Dealer: N Vul: Nil
NORTH
♠ 5
♥ Q972
♦ Q1087652
♣ 4
WEST EAST
♠ K32 ♠ 10764
♥ K3 ♥ A108
♦ A94 ♦ J
♣ K10732 ♣ AQJ65
SOUTH
♠ AQJ98
♥ J654
♦ K3
♣ 98
The Bridge Club is grateful to Acconia, the company building the Macintyre Wind Farm, for their grant covering 50 per cent of the cost of installing solar panels on the clubhouse. A generous supporter of the club donated the remaining 50 per cent.
Beginners at bridge are taught the general principles of good play and accurate bidding,but are bemused when told that there can be exceptions to these “rules”. Let’s look at what happened on Board 1 (above) last Monday. On lead against 3NT by West, North obediently led the five of spades, which was the suit that partner had bid. When dummy’s (East’s) hand was displayed declarer could see eight tricks: five clubs, two hearts and one diamond. The defenders could not now stop West’s King of spades becoming the ninth trick needed to make the contract. At another table, Janny Sipple found the slightly unusual lead of the two of diamonds against another contract of 3NT. Declarer failed by one trick, probably because of neglecting to lead a small spade towards the King.
At two other tables, North opened a pre-emptive 3D on very slim values. Both were allowed to play there, one making the necessary nine tricks and the other failing by one trick. Both scored well. That brings us to yet another table, where South (Peter Campbell) was on lead against 5C. Most players would have chosen the passive lead of a trump. Peter, never a slave to orthodoxy, played the Ace of spades, which turned out to be the killing lead. Having won the first trick, Peter could continue with the Queen, forcing declarer to play the King, which could be trumped by North. 5C failed by two tricks. That’s what makes bridge so fascinating.
PS Leading partner’s suit is a good way to keep partner happy. Blame partner if it goes wrong.
Results, Monday, 10/07/23 (5-table Mitchell): N/S T. Hinde P. Campbell (60.4)1; N. Collins D. Moran (56.2) 2. E/W P. Kelly J. Nankervis (70.0) 1; H. Price N. McGinness (60.00) 2. Friday, 14/07/23 (5 & ½-table Mitchell): N/S N. Collins M. Simpson (63.2) 1; Jenny Smith P. Kelly (55.7) 2. E/W L. Munson J. Nankervis (62.4) 1; W. Milne J. Sipple (55.2) 2.
