Summer League Semi-Final
Two weeks ago I wrote about the Suffolk Summer League semi-final between Clare and Ipswich and Kesgrave resulting in a tie and a rematch. In fact the replay was staged between my writing the article early in the week and the Saturday it appeared in the newspaper. This time there were no scoring errors and when the IMPs were tallied, Ipswich and Kesgrave were forty up. This deal contributed handily to that total:
| EW Vul. Dealer South | ♠ 874 | ||
| ♥ A8 | |||
| ♦ Q1093 | |||
| ♣ AKJ3 | |||
| ♠ AQ | ♠ 3 | ||
| ♥ KQJ5 | ♥ 976432 | ||
| ♦ K6 | ♦ AJ8752 | ||
| ♣ 97542 | ♣ --- | ||
| ♠ KJ109652 | |||
| ♥ 10 | |||
| ♦ 4 | |||
| ♣ Q1086 | |||
| West | North | East | South | |
| 3♠ | ||||
| X | Pass | 4♠* | Pass | |
| 5♣ | X | 5♦ | Pass | |
| 5♥ | End | |||
The auction above comes from a table where Clare were North-South and I was East for Ipswich and Kesgrave. Unused to having such a suitable hand opposite a take-out double, I thought I had to make some show of strength. However, I rather 'chickened out' and declined to raise my partner once we settled on a trump fit. I reasoned (and I'm not sure how validly) that he was able to progress once I had done more than simply bid game in hearts (or diamonds). The play was easy when trumps were 2-1 and Ipswich had +680 but both sides were left wondering who that might benefit.
At the next table, the Suffolk South was made of stronger stuff – "seven-four; bid some more" – and opened four spades, no-one had any more to say on the matter. It is far from an automatic double as West and East needs some nerves to balance in fourth but I think they should (4NT!). West naturally led the heart king and South had no problems taking ten tricks to give Ipswich +420.
At the third table, the Clare South also opened four spades and someone did have something to say. But it was North who raised to six which was passed out. It is a moot point whether East might well have hazarded a double, asking West to find an unusual lead (a club). However, when North's raise might have been obstructive, perhaps it is not clear that double shouldn't be reserved simply for a big hand. South again made ten tricks and North was surprised to find he had made an advance save against the opponent's slam; Ipswich +100.
At the last table North-South rested in five spades down one after an auction that time has obscured; Ipswich -50 but +15 IMPs overall. They go on to meet Colchester in the final. The majority of the Summer League – really an inter-club teams-of-eight – is actually played in the summer, only the three knock-out matches have over-run. The 2009 competition will be starting shortly, make sure your club gets in an entry.
Published Saturday 7.Mar.2009