Love All
Dealer South
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NORTH
S:Q106
H:A63
D:AK82 C:QJ4 |
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WEST
S:KJ432
H:8
D:QJ93 C:863 |
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EAST
S:A98
H:Q954
D:5 C:K10975 |
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SOUTH
S:75
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The Wallingford Open Swiss Teams Competition has become a popular annual event in the Oxfordshire calendar.Eighteen teams took part this year and the joint Hampshire-Berkshire team ofStuart Strachen, Mahmood Nurmohammed, Pat Scares and Madeline Lawson were convincing winners.The runners up prize was awarded to Amit Badiani and Keith Bennett of Oxford, who were teamed up with Clive Keep and myself.
When the above deal appeared, I found myself in a contract of four hearts, with the two of spades as the opening lead .I inserted the ten and East’s ace won the trick. A spade was returned to the king and I took the third trick with the queen of spades.Grateful for an unexpected trick, I discarded the two of clubs, a potential loser.I played off the ace of hearts, then finessed the jack, with West showing out.Returning to dummy with the ace of diamonds, I finessed the ten of hearts and played off the king, drawing the remaining trump. When I then attacked the diamond suit in the hope of making three tricks in the suit, I found that West’s four card holding was strong enough to force me to concede two diamonds and go one down in my contract.
Thankfully, my team mates were sympathetic and accepted my excuse that I was forced to make an early discard before I could test the diamonds.Giving the matter further thought, I realised that I had made an error.Can you see what it was?
When forced to make the early discard I should have thrown a DIAMOND, not a club.Now I can draw trumps, as before, with East unable to put me to the test in the club suit.When I lead a seconddiamond from the South hand now, I duck whatever card West plays.If East follows,dummy’s fourth diamond allows me to discard my two of clubs.If diamonds break badly, I can return to dummy with the diamond ace and take the successful club finesse.Such problems are easy to solve in the comfort of one’s own armchair, but easily missed in the heat of battle, where time is always at a premium.
The Wallingford Committee are to be complimented for their excellent organisation of the event.There were ample refreshments and a friendly atmosphere, with Marian Day, of Oxford, directing the play with her usual competence.
LOCAL NEWS Abingdon(Annual Competitions)Open Pairs: Sara Tulip and Peter Russell, Handicap Pairs:John Shepherd and Frank Denton-Powell,Individual: Dorice Atkinson.
Wessex LeagueAbingdon A 3 Oxford A 17,Wallingford A 2 Oxford A 18,
Wallingford B 2 Menagerie A 18,Abingdon B 9Banbury A 11,Abingdon B 7 Bicester A 13,Abingdon B 4 Oxford C 16,Blewbury 7 Oxford D 13,Blewbury 20 Oxford F 0,
Blewbury 6 Summertown A 14,Abingdon D 0 Thame C 20,Alternative Club 1 Bicester B 19,Alternative Club 10 Thame C 10,Wantage 12 Summertown B 8.