Dubious Logic

Ipswich Swiss Pairs

A few days before playing at the Ipswich and Kesgrave bridge club's annual Swiss Pairs last Sunday I found myself explaining the difference between pairs-play and other forms of bridge to some fledgling players. I'll ask later what they made of it for, though all the details were correct, I have a sneaking feeling some of my bafflement may have leaked through. Perhaps this ordinary deal from Sunday might help:

Four spades made the obvious twelve tricks on a diamond lead, declarer's attempt to sneak a heart trick via low to the queen failing. At rubber bridge one might tally up the pounds (or pennies) the missed slam represented. At IMPs you'd mark this as a 'plus position'; tough for your teammates to bid six but they might just manage it.

At the table South reflected that the strong no-trump, hiding her diamonds, adversely affected North's valuation and there is truth in that. However, with unattractive doubletons in hearts and clubs, it is hard to see the auction proceeding easily after a start of 1 – 1; 2NT; slam needs careful exploration.

But at pairs 4+2 was the worst result North-South were likely to achieve. True they would be outscored by those bidding the good slam but that wasn't the reason. It was that they declared spades rather than no-trumps.

When all the results were in just one North-South has scooped the pool making 6 and +1430, two made all the tricks in no-trumps for +720, three all 13 in spades for +710, two made 12 in no-trumps, +690. Then came the group with 12 in spades, seven of them with +680. A sorry South took just 11 tricks in no-trumps for +660. That meant that the North-South above scored just 8/30 for their result.

At pairs of course, size isn't important, just the rank of the results.

Something else: East-West above couldn't do anything to influence matters but benefitted when other North-Souths chose the higher-scoring strain. But, as those at the event on Sunday and any club-player knows, it doesn't always work that way; pairs is a fickle business.

At pairs you play the best you can at your table but you depend on others sitting the opposite way to do as well against those holding the same cards as you. Generally that random assembly lets you down. At teams however, the people playing the other cards are on your side.

Published Saturday 17.Sep.2011