Dubious Logic

Suffolk v Cambs and Hunts

Though it is a new year we are towards the end of the Eastern Counties League season. It was something of a fresh start however, as Peter Gemmell took over the reins as Suffolk captain from Andrew Moore. The new skipper was greeted with mixed success in his opening fixture against Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire; the 'C' team did their bit, winning 14-6 but both the 'A' and 'B' teams lost, 9-11 and 1-19 respectively – especially galling after the first team had started very handily only to let their lead dribble away over the next three sets.

If there was one theme throughout the match it was how inferences from the bidding affect the play and how giving too much of a picture may harm your chances if you end up defending. Try and bring home game here:

South declared four hearts at two tables after West had bid spades; the diamond lead was marked and after the first round held, East took the second to play through a spade. As you can see that didn't change matters and declarer went about his business, taking a diamond ruff, drawing all the trumps and cashing spades. He reached:

For Suffolk Peter Sutcliffe played a club to the nine and when East won, he was endplayed. At my table the Cambs & Hunts declarer tried the club queen and failed. A simple misplay? Not really - Peter had heard West bid both spades and diamonds and he read the ending well. At our table, my partner Jim Gobert kept his diamonds quiet and retained one for the end game. Thus declarer couldn't afford to let me win a minor club honour and potentially cash the last diamond.

Suffolk v Cambs & Hunts
'A' Team lost 9-11 VPs (-6 IMPs)
P Gemmell / P Sutcliffe
C Chambers / J Gobert
E Colley / J Green
M Allnutt / D Sutcliffe

'B' Team lost 2-18 VPs (-56 IMPs)
R. Hanley / J. Orton
A Moore / J Moore
R Mascall / N Denny
B Davies / J Lang

'C' Team won 14-6 VPs (+28 IMPs)
A Wilmer / H Morris
B Ellul / R Marriott
S Flin / G Beeton
T Shearman / R Parish

Published Saturday 21.Jan.2006