Dealer: S Vul: N/S
NORTH
♠ 10643
♥ KJ2
♦ 97
♣ 10632
WEST EAST
♠ 85 ♠ 7
♥ A10983 ♥ 654
♦ 2 ♦ AQJ10654
♣ A9874 ♣ KJ
SOUTH
♠ AKQJ92
♥ Q7
♦ K83
♣ Q5
On Board 15 from last Friday there was a three-cornered auction: North/South doggedly bid their spades while East and West argued about the respective merits of their hearts and diamonds. Generally, East clung to diamonds and failed to support partner’s hearts. At three tables, North/South won the auction, but in two cases failed to fulfil their contract. At the third table, Warwick Milne and Janny Sipple, playing in 3S, won nine tricks when the defence faltered. The standard defence against a spade contract by S is for West to lead the two of diamonds. East wins with the Ace and returns a low diamond for West to trump. West can win the Ace of hearts and the Ace of clubs, then play a low club to partners King. The defenders can win five tricks before declarer gains the lead. At another table 5D (doubled) by East was a disaster.
Strangely, no East/West pair found 4H by West, which was the only game available. Bidding 4H is difficult when your partner wants to play in diamonds, but making it is not easy either. North would probably lead a spade, which would be won by South. A trump is probably the best continuation. Declarer will have to duck this in order to keep control of the trumps. If North wins this trick, North has no good return. If South wins with the Queen and continues with a trump, then declarer wins with the Ace and trumps the eight of spades in dummy. Now comes the Ace of diamonds and the Queen. There is now no way of stopping declarer from winning several diamond tricks, allowing the defenders to win only two trumps and the Ace of spades.
Results, Monday,23/06/25 (4-table Mitchell): N/S J. Smith L. Munson (59.5) 1; J. Nankervis P. Kelly (49.4) 2. E/W J. Loy L. Don (56.5) 1; C. Hall M. Johnston (56.5) 2. Friday, 27/06/25 (5 & 1/2-table Howell): J. Smith P. Kelly (67.4) 1; N. Collins N. McGinness (61.8) 2; T. Hinde L. Don (58.3) 3; W. Milne J. Sipple (54.9) 4.
