Dubious Logic

Hyperactivity Pairs Disorder

I've just returned from the European Open in Sanremo. I wrote from there last week noting that the bronze medals in the Mixed teams went to two teams, mostly English with a Scot or two, hoping it might be an indication of form. Unfortunately not so; the Dutch won the Open teams, the Italians the Women's and Seniors'. In the Pairs the Open went to Sweden, the Dutch took the Women's and Italy and Poland shared the Seniors' in a transnational partnership. All in all, a decent mix of European nations with the few Americans and Asians who had made the trip returning empty-handed.

Those pairs victories were the result of a hard slog: there were four qualifying sessions in each event that split the field into two. The majority of the finalists would come from Semi-Final 'A' but a few could struggle through from below the cut. This stage too was four sessions and there would be four more for the finalists (or three in a consolation event).

At all stages there was ample evidence for pairs and bridge (as you and I know it) being two separate games. Wild and crazy things seem to happen and after a while, you start to perpetrate them yourself. Comfortably out of the event I decided to watch two Irish players, leading the final during the second session:

Mesbur – Fitzgibbon play a strong club and so the opening was limited. One might have conceived of a take-out double of two hearts on the South hand but 'under the gun' that is not the style. Wait until the opponents disclose their strength, then act. The trouble is, the player who discovers this, North in the deal above with his flat hand and heart values, may have less than a classic shape for action that will be, more often than not, a take-out double.

But because the occasional disaster is worth as much as the many small triumphs of discovering a making fit or pushing the opponents up a level and defeating them, virtually any risk is acceptable. South would have done better to try two spades (down one) but surely partner would have a minor? This was the day to pay back all those small successes. Adam Mesbur doubled for take-out (my partners never do when I hold the West cards) and led the ten of clubs. It was carnage.

Declarer covered to ensure a trump trick – the six – but took only two hearts and the diamond ace in addition; down five and -1400. But just one board in a 106 deal event – time no doubt to 'get back on the horse' and be just as fearless next time.

Published Saturday 4.Jul.2009