Suffolk v Hertfordshire

Suffolk's results against Hertfordshire in their third match of the Eastern Counties season were somewhat patchy; the 'A' and 'C' teams both lost 4-16 in victory points but some light was shed in the gloom by the second team who were victorious by the same score.

The captain brought this board to my attention if not for the quality of the results but for their sheer diversity:

NS Vul.
Dealer South
  • J954
  • AKJ86
  • J92
  • 6
  • 763
  • Q854
  • AKQ5
  • 109
N
W
E
S
  • A
  • 107
  • 1064
  • AQ87432
  • KQ1082
  • 93
  • 873
  • KJ5

Students of par might well assess that East-West can make nine tricks in clubs and North-South eight in spades. Whilst it is unwise for them to outbid their opponents at this vulnerability – one down in three spades doubled costing 200 to defending three clubs to lose only 110 – it is easy to imagine North-South getting to the nine trick level. Doubling would be risky at teams where the extra 100 the larger part of the time does not offset the occasional match losing –730. Three spades seems a reasonable practical median then, what of the actual results?

Five of the twelve county pairs to play this hand reached the five level East-West. Whether any of these were the result of tactical master strokes by North-South – trading on the vulnerability and persuading their opponents to sacrifice – the raw scores do not reveal. Three of these were doubled in five clubs, one escaped and one played peaceably in five diamonds. Four clubs was attempted once and our middle way of three spades twice. Three clubs – true par – once and just two clubs another time. Perhaps the most surprising pair of results came from the two tables where the deal was passed out.

Assuming no tricks went astray in the play (somewhat rash you might think) then only a third of the East-West pairs went positive on what was 'their' deal. One principle of maintaining a winning edge in teams matches is to ensure you get a positive on hands like this. It needn't be a great plus score (no close doubles) but it should be a plus.

Suffolk v Hertfordshire
A team lost by 46 IMPs (4-16 in VPs)
J. Lang / D. Morran
C. Stokes / P. Markwell
P. Gemmell / P. Sutcliffe
E. Newman / M. Sherer (Capt.)

B team won by 38 IMPs (14-6)
J. Moore / A. Moore
C. Bamberger / G. Moody
M. Allnutt / D. Marriott
J. Orton / M. Olsiewicz

C team lost by 27 IMPs (6-14)
A. Wilmer / J. Mayhew
R. Mascall / N. Denny
D. Gudka / J. Wilmott
R. Hanley / W. Tweddell

Published Saturday 20.Oct.2001