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NORTH
S: Q642 H:73 D:K83 C:K764 |
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WEST
S: 98 H: 1082 D: J9752 C: Q93 |
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EAST
S: J10 H: KQ94 D: 104 C: J10852 |
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SOUTH
S:AK753
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The technique of playing matchpointed pairs is very different from rubber or teams bridge.The primary objective is to get the best score and overtricks are often vital.In the deal above, that occurred at a weekly duplicate at the Abingdon Bridge Club, I was sitting South, partnered by my wife, who was sitting North .The reader is invited to judge who made the most serious mistake, which resulted in a near bottom score.In true male chauvinistic style, I opened with two no-trumps with the South hand, ensuring that I would play the contract should no-trumps be the preferred denomination.Although I held a singleton, it was an ace which, after all, was a certain “stop” in my weakest suit.I also held a five card major, but we were playing the Stayman convention so, if she held four cards in either major, partner was expected to bid three clubs.I would then bid three hearts and partner would either raise to four hearts with four of them or bid three no-trumps with four spades. In the latter case, I would then, of course, bid four spades, knowing that partner’s Stayman bid must have been based on a four card spade suit.The clever part of it all was, whichever was the preferred contract, I would be playing it!What I did not cater for was partner deciding that eight points must be more than ample to make three no-trumps opposite my strong hand and ignoring the fact that she held a four card spade suit.(She didn’t want to “give the game away” about her distribution…..).
The five of diamonds appeared as the opening lead and, after proclaiming, in my usual polite and courteous way,my unhappiness about dummy’s failure to use the Stayman Convention to find our five-four spade fit, I proceeded to make the obvious eleven tricks in no-trumps.This was a near bottom because most of the remainder of the field made twelve tricks in spades by virtue of a heart ruff in dummy (two pairs actually bid the slam).Are you still on my side?
Well you shouldn’t be.I should take the first diamond in dummy and play a heart, finessing the jack if East plays low.If, however, an honour appears from East, I duck.When I regain the lead, I play off the ace of spades, return to dummy with the queen of spades (noting that both opponents follow suit) and lead the remaining heart, intending to finesse the jack if the other honour does not appear from East.The worst that can happen is that I am back to my original eleven tricks with the ace of hearts still stopping my weak suit and, as spades break 2-2, I still have enough entries to get to all my master cards.What would actually happen is that I would make twelve tricks, not eleven, for a near top (twelve tricks in no-trumps are worth more than twelve tricks in spades) because East held both heart honours.When in a bad contract in a matchpointed pairs event, taking even a modest chance to catch up with the rest is better than settling for a likely bottom, especially when that chance cannot cost you a trick.
Sorry dear, I will let you play more contracts next time.
LOCAL NEWSWantageThe Wantage Bridge Club now meets at the Comrades Club, Newbury Street, on Thursday evenings, starting 7.30pm.The change of day and the move to licensed premises has been carried out in an attempt to attract new members.For further information, ring Alan Parker on 01235 763842.
Wessex LeagueWallingford B 5Highworth 15,Abingdon B 2Oxford B 18,Abingdon C 1 Oxford B 19,Frilford A 0 Menagerie B 20,Wallingford C 3Oxford D 17, Alternative Club 4 Bicester C 16,