Suffolk v Bedfordshire

Suffolk suffered in last Sunday's Eastern Counties League match against Bedfordshire. They didn't play well that is certainly true, but the opponents seem to have all the good fortune going their way as well. When the dust settled the 'A' team had lost 3-17 in victory points, the 'B' team 4-16 and the only glimmer of resistance was from the 'C' team who achieved an exact tie in IMPs for 10-10.

In some respects the county 'A' team was fortunate to escape a landslide, this hand summed up the experience for me:

NS Vul.
Dealer South
  • AJ72
  • Q103
  • A64
  • 754
  • K95
  • K6
  • 93
  • QJ9832
N
W
E
S
  • 86
  • AJ975
  • QJ85
  • AK
  • Q1043
  • 842
  • K1072
  • 106
West
North
East
South
—
—
—
Pass
Pass
Pass
1
Pass
2
Pass
2
Pass
2
All Pass

The auction above is from my table. Two clubs after passing was not forcing (one heart was limited by failure to open a strong club) and in taking another bid I was showing some reason for carrying on. When partner gave preference to hearts I evaluated that the prospects in that strain were poor for game. In that I was certainly correct. After receiving a trump lead I embarked on an attempt to score some of dummy's clubs. That failed, the ace of spades was wrong and in the end-game I was unable to eke out a diamond trick and was down one (yes, yes, there are successful lines).

I hadn't expected my decision to stop in a partial to present such a problem in the play. Game it transpired was much easier to declare. Both opponents tried three no-trump, one from each side, and both made it. By West it is very difficult to defeat – even I might have got there. How to bid it? Well, I think the best shot is for East to have a last go with a raise to three clubs, then West might just attempt game and if not, three clubs would be safer than two hearts.

Suffolk v Bedfordshire
A Team (lost 52-107 IMPs, 3-17 VPs)
M. Allnutt / D. Marriott
E. Newman / M. Sherer (Capt.)
P. Sutcliffe / P. Gemmell
C. Chambers / E. Colley

B Team (lost 75-117 IMPs, 4-16 VPs)
R. Green / G. Moody
B. Barker / A. Day
J. Wilmott / D. Gudka
M. Olsiewicz / J. Orton

C Team (Tied 110-110 IMPs, 10-10 VPs
R. Mascall / N. Denny
P. Speller / J. Standley
W. Tweddell / R. Hanley
N. Less / H. Huson

Published Saturday 17.Nov.2001