Bridge thrives in the country

Press, 28 July 1987, Page 16

Bridge thrives in the country

CONTRACT BRIDGE

J.R. Wignail

Though New Zealand has for some time had the highest number of bridge players per capita of any member of the World Bridge Federation, the over-all number has remained fairly static for the last few years. It is reassuring therefore to be able to report a surge of interest in the country areas.

Otago-Southland has always boasted a lot of small provincial clubs, and now' Canterbury has thriving bridge groups in towns like Amberley, .Hawarden, Amuri, Waiau, Darfield, Hanmer, Methven, Akaroa, and Lincoln.

The Hanmer Club recently ran a most successful tournament that attracted 92 players of all standards, and which was won by Emma Barrack and Graham Tuffnell, from Christchurch.

It was a comparatively short event: 46 deals for 46 pairs over two sessions, with the main attraction the dinner at the half-way .point at the Lodge. Perhaps there is a message there, for a few weeks

later the South Island Pairs at the Christchurch Bridge Club was accounted a success when it attracted 36 partnerships from nine clubs ranging from Motueka and Nelson to Cromwell.

This is a much longer event of three four-and-a-half-hour sessions during two days. By all accounts the hands were varied and interesting, but the standard of play was very mixed. Certainly the winning score would be one of the lowest for some time, but Bob Scott and Michael Sykes put together a fine second session, which was enough to carry two other average sets and give them the championship. The runners-up were Chris Ackerley and Michael Johnstone from Dunedin, while only a few points behind came John Jessep and John Wain from Blenheim in third place, with Nola Mather and Ann Oakley of Crockfords fourth. Jill Thomas and Doug Thomson of Christchurch were fifth.

To win at any sort of bridge one must take full advantage of opponents’ mistakes. Scott and Sykes did not miss their opportunity when the declarer made a small slip on this hand. South was the dealer with both sides vulnerable:

The opening bid of two clubs was strong and game-forcing, after which the rest of the auction was natural.

Against six clubs West led the ace of spades which South ruffed. The ace of clubs revealed the bad news that East held an inescapable trick in trumps, so the declarer turned his attention to the diamond suit.

Remembering the auction during which West had doubled five diamonds, South was confident he knew which opponent held the diamond king. Without giving the matter the thought it deserved, he cashed the ace of diamonds then led the queen through West. Correctly this was not covered, so the declarer discarded a lbw spade from dummy, and was not surprised when the queen held. His joy was short-.

lived, however, for when he next ruffed a diamond on the table, East, overruffed and returned his last trump: . Now, with- no clubs left in dummy and two losing diamonds in his hand, the declarer had to go down. ? ’A little more thought at the start would have enabled . him to make -his well-bid slam. After, ruffing the ace of spades, South should cash the ace of clubs, unblock the queen of hearts, then make the ace of diamonds. The queen and jack of diamonds were an illusion and the declarer would no doubt have made his slam had they been small cards. He should ruff a diamond in dummy, and make the ace and king of hearts, on which two more diamonds go away. After coming to hand by ruffing a spade, the declarer trumps his last diamond with dummy’s last club.

East can over-ruff, but when South regains the lead he draws the remaining club with his king, and then the rest of his hand is high.

It was not a bad auction: S. W. N. E. 24 No 2V No 34 No 34 No 44 Dble 64 All Pass