wooles would have made this contract, and especially when doubled by North. The defenders can take the ace

of hearts, but then the declarer can ruff the ace of clubs continuation, draw the missing trumps with the ace of diamonds, and cash the ace of spades. Incidentally, this disposes of the four aces in the first four tricks. When the jack of spades drops on the first round the position is fairly clear. West continues with a low spade, driving out the king, and now has no more losers. Wooles was deprived of the opportunity to demonstrate his dummy play but he was not yet out of the lime-light. When North doubled five diamonds, South had far too many cards in his partner’s suits and removed the double to five hearts, which was quietly if rather slowly, passed out. East led a spade to his partner’s ace, and West rose to the occasion. He switched to the two of diamonds,

boldly underleading his four honours. When I won with the five, much to my surprise, it was not hard to work out what was going on. My club return was smartly ruffed by West, and in due course we made another trick with the queen of clubs to put the contract two down for a score of 200 to New Zealand. At the other table the auction was completely different:—

North’s one club showed a good hand, 17 points or more with any distribution. East’s one diamond showed two suits, either both minors or both majors. Well, he did have some diamonds and some clubs, but not many of us would find a bid on only three points.

West jumped to four spades, expecting his partner to bid on if he held the minors but not the majors. East unfortunately did not see it this way, so after a double from North that was the final contract. The ace of hearts won the first trick, the declarer ruffed the ace of clubs then cross-trumped to make six ruffs and the ace of diamonds. Three down was another 500 points to New Zealand, and 700 in all on the board.

Every declarer, in fact, went down. In the match Sweden versus Pakistan both Wests arrived at six diamonds, both were doubled and both played well to make 11 tricks. The same happened when Indonesia played the Caribbean, both Wests losing 100 points for one down doubled. Playing against Brazil, the Italian North was allowed to play in five hearts,

only one down when East led a diamond. The Brazilians at the other table also reached five hearts, but Italy pushed on to six diamonds, again down one. So Brazil made a small profit on the board. It is a tough game at the very top. North-South could have made game in four hearts, and East-West in five diamonds, but at eight tables in play everyone was pushed to a level where they were defeated.

IV No 1NT 34 4+ 44 No 4* 5* 54 No No Dble No 5V All Pass

w N E S - 1$ No 44> Dble All Pass