Dealer: N Vul: Nil
NORTH
♠ K82
♥ QJ74
♦ 873
♣ K94
WEST EAST
♠ A7643 ♠ 8
♥ A9865 ♥ 10
♦ Q104 ♦ K652
♣ — ♣ AJ87653
SOUTH
♠ QJ105
♥ K32
♦ AJ9
♣ Q102
Most bridge players have been around for long enough to remember Cpl. Jones of “Dad’s Army”, who regularly shouted, “Don’t panic” to his colleagues. Some West players could have done with that advice when their partners opened 3C on Board 1 (above) last Friday. That bid is an example of a pre-emptive bid whose usual purpose is to rob the opposition of bidding space. Only in exceptional circumstances would the partner of the pre-empter try to play the hand in another suit.
Last Friday two West players did panic: one bid 3S and the other 3H. Both failed by three tricks. The lesson to be learned from this is not to panic even if you have a void in partner’s suit. Unless you hold a very strong hand, partner’s seven-card suit is your best bet. Dianne Dawes was the only player to be allowed to play in 3C. For this contract to succeed, partner would need to produce a couple of tricks and the defenders’ trumps would need to split evenly. That is exactly the way thing were. The key to managing the trump suit in this situation is to prevent North and South winning trumps separately. On gaining the lead, declarer should play the Ace and a small club and at the next opportunity a third club. Declarer can then win five clubs, West’s two Aces and a couple of diamonds, taking care to lead a low diamond towards the Queen. Dianne’s nine tricks earned her 110 points for a top score.
At the other two tables, John Nankervis in fourth seat bought the contract in 1S and won the necessary seven tricks. David Moran was pushed to 2S, but still salvaged an average score. What were their partners thinking?
Results, Monday, 21/10.24 (5-table Club Teams Championship Rd. 1): Noela Collins, Mavis Simpson, Pat Kelly, John Nankervis (78 IMPs) 1; Judy Mobbs Sue Goddard, David Moran, Neil Bonnell (61 IMPs) 2. Friday, 25/10/24 (5-table Mitchell): N/S M. Simpson P. Kelly (67.0) 1’ J. Mobbs D. Hambly (52.1) 2. E/W L Munson J. Nankervis (69.2) 1; D. Moran N. McGinness (57.1) 2.
