CHRISTMAS COMPETITION
RESULTS
Dealer North
East-West
Vulnerable
|
|
NORTH S: 9876543
H:
987654
D: none C: none |
|
|
WEST S:
AKQJ2 H: none D: KJ1043 C:1063 |
|
EAST S: none H:
32 D: A8652 C: AQ9742 |
|
|
SOUTH S:
10 D: Q97 |
|
PART ONE
a. There are a number of alternative options that will enable a contract of three no-trumps to be made without winning any trick with a card higher than a nine. When the top 4 spades are led, another suit (e.g. hearts) is unblocked by discarding the ace, king, queen and jack. A fifth spade is then led, allowing declarer to continue unblocking by discarding the 10, while winning the trick with the 9 of spades. The solution shown above was provided by Harry Freeman of Wantage, but several other alternatives were submitted with equal merit.
b. I did not stipulate who should be dealer. In this example it is assumed to be North. North opens with an off-beat pre-emptive bid of three spades, South bids three no-trumps and North passes.
c. The mistake made by West is to lead the 2 of spades at trick 5, assuming it to be the 2 of clubs.
d. The play:- South's 5 top hearts are discarded, making North's 6 hearts master cards. Having taken the 5th spade, North then cashes 2 more spades, continuing the unblock and cashes 6 hearts for 9 tricks.
Nice entry Harry. Shame about the limerick.
PART TWO
Here are the best limericks:-
(N.B. not all contestants completed Part One of the Competition)
There was a young man from Penzance
Who learned bridge while staying in France…
Il Jouait sur le pont
Du ville Avignon
When he got pushed in during the dance.
(Jeremy Simpson (Surrey)… with apologies to
Harry for my indifferent French!
He learned how to declare
at the "Folies Bergeres"
So his endplays were lacking romance.
(L Tucker, Didcot)
When he practised the squeeze
On a courtesan's Knees
A sure entry was gained in advance.
(J
White, Cholsey)
There was a young lady called Jane
Who learned bridge while staying in Spain….
When a lad from Madrid
Made a positive bid
She revealed her top trumps with disdain.
(H Higgins, Abingdon)
She managed to score
With a bold matador
When she shed her red suit on the plane.
(W Stroud, Grove)
She was stripped and then squeezed
But was secretly pleased
And went back again and again
(Nick Smith, Oxford)
*****************************************************
You can read the brilliant answer to Part One submitted by Nick Smith, Bridge Correspondent to the Oxford Times.on the Abingdon Bridge Club website (www. abingdonbridge.co.uk) or by e-mailing me on:- simpson@malcrose.freeserve.co.uk. See also my own solution, where neither North nor South hold a suit greater than 5 in length.
I have judged the winner to be Stan Powell, of Lechlade, a member of Wantage Bridge Club, who found yet another equally valid answer to Part One and submitted the limerick:-
"There was a young man from Penzance
Who learned bridge while staying in France,
But five card majors
He thought outrageous
And said 'let's give Acol a chance.'"
While not having the coarse humour that is traditionally reflected by this part of the competition, Stan has highlighted a popular bidding variation found across the Channel. Well done Stan. A bottle of wine and a copy of "Bridge at the Blunt End" are on their way to you.