Suffolk v Bedfordshire (2)

Held over from last week, the full results of the first Eastern Counties match away to Bedfordshire are: Suffolk 'A' won 15-5, the 'B' team also won 14-6 but the 'C' team crashed to defeat, 0-20.

Board one is often a test, before the bridge brain is engaged, and north-south needed to be alert here:

Love All Dealer North♠ KJ8754
♥ Q3
♦ 7
♣ AKQ9
♠ Q3♠ 9
♥ 84♥ KJ1097652
♦ 942♦ Q86
♣ J108632♣ 5
♠ A1062
♥ A
♦ AKJ1053
♣ 74
WestNorthEastSouth
BedsLangBedsStokes
1♠3♥4NT1
Pass5♠2Pass7♠
End

1. Asking for Key-Cards with spade as trumps
2. Two (♣A and ♠K) and the queen of spades

Claude Stokes and Julian Lang did very well on this deal. Julian made the crucial decision when he claimed to have the spade queen. There's nothing wrong with the diagram; as they were playing four card majors, he could be reasonably confident his partner had four card support thus the sixth spade and the ten card fit (with the knave as a bonus) would almost always take care of the queen. Claude backed his judgement that diamonds would provide enough tricks.

At my table we were a little more active in the auction:

WestNorthEastSouth
GobertBedsChambersBeds
1♠4♥4NT1
5♥Pass2Pass6♠
End

1. Blackwood
2. One ace

The intervention made it more difficult here. Whereas over three hearts it makes sense to have 4NT agree partner's suit, over four there is much less room. What, for example, would you do with seven or eight solid diamonds? The opponents were on solid ground but we can all recognise their caution. No other 'A' team pair bid the grand slam and Suffolk had a useful 11 IMPs start.

Suffolk v Bedfordshire
'A' Team won 15-5 VP (+34 IMPs)
A. Green / D. Valtisiaris
J. Gobert / C. Chambers
M. Sheerer / E. Newman
C. Stokes / J. Lang

'B' Team won 14-6 VP (+23 IMPs)
J. Price / D. Price (Capt.)
N. Bresler / D. Cooper
C. Bamberger / R. Green
R. Hanley / J. Orton

'C' Team lost 0-20 VP (-79 IMPs)
N. Less / H. Mason
P. Whetton / R. Parish
R. Mascall / N. Denny
E. Green / G. Beeton

Published Saturday 25.Jul.2009