Dealer: E Vul: N/S
NORTH
♠ Q876
♥ 8765
♦ J9
♣ AJ2
WEST EAST
♠ AKJ3 ♠ 10
♥ AK ♥ Q92
♦ AQ108 ♦ 65432
♣ KQ7 ♣ 9865
SOUTH
♠ 9542
♥ J1043
♦ K7
♣ 1043
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Stanthorpe visitor Dave Hambly teamed up with Noela Collins to secure first place in Friday’s game. Several years ago, Dave was featured in an article posted by prominent bridge personality Paul Marston. Paul described Dave’s bidding somewhat unkindly as “bucolic.” Bucolic or not it was effective then and was effective at Warwick last Friday when Dave was in the West seat.
After three passes, Dave didn’t go exploring. He simply bid what he thought he could make, which was 3NT. North led the orthodox six of spades (fourth highest of the best suit). After this held in dummy, Dave crossed to the Ace and King of hearts, setting up dummy’s Queen as a winner. Next came the King of clubs, which was won by North’s Ace. As the cards lie, North/South can win two club tricks, whatever North plays on the King. North was running out of options when choosing a lead. A heart would have allowed dummy’s Queen to win, but the Jack of diamonds, which now appeared. was covered by S’s King and West’s Ace. Declarer could now win all of his four diamonds. Dave still had to lose a spade and two clubs, but his score of 430 for ten tricks beat the rest of the room.
Results, Monday 06/04/26 (4-table Mitchell): N/S R. Hart H. Price (57.1) 1; P. Kelly M. Simpson (54.7) 2 eq; T. Hinde L. Don (54.7) 2 eq. E/W P. Campbell D. Moran (61.9) 1; C. Duggan N. McGinness (57.7) 2. Friday, 10/04/26 (4 & 1/2-table Howell): N. Collins D. Hambly (64.7); D. Moran N. McGinness (60.9) 2; J. Smith R. Hart (59.4) 3.
