
Dealer: N Vul: E/W
NORTH
♠ 98743
♥ 7
♦ 3
♣ A65432
WEST EAST
♠ 52 ♠ Q10
♥ Q842 ♥ AKJ5
♦ K742 ♦ AQ98
♣ J87 ♣ KQ10
SOUTH
♠ AKJ6
♥ 10963
♦ J1065
♣ 9
The most extraordinary hand of the week was dealt last Friday. Would anyone dare to open the bidding with North’s hand? In practice all North players passed. Had North managed to find a bid in spades, North/South, with only a quarter of the honour cards in the pack would have won eleven tricks.
The play is straightforward: concede East’s two Aces and then regain the lead by trumping whichever red suit is continued, then play two rounds of trumps. Next comes the Ace of clubs and any other club for dummy (South) to trump. From then on, hearts are trumped in North’s hand and clubs in South’s hand until East West have no clubs left. North’s remaining clubs are high and there is still a trump to serve as an entry. East/West, with all their strength, would win only East’s two Aces. Surprisingly no East/West pair were able to make game in anything. Most failed in no-trumps, not having been warned of the danger lurking in the spade suit.
The Congress held at the clubhouse on Sunday was enjoyed by all who attended. As usual, The morning and afternoon teas provided were of the customary high standard. The best-performing pair from our district were Keith Barnett and Michael Fox from Stanthorpe, who won the B Section and were third overall.
Monday, 28/07/25 ( 4 & 1/2-table Howell) N. Collins M. Simpson (72.2) 1; P, Campbell T. Hinde (66.0) 2; J. Nankervis P. Kelly (60.4) 3. Friday, (5-table Mitchell) N/S N. Bonnell T. Hinde (65.8) 1; P. Kelly J. Loy (54.7) 2. E/W J. Rose P. Campbell (64.2) 1; L. Munson J. Nankervis (51.7) 2. Congress: H, & S de Zoysa 1; L. McRoberts E. Zeller 2. K. Barnett M. Fox 3. Best Warwick pair: J. Nankervis P.Kelly