Dubious Logic

Suffolk v Cambs and Hunts

In the Eastern Counties League, The Suffolk 'A' team continued their season with a 14-6 win over Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire but both the 'B' and 'C' teams suffered reverses in the last quarter to go down 8-11 and 6-14 respectively.

Speaking from the experience at my table it was rather an error strewn match, nevertheless, sometimes we play well and don't win, so we're owed – and it's a good measure of a team that wins when not on top form. In due course I'll identify some of my contributions to the list of mistakes but today I'll feature a tantalisingly close approach to a minor ambition:

An unlovely contract and 3♠ would have been safer but I suspect that anymore bidding would have taken us overboard. South led a low club and dummy's nine scored. In the West hand for what looked to be the last time I led a spade and the situation was clear to all; South ducked and won the continuation. Unwilling to open up my main suit he played a heart, choosing the six. That went, eight, ten and queen and I played a club back at him. Aware now I think, that he should have cashed his clubs before getting out with that heart, he tried the suit again, four, five, deuce and three. I had reached dummy! Four hearts, two spades, a club and a diamond gave me my contract but the small ambition? Had South tried the nine of hearts at his second play of the suit, I would have been able to force a third round entry with the five…

Suffolk v Cambs & Hunts
'A' Team won by 24 IMPs (16-4VP)
P. Gemmell / P. Sutcliffe
M. Sherer / E. Newman
B. Barker / A. Day
C. Chambers / J. Gobert

'B' Team lost by 4 IMPs (9-11VP)
B. Davies / A Moore (Capt.)
R. Hanley / J. Orton
N. Denny / R. Mascall
C. Bamberger / R. Green

'C' Team lost by 25 IMPs (6-14VP)
G. Beeton / S. Flin
B. Carey / M. Carey
A. Barnes/ D. Gee
K. Standley / J. Standley

Published Saturday 5.Feb.2005