By Neil Bonnell, Warwick Bridge Club
Pat Kelly and John Nankervis held off a strong challenge from Noela Collins and Mavis Simpson to win this year’s Club Pairs Championship. The winners of last Friday’s Draw Pairs competition were Tony Hinde and Jany Sipple.
For this event partners are decided by drawing lots to ensure that as far as possible everyone plays with a new partner.
Tony and Janny scored an outright top on Board 7 (above). At all tables West was declarer in a spade contract, but only Tony and Janny achieved the par result of 4S making eleven tricks for a score of 650.
This deal is a good example of how to use the information provided by the opposition’s bidding. South opened the bidding with 1C, showing at least 12 high card points. Not surprisingly, North commonly led the five of clubs, the fourth highest card in that suit and promising an honour.
Declarer discarded a heart and South produced the King of clubs. Declarer won with the Ace and now could be reasonably sure that South had all the missing honour cards in hearts and diamonds. Declarer continued with the nine of clubs, which was trumped by East’s ten of spades.
The King and Queen of spades were led, with both the defenders following. Declarer could now confidently lead the four of diamonds to the ten, draw the remaining trump, cash the remaining three diamond tricks and concede just one heart and one club.
Results
Monday, N/S 13/09/21 (6-table Mitchell) N. Collins M. Simpson (67.3) 1; J. Mobbs S. Goddard (59.3) 2 eq; N. Bonnell T. Hinde (59.3) 2 eq; E/W Jenny Smith Jill Smith (60.7) 1; J. Rose P. Campbell (57.0) 2; H. Richardson D. Moran (52.0) 3. Overall: J.Nankervis P.Kelly 1: N. Collins M. Simpson 2; N. Bonnell T. Hinde 3.
Friday, 17/09/21 (4 & ½-table Howell) T. Hinde J. Sipple (61.6) 1; Jenny Smith N. McGinness (60.3) 2; M. Finlay N. Bonnell (59.0) 3.
