Dubious Logic

The county year

Looking back over the year for county bridge the overall assessment must be one of consolidation and gradual improvement. At the end of the 2000-2001 Eastern Counties League season Suffolk registered their best results; a win for the second team and the first team handily placed. After finishing third in the Tollemache qualifier in 2000, the county repeated the performance in 2001. The county captain, Michael Sherer is to be commended for this as he is for his instigation of squad evenings to spread the knowledge and experience of the more senior member as well as engender team spirit.

Here's a hand from this year's Tollemache qualifier:

The poverty of the opponent's methods was emphasised on this deal. Unable to double for take-out, North was at sea on the next round. Over the opening pre-empt this hand is not easy to bid. Against one ex-Suffolk player now shackled to the Cumbrian team, the opening bid was the same and East made a take-out double. South bid three no-trumps, conscious that he may have been stuck for choice, North delicately raised to four no-trump. There matters rested; who takes the blame? At first I thought North should have done more but then it was pointed out that South was about a queen away from the absolute maximum for his call (any more and he'd have take action immediately). As ever, it's the weak(er) hand not realising how strong it is in context.

As to how these hands might be bid without the intervention;

For Suffolk Andrew Moore's 2♠ was either game try or (as here!) a slam try. The immediate 3♥ showed a nice suit and thereafter Jane Moore told her partner how many aces and kings she held. The crunch came when East doubled. The inference that he wanted a non-spade lead was manifest and Andrew made the correct decision for a useful helping of team IMPs.

Published Saturday 29.Dec.2001