Brighton Pairs
There is a natural easing of bridge activity during the summer months but one event stands out, that of the EBU Summer Meeting in Brighton. Last weekend was the Swiss Pairs and, when you read this, the teams will be in play. I haven't been at the first weekend for a few years and was favourably surprised to bump into several Suffolk players enjoying the weather, the sea air and, I hope, the bridge.
Curiously, after fourteen rounds of eight boards, I can only remember six slam deals. Maybe the EBU computer knows that pairs aficionados prefer those competitive part-scores. Of course, early in the auction it is hard to know what sort of board it is:
Dealer South
- A65
- KJ62
- 6
- AKQ82
- 109873
- 10
- J105
- 10765
- KQJ2
- Q953
- Q9432
- ---
- 4
- A874
- AK87
- J943
East's desire to keep his side in the hunt for a lower-level contract kept us out of the heart slam which, though it had made, should be defeated. There was a cost in the play too. After winning the spade lead, I ruffed a spade immediately and played the club nine to the ace, then a second spade ruffed high and trumps drawn with a finesse of the eight. As I had been put off the heart finesse for an overtrick, I used my last trump to ruff a diamond which brought the suit down, East having been squeezed in the reds.
It is not to say that this active approach is always ineffective when you are outgunned – as ever, it helps to get your blow in first:
Dealer North
- 94
- J107
- AQ9853
- 96
- J873
- KQ963
- 6
- Q103
- KQ1062
- A854
- J10
- 85
- A5
- 2
- K742
- AKJ742
I'm not sure I can defend my decision to open one spade in second position with anything other than the result. South overcalled and my partner showed spade support with a side suit of hearts. No-one had any more to say after my reversion to spades and North-South's diamond slam slipped away. They didn't go after their heart ruff so had to suffer the further ignominy of recording -140.
Published Saturday 18.Aug.2007