Suffolk v Bedfordshire
Suffolk took on Bedfordshire last weekend in the first match in the new season's Eastern Counties League and the first under new captain David Price. It was a good start for the new man in charge; Suffolk won the first and second team fixtures but lost the third. Details and line-up will follow but I was so relieved my misplays didn't hurt the team too much I left without the details. I suppose I have to come clean:
| ♠ A97 | ♠ 62 | ||
| ♥ 762 | ♥ AQJ4 | ||
| ♦ A98 | ♦ KQJ4 | ||
| ♣ Q1087 | ♣ 962 |
| West | North | East | South | |
| Chambers | Beds | Gobert | Beds | |
| 1♣* | 3♣ | |||
| 3NT | End | |||
My partner's one club was clubs or balanced, south's overcall was natural with long clubs. There wasn't room for everyone to have the suit so East was clearly balanced and, as our opening no-trump would have been 10-12 HCP, had 13+. Despite the prospect of less than classical values for game, my club stop was economical so I tried three no-trump. Dummy was as expected and, also as expected, north led a spade, the king.
I congratulated myself on my bidding - the contract was no worse than the heart finesse - and ducked the first spade, south contributing the knave. South continued a low card to south's ten and I ducked again. Ouch. That was the setting trick.
South switched, the heart finesse failed and I lost two top clubs (north was void). Instead of reviewing the bidding, I should have been planning the play - clearly if the heart finesse lost, whether or not the defence could run the spade suit was irrelevant, they had enough top cards to beat me. Winning the second spade would have ensured the contract.
Curiously the beneficiary of this play returned the favour a few boards later:
| NS Game, Dealer South | ♠ KJ3 | ||
| ♥ 109654 | |||
| ♦ 95 | |||
| ♣ J42 | |||
| ♠ 64 | ♠ 982 | ||
| ♥ K7 | ♥ QJ32 | ||
| ♦ KQ10764 | ♦ J | ||
| ♣ 963 | ♣ KQ1075 | ||
| ♠ AQ1075 | |||
| ♥ A8 | |||
| ♦ A832 | |||
| ♣ A8 | |||
South opened one spade and I made a jump overcall in diamonds. North took a shine to her meagre values and bid three spades, raised to game by south. I led the diamond king and was still on lead at trick two. I couldn't see a killing switch so played another diamond ruffed by partner to my surprise. He played a heart, south winning the ace and returning the suit. I played another diamond and now partner's trumps were able to prevent hearts being established.
I think declarer was so perplexed at his partner's 3♠ call that he failed to see that his contract was a good one and simply winning the lead and returning the suit would give him two high ruffs and his game. A salutary reminder to us both: don't worry about the bidding during the play. If you despair at this so called 'A-Team Play' (as well you might) I'm sure the county captain would like to hear from you…
Published Saturday 18.Jul.2009