Suffolk v Norfolk

Suffolk took on Norfolk in the second of the season's Eastern Counties fixtures. The first team match was close throughout and might have gone either way on a volatile set of deals but Suffolk ended on the wrong side, losing 6-14 in victory points. However, the 'B' team made it two in a row winning 15-5 but the 'C' slumped to a 1-19 loss.

It wasn't always a case of having to play well, it always helps to have some luck going your way too. The captain, Peter Gemmell supplies this hand where all Suffolk teams gained, though perhaps only fortuitously. How would you declare a slam on these cards?

  • A95
  • AQ103
  • A72
  • Q106
N
W
E
S
  • Q83
  • KJ74
  • KQJ84
  • 8

West deals and opens 1♥ and after partner's 3♦ response, the fair slam is reached. North leads the ace of clubs to which South contributes the nine. North then switches to the ten of diamonds – take it from there.

When asked the same question I couldn't see it as anything other than an exercise in care: take the diamond in hand with the ace, ruff a club low, play one of dummy's top trumps then small to hand. Ruff the last club high, return to the spade ace, draw the rest of the trumps, cash four more diamonds for twelve tricks. No doubt some unfortunate had muddled the play…

But it wasn't that: North trumps the attempt to get back to hand with the ace of spades and a now another diamond leaves you several light. No-one made twelve tricks and some of those say the clues were there: ask what the opponents lead from ace-king against slams – the king they say. What does South's signal mean when dummy has a singleton? Suit preference they say. So why didn't North switch to a spade? To my mind those clues are slight and, depending on the opponents as they do, untrustworthy. But what do I know? As you see, I would have gone down as well.

Suffolk v Norfolk
'A' Team lost 6-14 VPs (-23 IMPs)
P. Gemmell (Capt.) / P. Sutcliffe
M. Allnutt / D. Sutcliffe
E. Newman / M. Sherer
D. Gudka / C. Stokes

'B' Team won 15-5 VPs (+34 IMPs)
C. Bamberger / R. Green
G. Beeton / S. Flin
R. Hanley / J. Orton
M. Bone / J. Leigh

'C' Team lost 1-19 VPs (-66 IMPs)
P. Carlisle / J. Marsh
R. Parish / T. Shearman
J. Mayhew / A. Wilmer
R. Marriott / A. Moore

Published Saturday 8.Jul.2006