Dealer: W Vul: Both
NORTH
♠ KJ632
♥ K73
♦ 94
♣ Q98
WEST EAST
♠ Q8 ♠ 54
♥ — ♥ AQ10542
♦ KQ8653 ♦ J1072
♣ K10854 ♣ 7
SOUTH
♠ A1097
♥ J986
♦ A
♣ AJ32
Congratulations to Jenny Smith and Leanne Munson on their victory in the Handicap Pairs Championship. There were mixed fortunes for several pairs on Board 4 in Round 2. North/South have the solid contract of 4S, yet, with one exception, the North/South pairs allowed East/West to play in diamonds.
The best result for East/West was 710 and the worst minus 500. Jenny and Leanne played in 4D doubled. With apparently no helpful spade bid from partner, North led the three of hearts. This enabled declarer to win with the safe play of the Ace and discard a spade from dummy. A key play now is to play the seven of clubs inviting South to play the Ace. South can play all three Aces (there is nothing better) but would be left with no good continuation. Declarer can play one more round of trumps and then trump hearts in hand and clubs in dummy until declarer is left with two trumps and the winning ten of clubs. This gave Jenny and Leanne the top score.
One other East/West pair bid 5D and was also doubled. This time North led the King of spades and followed up with a low spade to partner’s Ace. Declarer made only nine tricks after adding two clubs to their tricks lost. That cost declarer minus 500. Chances missed on this deal included the North/South pairs who missed their game in spades and the East/West pair who won eleven tricks in diamonds, but bid only to the three level.
Results, Monday, 18/08/25 (4-table Howell Handicap Championship, Rd 2) J. Smith L. Munson 1; W. Milne J. Sipple 2. Overall: J. Smith L. Munson 1; T, Hinde P, Campbell 2; J. Nankervis P. Kelly 3. Friday, 22/08/25 (5 & 1/2-table Howell): T. Hinde P. Kelly (59.7) 1; J. Smith C. Duggan (56.9) 2eq; J. Nankervis N. McGinness (56.9) 2eq. N. Collins M. Simpson (55.4) 4.
