BRIDGE by Malcolm Simpson

 

	NORTH S: AK8432 H:10 D:none C:AK9754
WEST S: 10 H: K873 D: KJ83 C: Q862		EAST S: J5 H:AQ9654 D: AQ965 C: none
	SOUTH S:Q976 H: J2 D: 10742 C: J103

Novice and social rubber bridge players may be interested to learn about the Wessex League and how the various matches are played.The League consists of four divisions and covers Oxfordshire, plus Aylesbury (Bucks) and Highworth (Wilts). Teams are promoted and relegated at the end of the season, just like football.The matches are played duplicate style as two “Teams of Eight”, with two pairs sitting North-South and two sitting East-West at four tables, with the opponents sitting at the opposite polarity in each case.The positions are re-arranged at regular intervals, so that each pair has played against every opposition pair by the end of the match.Each match consists of 24 deals.The deals are placed in “boards” and we play the cards such that each hand is preserved intact, so that the same deal can be played on all four tables in turn. The vulnerability for each deal is indicated on each board and all deals are bid with nothing “below the line” as might be the case in rubber bridge.A method of silent bidding is used, so that bidding cannot be overheard from another table.To keep the scoring approximately on a par with rubber bridge, this is kept basically the same but, in addition, a part score is awarded a bonus of 50, a non-vulnerable game 300 and a vulnerable game 500. Each deal thus produces its own score, irrespective of what happened on a previous deal.The scores are then added up for each deal and the difference in points between the two sides is known as the “swing”.

The aggregate score is then converted to IMPs (International Match Points) on a scale of 1 to 24.This cuts out big numbers and works on an attenuated scale so that the big swings have a less critical affect on the result.At the end of the match, the overall score difference is converted still further to twenty “Victory Points”, which are apportioned between the two teams depending on the margin of victory.How big a swing is it reasonably possible for a team to achieve? Let us take the above deal. Both sides are vulnerable and on one table you and partner, as East-West, bid to six hearts (by East).On another table, your team-mates sitting North-South bid to six spades (by North).Both contracts are doubled and each contract makes twelve tricks, giving a “double doubled slam” swing of 3,320 aggregate points or 22 IMPs.(There is an inspired defence to beat both contracts – try to work these out for yourself).The maximum is 24 IMPs, for an aggregate swing of 4,000 or over.What happens if you pull off the same swing on the other two tables?You obtain 6,640 aggregate points, but a mere 24 points (maximum) on the IMP scale, i.e. only an additional 2 IMPs. Needless to say, such enormous swings are very rare.

Wessex League matches are normally friendly occasions, with the clubs acting as the home team on alternate years and providing the venue and refreshments. Their opponents return the compliment the following year, provided they are still both in the same division!

LOCAL NEWSWessex League final placings:-

Division 1 (10 teams)3^rdAbingdon A,6 ^thWallingford A,7^thWallingford B.

Division 2 (9 teams)5^thBlewbury,6^th Abingdon B,8 ^th Abingdon C.

Division 3 (9 teams)3^rdFrilford A,9^th Wallingford C.

Division 4 (9 teams)3^rd Wantage,6^th Abingdon D,7^thFrilford B,9^th Alternative Club.