Dealer: E Vul: N/S
NORTH
♠ 7632
♥ Q1062
♦ Q1084
♣ 2
WEST EAST
♠ K ♠ AJ84
♥ J9853 ♥ 7
♦ A532 ♦ 976
♣ 1065 ♣ Q9843
SOUTH
♠ Q1095
♥ AK4
♦ KJ
♣ AKJ7
There are some deals on which it is almost impossible to reach the par contract predicted by the computer programme and revealed at the end of play. This deal is one of them. The par contract is 3NT by North/South making 10 tricks. In an experienced field all South players would have begun the auction with a strong bid such as 2C, showing 19-21 high card points but not specifying a suit. North would bid 2D, which simply asks South to give more information. 2NT is South’s obvious second bid. At three tables the North players saw the potential of the singleton club if a suit contract could be reached. Using the artificial bid of 3C, North asked if South held a major suit. When South answered with 3S, North raised to 4S, aiming for the bonus available at that level.
All three declarers in 4S failed, mainly because of the 4-1 split in the defenders’ trumps. The killing lead was the five of hearts. Declarer can win that trick, but would normally then switch to a trump, which will be won by West with the King. The heart continuation is trumped by East, who leads a diamond to West’s Ace. Another heart is trumped by East. When the dust settled, two of the three declarers in spades made only eight tricks and the other pair nine. Top scorers for North/South were Lois James and Sandra Head, who decided to stop in 2NT. They made the ten tricks predicted by the computer. It didn’t matter that they hadn’t bid as high as 3NT. Their score of plus180 was the highest for North/South.
Results: Monday, 01/04/24 (5-table Mitchell): N/S N. Collins M. Simpson (66.7) 1; J. Smith P. Kelly (54.2) 2. E/W H. Price R. Hart (62.9) 1; P. Campbell D. Moran (58.3) 2. Friday, 05/04/24 (5 & ½-table Howell) P. Kelly D. Moran (63.9) 1; T. Hinde J. Mobbs (62.1) 2. N. Collins M. Simpson (60.2) 3; J. Smith R. Hart (58.3) 4.
