Dealer: W Vul: Nil
NORTH
♠ AQ108
♥ J985
♦ J2
♣ Q76
WEST EAST
♠ 975 ♠ KJ64
♥ AK32 ♥ 64
♦ AK983 ♦ Q1065
♣ 8 ♣ J43
SOUTH
♠ 32
♥ Q107
♦ 74
♣ AK10952
In bridge the player who wins the auction has the apparent advantage of seeing partner’s hand once the opponent on the left hand side of declarer has made the opening lead. To take full advantage of this situation, declarer must play the right card from the right hand at the right time. On Board 8 from last Friday Sandra Head, playing with Nea McGinness, showed how this was done when she played in 5D, undertaking to make eleven tricks.
North led the six of clubs to South’s King. South’s continuation was trumped by Sandra, who drew trumps in two rounds, ending in hand (West). There is no point in cashing the two top hearts at this stage – they won’t go away. A small spade is now played from West’s hand, giving North an insoluble problem. Playing the ten of spades is probably the best choice. The Jack of spades wins the trick. Declarer really had no choice. If North doesn’t hold the Ace and Queen of spades the contract will fail. Now a low heart is led to the Ace and another spade is led by West. North cannot now prevent East’s King of spades winning a trick. When the dust settled Sandra lost only one club and one spade, both in West’s hand.
Sandra and Nea were the only pair to reach 5D. The value of the singleton club in West’s hand was the key to reaching game for a bonus of 300 and a total score of 400, well ahead of the next best of 150. This result helped Nea to record her second win of the week.
Results, Monday 30/09/24 (5 & 1/2-table Howell): R. Hart N. McGinness (62.0) 1; J. Nankervis P. Kelly (58.3) 2; J. Smith L. Munson (52.3) 3; M. Simpson V. Prentice (51.4) 4. Friday, 04/10/24 (5-table Mitchell): N/S T. Hinde J. Mobbs (60.8) 1; J. Smith R. Hart (56.7) 2; N. Bonnell V. Prentice (52.9) 3. E/W S. Head N. McGinness (52.1) 1; L. Munson J. Nankervis (52.1) 2 eq; P.. Kelly D. Moran (52.1) 2 eq.
