Dealer: N Vul: N/S
NORTH
♠ 108
♥ A10842
♦ 10932
♣ A9
WEST EAST
♠ AK6532 ♠ J84
♥ QJ76 ♥ K9
♦ K ♦ AJ85
♣ 104 ♣ KQ87
SOUTH
♠ Q7
♥ 53
♦ Q974
♣ J6532
Congratulations to Pat Kelly, who has attained the rank of National Master.
When given the choice of choosing to play in 3NT instead of 4H or 4S, canny players will favour 3NT, The results on Board 5 from last Friday bear this out. One important factor to take into consideration is the shape of the hands. East, for example, has a balanced hand with virtually no trumping possibilities.
Friday winners, Hilary Price and John Rose, were the only pair to play in 3NT. At the other tables, West insisted on playing in spades. Defending against 4S, most North players led the Ace of clubs, hoping to set up a ruff, but that was not to be. Nor did the Ace of hearts achieve anything better. The only tricks available to the defenders were North’s two Aces. The play presented no problems. Trumps could be drawn in two rounds, the King of diamonds unblocked and North’s remaining Ace forced out.
So why did Hilary and John not join the rush to bid 4S, First, Hilary (East ) held a balanced hand. .Second, if East/West also won eleven tricks in 3NT, they would score ten more points than those who had bid spades. Another factor is that it appeared better for the defenders’ lead to come from South. In the bidding Hilary could start with a minor suit (club or diamond) and John, after responding 1S, had to make a game-forcing bid such as 3H, allowing Hilary to place the contract. She chose 3NT. South led a hopeful three of hearts, but again North/South could win only North’s two Aces. 460 for John and Hilary beart everyone else’s 450.
Results, Monday, 21/04/25 no play. Friday, 25/04/25 (5 & 1/2-table Howell): J. Rose H. Price (70.4) 1; J. Smith R. Hart (62.5) 2; N. Collins P. Kelly (79.3) 3; N. Bonnell L. Don (54.6) 4.
