Suffolk v Northants
Though the last match of the Eastern Counties Season saw the 'A' team in mid-table, the 'B' team was in with a shout. Moreover, we were playing Northamptonshire, the form team of 2006-7. Their 'A' team needed to avoid only a complete collapse, a fluke result in a third party match and walking under ladders to win the top flight. Their 'B' team could overtaken by a modest Suffolk win. In the event, there were losses for both our first two teams; 6-14 in victory points and 2-18 respectively. It was left to the as yet unmentioned 'C' team to salvage some pride with a narrow 11-9 win.
I have to admit it, the opponents played as befitting their division leader status. They seemed to know pretty much when to stretch and when to hold off. There was a rearguard action by the Suffolk 'A' team in the last quarter, courtesy of good slam bidding by Din Gudka and Barry Davies but up until then, the only gains had been due to occasional over-extension to bid games from our opponents. But you make your luck in this game; consider this hand, as South, both vulnerable, dealer West:
- A
- 4
- AK92
- QJ109864
Or at some tables:
1. Weak two in either major
2. To play 2♥, may have other intentions if partner has spades
It is not hard to fabricate useful hands for partner – perhaps as little as the club king and the diamond queen would suffice. And easy to explain that there would be little way for said partner to realise those were golden. But there are a lot of high cards out there and if he or she holds some of them, it isn't over yet. You are very likely to get another chance over what looks like a conservative three clubs. Today that was all you could make.
But that's not the complete story. East held ♠ K83 ♥ J85 ♦ J75 ♣ AK72 – if you make it a policy to always raise when you have three card support, then consider the problem you'd face the hand above if the auction was a level higher.
Suffolk v Northants
'A' Team lost 6-14 VPs (-26 IMPs)
P. Gemmell (Capt.) / P. Sutcliffe
C. Chambers / J. Gobert
B. Barker / A. Day
B. Davies / D. Gudka
'B' Team lost 2-18 VPs (-63 IMPs)
M. Del-Bo / M. Leigh
N. Denny / R. Mascall
R. Parish / T. Shearman
R. Hanley / J. Orton
'C' Team won 11-9 VPs (+8 IMPs)
C. Bamberger / J. Mayhew
B. Ellul / D. Sutcliffe
A. Barnes / N. Less
B. Malinowska / E. Newman
Published Saturday 3.Mar.2007