Dealer: S Vul: N/S
NORTH
♠ —
♥ AQ75
♦ KQ864
♣ J632
WEST EAST
♠ — ♠ AJ1098542
♥ KJ9832 ♥ 104
♦ AJ95 ♦ 73
♣ 754 ♣ 8
SOUTH
♠ KQ763
♥ 6
♦ 102
♣ AKQ109
The status of spades as the senior suit gives it an advantage over the other suits. The compliment “having something in spades” had its origin in the card games Whist and Bridge. On Board 31 East certainly had spades. John Rose and Claire Duggan used their long spade suit to steal the contract in 4S, presumably after South opened with 1C.. Failing by three tricks and conceding 500 points seemed to be a disaster, but turned out well, as North/South can make 5C for 600 points.
Overall winners, Tony Hinde and Noela Collins, were the only pair to find this excellent contract with Tony (South) as declarer. Tony opened the bidding with 1S and jumped to 5C after Noela’s response of 2D. West’s opening lead of the eight of hearts was won in dummy with the Ace and hand re-entered with a heart ruff. Tony could see that the contract would make if West held the Ace of diamonds. Accordingly he led a diamond and West obliged by playing the Ace. Now the King and Queen were winners and Tony could move between hand and dummy by trumping diamonds in hand and spades in dummy. Eventually the eight of diamonds became the eleventh trick. Despite all those spades, East was largely a spectator while all that was going on.
The Bridge Club will take a break after play this Friday until early January. The club wishes all our readers a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
Results, Monday, 08/12/25 (4 & 1/2-table Howell): N. Collins D. Moran (61.0) 1; R. Hart N. McGinness (58.8) 2; T. Hinde L. Don (57.8) 3; J. Nankervis P. Kelly (56.2) 4. Friday, 12/12/25 (4 & 1/2-table Howell): N. Collins T. Hinde (65.5) 1; P. Kelly L. Don (59.4) 2; N. Bonnell V.
Prentice (51.2) 3; J. Loy S.. Head (50.4) 4.
