Dealer: W Vul: E/W
NORTH
♠ J942
♥ 7
♦ AK974
♣ 1087
WEST EAST
♠ AQ ♠ 76
♥ Q5432 ♥ AK86
♦ 105 ♦ J86
♣ Q952 ♣ KJ83
SOUTH
♠ K10853
♥ J103
♦ Q32
♣ A4
Renowned philosopher Billy Slater recently declared, “You’ve got to riskit to get the biskit.”
While this may be true for rugby league, it could also apply to bridge. Pairs champions, Noela Collins and Mavis Simpson followed this dictum on Board 9 (above) in Round 2 of the pairs championship. Mavis (West) opened the bidding with 1H, but with nothing really special about the hand. With four good trumps, useful clubs and a shortage in spades, Noela could make an encouraging response. The diamond shortage held by Mavis allowed to upgrade her hand and to “riskit” by bidding 4H.
On lead, North did well by playing three rounds of diamonds, forcing West to use a trump. The play then followed the predictable path of three rounds of trumps, after which Mavis set about establishing three tricks in clubs. The moment of truth came when South gained the lead with the Ace of clubs and continued with a spade. There was now really no choice. Unless South held the King, the contract would fail. Mavis duly played the Queen, which won. Ten tricks were now safe: two spades, five hearts and three clubs for a score of 620. The next best score was 170 by a pair who could not bring themselves to “riskit.”
Results, Monday, 08/09/25 (5-table Howell, Rd 2 Pairs Championship): N. Collins M. Simpson (67.1) 1; J. Nankervis P. Kelly (58.3) 2 eq; J. Smith L. Munson (58.3) 2 eq; W. Milne J. Sipple (52.3) 4. Overall: N. Collins M. Simpson 1; J. Nankervis P. Kelly J. Smith L. Munson 3; T. Hinde L. Don 4. Friday, 12/08/25 ( 4 & 1/2-table Howell): P. Kelly L. Don 70.8) 1; W. Milne J. Sipple (60.0) 2; N. Collins T. Hinde (55.1) 3. J. Nankervis L. Munson (54.6) 4.
