Suffolk Novice Pairs
On Sunday the Suffolk Novice Pairs attracted a heartening entry. Fitting perhaps, the event was held at Risbygate as, under the direction of Celia Jeal, the club has served a model for bridge development. Many Suffolk clubs are realising they must do more than hold club evenings to attract new members and are now running teaching courses. If you're interested check the Suffolk Bridge website, http://www.suffolkbridge.co.uk/.
The Great Shuffler selected a set of boards that were littered with traps for inexperienced players; your side only vulnerable.
- KQ543
- 5
- Q82
- AK108
- 102
- AQ10972
- 1076
- 75
The auction often reached dizzying heights when East responded two hearts rather than 1NT. Any plus score was well rewarded and no pair managed 1 – 1NT; 2 – 2; Pass, for an easy +110.
I saw this happen more than once:
- A6
- AKJ96
- J10
- AKQ7
- J4
- 10872
- Q983
- 1095
| 2♣* | 2♦* | ||
| 2♥ | Pass |
Yes, two-hearts is game forcing (and stronger than "23 plus") though why East wanted to pass is beyond me. But hearts were 3-1 and clubs 4-2 (else discard spade on fourth round) so nine tricks were the limit. Sometimes higher powers take care of the ingénue…
There was spirited stuff too:
- KQ3
- KJ82
- 6542
- 109
- 94
- Q7653
- KQ107
- K5
- A1062
- A1094
- A
- A743
- J875
- ---
- J983
- QJ862
East-West reached the vulnerable four hearts, North thought he had the beating of that so he doubled. That didn't faze Joan and Keith Jaggard who redoubled – right they were, ten tricks for one of the rarer scores, +1080.
| Suffolk Novice Pairs | ||
| Beginners – 1/2 Years | ||
| 1. | Doris Allen & David Green | 59.03% |
| 2= | Virginia Wright & Anthea Holden | 56.94% |
| 2= | Roland Marriott & Peter Allnutt | 56.94% |
| Improvers – 3/4 Years | ||
| 1. | Diane Whitley & Sheila Whittaker | 78.13% |
| 2. | John Bloomfield & Gillie Hamilton | 66.25% |
| 3. | Marcus Hopkins & Anglea Hudson-Evans | 53.75% |
| Advanced – 5+ Years | ||
| 1. | Joan & Keith Jaggard | 67.36% |
| 2. | Simon Riley & David Walker | 66.67% |
| 3. | Favell Perry & Katy Wigdahl | 52.78% |
| Overall | ||
| 1. | Diane Whitley & Sheila Whittaker (I) | 74.54% |
| 2. | Simon Riley & David Walker (A) | 69.68% |
| 3. | Joan & Keith Jaggard (A) | 66.96% |
| 4. | Virginia Wright & Anthea Holden (B) | 61.75% |
Published Saturday 12.Nov.2011