When both sides fail

Press, 12 May 1987, Page 12

When both sides fail

CONTRACT BRIDGE

J.R. Wignail

In the biennial test between the Australian and New Zealand Open teams played at the Christchurch Contract Bridge • Club, the Kiwis triumphed by 250 international match points to 247.

It was no doubt an exciting match which went all the way to the wire, the final margin being almost insignificant, but the over-all standard left a lot to be desired. All twelve players involved had many opportunities to change the result one way or the other, but most were allowed to pass by., Meanwhile, in Auckland, the Australian women were given a tough match in the early stages by New Zealand but eventually ground their way to a decisive victory. So once again Australia will represent’ .the South Pacific zone at the contest in Jamaica later this year for the Venice Cup. Perhaps in, two years the New Zealand team will make their

first appearance in this the world championship. Stephen BlackstockPeter Newell, Dwayne Crombie-Martin Reid and Bill Haughie-Alan Turner will play against the best in the world for the Bermuda Bowl, but they would be the first to admit that they will have to play a great deal better. The Christchurch test was a match that neither side seemed to want to win. The bridge was hit or miss and none of the players, to give them their ■due, were happy with their own performance. > To me this hand typifies the whole match. There was some quite reasonable bidding, some excellent play, then a lot of rubbish. In a way the

curate’s egg, good in parts, but the rest of it — oh dear! South dealt with neither side vulnerable: N. ♦ AJIOS V J 10 7 2 ♦ J 732 ♦ 8 W E - ♦Q976 JKB32 V KQ6S I 83 ♦ Q 8 ♦ KlO 9 4 ♦ Q 92 ♦ AKIO S. ♦ 4 V A 94 ♦ A 65 ♦ J 76542 When New Zealand sat North-South they were allowed to play undisturbed in two clubs, going quietly two down for 100 points to Australia. Things were livelier in the other room when the deal was replayed with New Zealand East-West:

Ail Pass West’s one club showed eight to 12 high-card points with either a heart suit or a balanced hand. The one-diamond response was an enquiry and the one no-trump rebid convinced East there was no good game contract available. Few could blame South for re-opening with two clubs, but East was delighted to double. When this came round to North he tried to improve the contract by re-doubling, asking his partner to try something else. South retreated to two diamonds, and when East doubled again everyone was satisfied.

After a good auction for the New Zealanders, West found the excellent lead of the queen of diamonds, attempting to stop the declarer making tricks by crdss-ruffing. Winning

with the ace, South led a low club. Had West won . this trick with the queen to lead a second diamond, the defenders would have taken eight tricks to win a 500point penalty. But he tried the 9 and West had to win with the 10. Again the king and another diamond would have earned 500 but East returned a heart.

Gratefully South played the ace to take what tricks were available. Dummy was entered with a spade to the ace, a spade was ruffed in hand, a club ruffed on the table and another spade in hand. This was the position: N. , ♦ J V JlO 7 ♦ J 7 W. E. ♦Q ♦ K V KQ6 V 3 ♦ 8 ♦ K 10 9 ♦Q ♦ K S. ♦ - V 94 ♦ J 765 When South now trumped a club in dummy, East inexplicably over-ruffed. Quickly he corrected his error, and substituted the king of clubs, but' his 9 of diamonds was an exposed card which had to be played at the first opportunity. A rather fortunate delarer therefore called for the jack of diamonds, which provided the eighth trick. The score of plus 280 for making two diamonds contrasted strongly with the minus 500 that should have been. The match was too full of errors of this kind, and the many spectators must left sadder but not 7‘

s. W. N. E. No 1* No If No 1NT No No 2* No No Dble No No Redle No 2f No No Dble