Four twos and a four
Some people think serious bridge cannot be fun and few events are as serious – or as tough – as the Schapiro Spring Fours. This knock-out competition is continuing as I write early in the week but, I am sad to say, without my team. We had a decent run losing the second of our 'lives' in round five though we had some fun on the way; two light-hearted interludes from our campaign:
| ♠ 84 | |||
| ♥ KQ52 | |||
| ♦ J53 | |||
| ♣ 9865 | |||
| ♠ K1063 | ♠ J9 | ||
| ♥ 7 | ♥ J1096 | ||
| ♦ 1086 | ♦ AKQ72 | ||
| ♣ AJ742 | ♣ K10 | ||
| ♠ AQ752 | |||
| ♥ A843 | |||
| ♦ 94 | |||
| ♣ Q3 | |||
East-West declared a no-trump partial at both tables. At ours partner had bid spades so I led the eight to partner's ace and he continued the suit to his disappointment. Declarer naturally cashed diamonds; on the fourth, dummy's two, south let go the two of spades, west the two of clubs and I completed the trick with the two of hearts. Well it amused us though the board was flat. This 'small' triumph however did bring us a swing:
| Game All Dealer West | ♠ A987 | ||
| ♥ Q1062 | |||
| ♦ J103 | |||
| ♣ K2 | |||
| ♠ 62 | ♠ Q104 | ||
| ♥ KJ8754 | ♥ --- | ||
| ♦ 8 | ♦ AK7642 | ||
| ♣ Q1075 | ♣ 9863 | ||
| ♠ KJ53 | |||
| ♥ A93 | |||
| ♦ Q95 | |||
| ♣ AJ4 | |||
Against us west opened a natural weak two hearts, passed to south who competed with two no-trumps. Holding so many hearts I wasn't tempted to explore for a spade fit and settled for the no-trump game which made ten tricks (two more than possible in spades) for +630.
At the other table west opened with an artificial 'Multi' two diamonds. East, Peter Gemmell, responded two hearts – partner might have had a good hand and for the time being he didn't want to be any higher – and became declarer when no-one had any more to say. For his opening shot south selected the heart three, four from dummy and, deigning to waste a high-card to declarer's presumed ace, north contributed the two - first round of trumps won with the four! Peter gathered six more tricks for a satisfying down one, -100, +11 IMPs to the team and a lifetime achievement.
Published Saturday 9.May.2009