Dubious Logic

Suffolk Championship Pairs

The County Pairs Championship is a three-stage event: participants first seek to be in the top half of a club evening and those that do go forward to a semi-final. From there the highest twenty-four pairs fight it out in an all-play-all final, two boards against each of the other twenty-three.

This year, after the first session of eleven rounds, David and Jenny Price held a significant lead over the chasing pack – could they hold on? Their second session wasn't as good as their first but they had over a board and a half to spare in the end.

This hand was easily recollected in post-event discussions:

• ---
• KQ9
• AKQJ75432
• A

Last to speak, I was surprised to see three passes; well, what would you open?

I've waited my entire bridge career to hold a hand suitable for an opening bid of 4NT and what happens? I'm partnering someone whose bridge was learnt abroad. I hesitate to attribute the four no-trump 'name an ace' convention completely to the Acol system, but that may be the case. In my relatively small sample of American bridge primers I can find no mention of it.

At the table, more in hope than expectation, I launched 4NT and heard six clubs – supposedly the ace of clubs (five clubs would be no ace, five no-trumps two, otherwise ace of the suit bid). Partner respected my conversion to six diamonds and I awaited dummy to find out how lucky I had been:

Not very… Three pairs (of twelve) managed to find seven diamonds but at many tables North-South had to contend with a weak two spade opener from West. One pair was very conservative (or speculating for a 'top') and progressed only as far as game.

Published Saturday 25.Apr.2009