Dubious Logic

Suffolk v Essex

Despite the farrago of excuses proffered by players for their less than best performances, there is not much about the playing environment that can really distract. Well, the combined teams of Essex and Suffolk would vehemently disagree with that after their recent Eastern Counties League fixture. A faulty fire alarm provided a prolonged and unwelcome irritation for more than half of the match. The ill fortune fell equally upon both teams but it was Suffolk who were able to concentrate the better; the 'A' team won 16-4, the 'B' team 13-7 but the 'C' team succumbed 3-17.

This deals were challenging and mistakes abounded, perhaps unsurprisingly in the circumstances. This was a typical case:

There were penalties of eight and eleven hundred in two and three spades available but some pairs found themselves in 6♦ on the East West cards. Of course, you can see that one might succeed if South has a surfeit of imagination a chooses to lead a low spade. In fact, if South decides to hedge his bets, hoping that partner may be permitted to cheaply win a spade when declarer tries to score some ruffs, then after a neutral heart lead, South might find himself endplayed to yield the contract after three rounds of each red suit and a club. A spade towards the queen-knave seals his fate.

But real life was much more mundane than that. At one table South saw hope in his trumps suit; after a top spade he continued with the ten and hoped his partner could provide the seven of diamonds. Alas not so; though North chastened himself for ruffing with the two when he should have at least risen with the three to show he was alive to the possibilities. At another table South cashed a spade and switched to a heart; declarer ran trumps and North pitched three clubs. I guess no-one rang a bell to tell him he didn't have a problem.

Suffolk v Essex
'A' Team won 16-4 VPs (+43 IMPs)
P. Gemmell / P. Sutcliffe
B. Davies / D. Gudka
E. Newman / M. Sherer
E. Colley / J. Green

'B' Team won 13-7 VPs (+21 IMPs)
M. Allnutt / D. Sutcliffe
A. Moore / J. Moore
N. Denny / R. Mascall
C. Bamberger / R. Green R

'C' Team lost 3-17 VPs (-52 IMPs)
B. Ellul / R. Marriott
R. Hanley / J. Orton
H. Mason / D. Mathews
R. Parish / T. Shearman

A reminder that the Felixstowe Congress, Suffolk's premier event is a fortnight away, Friday 29^th September to Sunday 1^st October. Details on the Suffolk website http://www.suffolkbridge.co.uk/ or from Rosemarie Mascall (Tel. 01787 222448)

Published Saturday 23.Sep.2006