Novel world championship is a big success

Press, 24 June 1986, Page 16

Novel world championship is a big success

CONTRACT BRIDGE

J.R. Wignall

The Epson Computer world bridge championship, held on June 14 in Europe, was arguably the biggest sporting event ever staged. Certainly, it was one of the most successful.

Though the final figures are not yet in, more than 100,000 players from about 60 countries took part, all playing the same hands at more or less the same time.

In New Zealand, the event started at 10 a.m. on Sunday, June 15, when some 1500 enthusiasts, having skipped their sabbath lie-in, opened sealed envelopes containing prepared hands. Every pair played exactly 24 deals of the 36 supplied, on which they earned points according to a scale supplied by the hand-setters.

It was a first-class selection of hands, with

plenty of interest to produce a most enjoyable session. The two New Zealand players who enjoyed it most were Gladys Eastwood and Vai Bentley. Playing in a small heat at the Waikanae Club, they amassed a most praiseworthy 1769 points out of a possible 2400, an average of 73.71 per cent. They just edged Michael Cornell and Lionel Wright of Auckland, who gained 173 points, or 72.08 per cent, into second place, and won an expenses-paid trip to the Data-General bridge congress at Rotorua in early September. Third place went to Anne Haywood and Elizabeth Shaw, of Thames.

Bruce Anderson and I managed to win the Christchurch Bridge Club’s heat, thanks to a

little help from our friends. Our result on this deal did us no harm at all. South was the dealer with only East-West vulnerable: N 4 K 854 V 62 ♦ Q 1075 4 10 8 5 W E 4 63 4 A 1097 4 3 4 Q 10 9 8 4 ♦ 98632 4 - 4K6432 4 AJ97 S 4 QJ2 4 AKJ7S ♦ AKJ4 4 Q The auction at our table was short and, for us at least, sweet: S W N E 14 No 1414 No No Dble All Pass

South’s one club was Precision, showing 15 or more points with any distribution, to which North responded with a negative one diamond. Who can blame East, with a sound opening bid and such good distribution, for intervening with one heart? But such action is always dangerous with the strong hand on one’s left, as she was quickly to find out. South and West passed — one happily, the other less so — after which North made a takeout double, telling his partner he had a few values in the other three suits. When East passed, South was delighted to play for penalties so one heart doubled became the final contract.

The opening lead of the ace of diamonds was ruffed by the declarer,

who played the ace and another club. South trumped and forced East again with another diamond. With no entry to dummy, the declarer had a hopeless task, and eventually had to be satisfied with four tricks, although she might in fact have made five. It made little difference. For an 800-point penalty North-South scored 97 out of a possible 100, whereas for a 500 penalty they would have earned 95.

East was very unlucky to walk into such unkind distribution, but of course her side had a playable spot in clubs, as she was the first to point out. Who, however, would argue with West’s decision to remain silent throughout? After all he was a good, loyal and supportive husband who never argues with his wife.