Suffolk at the Pachabo

It is a few years since I wrote about the Pachabo Cup. This is the annual competition for the winners of each county's teams event – a "Champions' Cup" or more accurately for those who remember, a "Cup Winners Cup". However, what really distinguishes it is the method of scoring which combines point-a-board, where you have to be careful not to let overtricks and undertricks slip by, and the margin of victory, scaled as in multiple and Swiss events. This cut-throat scoring makes for a tense experience and a team's progress is driven by morale.

I'm pleased to say that Suffolk had much their best run in the Pachabo for many a year; they finished fourth, somewhat cruelly overtaken by a chasing pack in the final round when they had been no lower than second for a long time.

That curious scoring method means that every deal is important, not just the games and slams:

Game All
Dealer North
  • AQ54
  • 104
  • Q9763
  • 53
  • KJ108
  • A765
  • J
  • J942
N
W
E
S
  • 32
  • KJ8
  • 10542
  • KQ107
  • 976
  • Q932
  • AK8
  • A86
West
North
East
South
Gobert
Kent
Chambers
Kent
Pass
Pass
1*
X
1
2
End

South's opening didn't promise diamonds – it was part of a strong club system – but perhaps North should have taken the risk and competed further. I was left to play peaceably in two clubs and, with the nine of spades falling had no problem even had the defence drew trumps: +90 to Suffolk.

West
North
East
South
Kent
Sutcliffe
Kent
Gemmell
Pass
Pass
1*
Pass
1*
Pass
1*
Pass
1NT
End

This time South's opening didn't promise any more than two clubs but that was enough to keep West quiet. North's heart bid showed spades (increasingly common over a short-club) and South's conversion was usually three-card support. North judged to play a no-trump and he made seven tricks: another +90 for Suffolk.

In a teams match this would be small beer, a slightly random deal dependent on the choice of minor opening obliged by system. But in a pairs competition this would be an important deal – as it was at the Pachabo. As Suffolk won the board they got two points and as the other two were shared, the swing here +180, meant that they had three points on the scale and a 7-3 victory over a strong (though out of form) Kent side. That this was a rebound after our worst defeat was particularly pleasing.

The Pachabo Cup 2009
1.Berks and Bucks204.5
(Tim Rees; Mike Perkins; Ian Reissmann; Peter Hawkes)
2.Cambs and Hunts202.5
(Chris Jagger; Julian Wightwick; Jonathan Mestel; Catherine Jagger)
3.Yorkshire199.5
(Graham Jepson; David Musson; Richard Pike; David Robinson)
4.Suffolk196.0
(Peter Sutcliffe; Peter Gemmell; Christopher Chambers; Jim Gobert)

The European Open has started in Sanremo: there are few local and familiar names playing there and you can follow their progress via http://www.eurobridge.org/competitions/09Sanremo/Sanremo.htm with results and bulletins.

In addition, I will be trying to write a daily update on the front page of this website – http://www.dubiouslogic.com via Blogger software (so bear with any formatting problems – it looks OK with Firefox).

Published Saturday 20.Jun.2009