Dealer: N Vul: N/S
NORTH
♠ AK1042
♥ A106
♦ A4
♣ 543
WEST EAST
♠ Q8 ♠ J5
♥ QJ52 ♥ J97
♦ KQ1087 ♦ J953
♣ 106 ♣ QJ82
SOUTH
♠ 9763
♥ 843
♦ 62
♣ AK97
Bridge pundits like to say, “Bid what you think you can make.” That only works if your playing skill matches your judgment in the auction. On Board 5 from last Friday two pairs bid beyond their ability and failed in 4S. Two others stopped in 3S. Both received the lead of the Queen of clubs, When South’s hand was placed face up on the table, one declarer could see the nine tricks needed and was satisfied to win just those nine tricks. These were five spades (provided the defenders held two spades each), three other Aces and the King of clubs. This pair scored 140 matchpoints. Things were different when overall winners, Jenny Smith and Barbara Reid, thought that they could win nine tricks, but that it might pay to look for an overtrick.
When dummy (South) appeared Jenny Smith (declarer) could see that a tenth trick could only come from clubs. At some point, possibly as soon as the first round, declarer had to allow East or West to win one of those clubs. It would be normal for the King of clubs to beat East’s lead of the Queen and for trumps to be drawn in two rounds, to declarer’s sight of relief. Now a small club can be led from North’s hand and if East properly plays low, so does dummy. West wins with the ten and exits with the King of diamonds. Declarer wins with the Ace. Declarer will now know that East holds Jack-eight of clubs and can see that dummy has the King-nine. North’s low club renders East helpless. Dummy can beat whatever East now plays, then dummy’s last club takes trick number ten. 170 points for Jenny and Barbara was a top score.
Results, Monday, 23/09/24 (4-table Howell): J. Nankervis P. Kelly (62.9) 1; Tony Hinde P. Campbell (61.9) 2; J. Rose D. Moran (60.1) 3; W. Milne J. Sipple 55.7) 4. Friday, 27/09/24 (5 & 1/2-table Howell): J. Smith B. Reid (59.7)1; P. Kelly M. Simpson (56.0) 2; P. Campbell J. Rose (55.1) 3; R. Hart N. Bonnell (52.3) 4.
