Dubious Logic

Suffolk v Essex

The 2009/10 Eastern Counties League season finished with the match against neighbours Essex. It was a mixed affair: the 'A' team won 12-8 in victory points, but both the other teams lost 5-15. This was disappointing for the 'B' team who had harboured hopes of winning their division. They were briefly top but other counties' results have since pushed them down to fourth. The 'A' team also finished mid-table but the 'C' team ended second-last; you can see the full tables on the Suffolk website.

The choice of whether to play four major or three no-trump is seldom easy. The spring issue of Suffolk twice-yearly magazine Table Talk contained an excellent article by Jonathan Green on this very topic (also available as a download from the Suffolk website). This is one more example but a tough examination at the table, dealer West, love all:

If there are two club losers then spades must come in, so if they are, you'll have nine tricks in no-trumps. If the club ace is on-side you appear to safer in spades as you can now tolerate trumps 4-1. But even with a club trick, the opponents may have two. Perhaps diamonds can help? As I said it's not easy, moreover, in a competitive auction, it's even tougher:

South led the club queen and four spades was pretty much over before it had begun:

Well, except at one table; declarer ducked in dummy and south retained the lead. He switched to a diamond; queen, ace and north played… A diamond back!

Suffolk v Essex
'A' Team won 12-8 VPs (+9 IMPs)
C. Stokes / J. Lang
P. Gemmell / P. Sutcliffe
R. Hanley / J. Orton
A. Green / D. Valtisiaris

'B' Team lost 5-15 VPs (-35 IMPs)
A. Moore / R. Mascall
D. Sutcliffe / M. Allnutt
G. Beeton / S. Flin
R. Green / C. Bamberger

'C' Team lost 5-15 VPs (-36 IMPs)
E. Green / B. Barker
N. Less / H. Evans
A. Wilmer / J. Mayhew
B. Talaga / A. Yarkina

Published Saturday 20.Mar.2010