Dealer: S Vul: N/S
NORTH
♠ 9843
♥ AK10
♦ 4
♣ AKQ103
WEST EAST
♠ AKQ ♠ 72
♥ 98 ♥ QJ7643
♦ KJ76 ♦ 9852
♣ J865 ♣ 7
SOUTH
♠ J1065
♥ 52
♦ AQ103
♣ 7
In a recent article in The Australian British expert, Andrew Robson, extolled the virtues of a four-four fit in hearts or spades. The hand shown above, Board 15 from last Friday, is a good example. North and South have four spades each. Don’t worry about the fact that they are missing the Ace, King and Queen of spades. 3S, requiring nine tricks to be made is a better contract than 3C. Tricks in spades score better than those in clubs and a further advantage is that some of South’s losing cards can be discarded on North’s winning clubs.
Ros Hart and Jenny Smith put Robson’s idea to the test. After flirting with clubs and diamonds they settled on the contract of 3S by North (Ros). East led the two of diamonds. It’s best to win with dummy’s Ace and, before the defenders can interfere, clear the heart suit. A low heart is played to the Ace, which is followed by the King. Then a low heart is trumped in dummy. West can overtrump, but must use an honour. West will now find it difficult to avoid a continuation which will help declarer. North has only black cards and is complete control. Declarer can win whatever West returns and then switch to trumps. West is again put on lead and again end-played. West unwisely doubled 3S. The cost to East/West was 930 after Ros made ten tricks. Her only losers were the three top trumps.
At last week’s annual general meeting the following were elected to executive positions: President Claire Duggan, vice-president Noela Collins, secretary Mavis Simpson and treasurer Len Don.
Results: Monday, 04/03/24 (5 & ½-table Mitchell): N/S N. Bonnell B. Bonnell (54.6) 1; J. Smith L. Munson (53.7) 2; J. Nankervis P, Kelly (51.7) 3. E/W C. Duggan M. Johnston (67.5) 1; R. Hart N. McGinness (53.5) 2; W. Milne J. Sipple (51.0) 3. Friday, 08/03/24 (5-table Mitchell): N/S R. Hart J. Smith (68.3) 1; T. Hinde J. Mobbs (60.8) 2; N. Bonnell L. Munson (60.4). E/W P. Kelly D. Moran (56.2) 1; C. Duggan M. Johnston (52.1) 2; L. James S. Head (50.0) 3. Handicap E/W: A. Macdonald B. Reid 1.
