Dubious Logic

Suffolk v Northamptonshire

Suffolk played Northamptonshire in the Eastern Counties last Sunday and the result had something of a familiar ring: the 'A' and 'C' teams both lost, on this occasion with the same 6-14 score in victory points, but the 'B' team continued their winning ways, overcoming their opponents 13-7.

Even the second team had to come from behind after being down at the half but the first team match was decided in the boards one to eight. Suffolk lost 57 IMPs in that quarter and though they won the next three stanzas, we could only limit the damage. The captain singled out this deal in his report, both vul. (hands rotated for convenience):

Three no-trumps was attempted at nine tables, usually after an unrevealing auction, e.g. 1NT (14-16) – 3NT but at one table at least, after East surprisingly opened the bidding with one diamond. Each declarer received the lead of the spade knave – how would you continue?

At many tables, West could come up with no better plan than playing the diamonds immediately and, with "eight never, nine ever" no doubt ringing in their ears, cashed them from the top. This would have left them with very few tricks had the queen not dropped but South had started with queen-ten exactly. At one table West took a first round finesse. He would have survived had South tamely played back a spade (they were 4-3) but the defender switched sharply to hearts and there was no way back.

My partner, Jim Gobert, found a nice variation. He won the spade and crossed to a top diamond. He now led a club to the king. When that held he judged from the opponents carding that they couldn't take the club suit for four tricks and so he could afford a losing finesse. Had the club king lost of course, Jim would have been in more or less the same boat as everyone else, having to guess the diamonds.

Of those nine tables, the no-trump game made seven times (mostly with overtricks) and went off twice. Had South had a diamond more, it would have reversed the 'A' team result.

Suffolk v Northamptonshire
'A' Team lost 6-14 VPs (-24 IMPs)
P. Gemmell (Capt.) / P Sutcliffe
C. Chambers / J. Gobert
J. Green / E Lockhart
B. Davies / D. Gudka

'B' Team won 13-7 VPs (+16 IMPs)
M. Allnutt / D. Sutcliffe
J. Moore / A. Moore
B. Barker / A. Day
C. Bamberger / R. Green

'C' Team lost 6-14 VPs (-26 IMPs)
G. Beeton / S. Flin
N. Denny / R. Mascall
R. Parish / A. Shearman
K. Standley / J. Standley

Published Saturday 22.Sep.2007