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NORTH
S: AQ832 H:K87 D:J874 C:4 |
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WEST
S: 1074 H: 63 D: Q53 C: K9752 |
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EAST
S: 65 H:Q95 D: K96 C: AJ1086 |
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SOUTH
S:KJ9
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There is a mythical Being in bridge literature known as the “Unlucky Expert”, who knows the theory of the game backwards, but somehow still seems to get it wrong at the bridge table.A good example of the “unlucky expert” at work is shown by this month’s deal from a weekly duplicate at the Abingdon Bridge Club.
South opened one heart and North responded one spade.South now showed a balanced 15-16 points by rebidding one no-trump.Instead of bidding three diamonds to show his distribution and to allow South the chance to show his five-card heart suit or his secondary support in spades, North raised lazily to three no-trumps.This was passed by South, causing his side to miss a safe game in either major suit.With both defenders holding five clubs each, it was a virtual certainty that a club would be led, giving the defenders the first five tricks.Unless, of course, the “Unlucky Expert” was sitting West.
As expected, West led a low Club, taken by East’s ace.East returned the jack of clubs, covered by South’s now solitary queen.West reasoned thus.From the opponents’ bidding and the failure to reach a major suit game, South was most likely to hold Q10xx in clubs, especially as East had returned the jack, because with four clubs he would probably have returned his fourth best.The possibility of East holding FIVE clubs seemed too unlikely to be worth considering.With no sure side entry in West’s hand, it was imperative to allow partner to retain his supposed third and last club to lead to the remainder of the club suit when he got in with whatever entry card he happened to hold, for example the king of spades or the ace of diamonds, to set the contract by one trick.
On the basis of this line of reasoning, West DUCKED South’s solitary queen of clubs.Now the ace of diamonds, plus five tricks in spades and five in hearts by virtue of a finesse through East’s queen brought South’s trick tally to twelve, for an outright top.
Who said that bridge is an easy game?
LOCAL NEWSAbingdonAnnual Winners:-Individual: Joe Fox,Open Pairs:Peter Russell and Sara Tulip,Handicap Pairs:Jean and Brian Moore
Wessex League
Abingdon A 12 Banbury A 8,Abingdon A 20 Highworth A 0, Abingdon A 2 Oxford A 18,
Wallingford A 18 Aylesbury A 2, Wallingford A 13 Highworth 7,Wallingford A 0 Oxford A 20,
Abingdon B 10 Aylesbury B 10,Abingdon C 16 Blewbury 4,Blewbury 1 Oxford B 19,
Frilford A 20 Thame C 0,Wallingford C 4Aylesbury C 16,Wallingford C 14 Witney B 6,
Abingdon D 9 Bicester C 11,Alternative Club 5 Oxford E 15, Alternative Club 4 Summertown B 16,
Wantage 14 Frilford B 6, Wantage 17 Summertown B 3.