Suffolk v Hertfordshire
The final fixture of the Eastern Counties League was something of a mixed bag; against Hertfordshire, Suffolk managed 6-6 draws in both the first and second team matches but the third team suffered an 11-1 defeat. The final result of the 'A' team felt much better than a draw for after losing the first three quarters Suffolk rallied very strongly in the last to get back to level. In fact the game seemed to be full of errors and with a touch more application I think either team could have won handily.
Often when you are holding a very ordinary hand you have to consider how it will fit with your partner's, the observation can be quite surprising. Nevertheless, I think my partner did very well here;
| NS Game. Dealer North | ♠ 5 | ||
| ♥ J98765 | |||
| ♦ 8 | |||
| ♣ AQ1043 | |||
| ♠ AQ8642 | ♠ J97 | ||
| ♥ Q2 | ♥ K3 | ||
| ♦ 873 | ♦ KQ942 | ||
| ♣ J9 | ♣ K52 | ||
| ♠ K103 | |||
| ♥ A104 | |||
| ♦ AJ105 | |||
| ♣ 876 | |||
| West | North | East | South | |
| Herts | Chambers | Herts | Colley | |
| Pass | 1NT | Pass | ||
| 2♥* | X | 2♠* | Pass | |
| Pass | 3♣ | Pass | 3♥ | |
| 3♠ | Pass | Pass | 4♥ | |
| X | All Pass | |||
East opened a weak no-trump and West transferred to spades. I was able to show hearts first by doubling and then clubs. South appreciated the value of his hand and pressed onto game. In fact South really only has two cards to contribute, the red aces. It does look a fair stretch to me yet it is easy to see that if partner has something like Kxxxxx and Axxxx in his two suits you have play for game (hearts 2-2 and clubs 3-2). Even if you are doubled then you may only lose a few IMPs against three spades making in the other room. The important thing to realise is that at this dangerous vulnerability, North will have a lot of shape.
These auctions where both partners pass yet bid to game, seem to encourage a double. It is a very tempting action for East-West and it appears that they were sucked in here. West doubled without any defensive tricks to speak of in front of his partner and it hard to justify his action. After the two heart bid, most experience partnerships play that 'completing' the transfer call shows three cards in the suit. I'm nor sure if this was the opponent's arrangement here but it is a sensible one, enabling the partnership to better gauge the fit in the expectation of further competition. Knowledge of a nine card fit should certainly have deterred him from over-estimating his defensive chances.
The play was relatively straightforward. West led a diamond and declarer won and advanced a club to the ten. When that forced the king and the defence played two rounds of spades , South could afford the luxury of trying the double heart finesse, ten tricks duly resulted.
Published Saturday 17.Mar.2001