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Here’s an opportunity for you to tell an interesting,perhaps funny story about some recent bridge happening. Maybe your partner or an opponent did something pretty smart. (You are far too modest to own up to your own brilliancies, I hope!). Just tell me and all things being equal, I will try to record it for the wider public.

Let’s start with a story from the top. I repeat. This feature is for anyone whether you are Open, Intermediate or Junior Grade. However, Michael Cornell is at the top of New Zealand Bridge. He’s been there for some time (it’s OK, Michael, I have far too few fingers and toes to work out how many!). He has been winning lots too and one of the most recent was the Victor Champion Cup, an important 10 round Teams competition held annually in Melbourne. He was playing with his regular partner, Ashley Bach, along with Australians Phil Markey and Justin Williams.

With one round to go, their team was streets ahead of third place but trailed the leaders which included ex Kiwi Liam Milne, by about 5.5vps. One round 14 boards to go. Indeed, with just one board to go, they needed a big result on that board to have any chance of winning the 96 team event.

Prepare yourself for bidding from the “planet Mars” (well, certainly not from “planet Earth”!).

 

The 2 opening requires explanation, very few points and although ostensibly at least 4-3 in the majors, beware. Maybe this freely used bid caused Ashley to re-open with a hand many might just pass out. Howard Melbourne had already distorted the auction by passing 2, perhaps angling to be doubled in spades later. He then compounded the confusion by psyching 3. He might have won the auction for his side had he passed 3NT but he bid once too often. Ashley (South) doubled 4 for penalties but Michael had other ideas. He forced Ashley to the 6 level (5) but Ashley let Michael choose the slam by bidding 5NT.

2,3,4 on third round of a suit. When did you last see that?

His choice of 6 was not optimum but the lead of 10 was not unhelpful. He covered as did Jo Haffer and Michael’s king won the first round. Michael played three rounds of trumps finishing in his (North) hand. He “knew” from the bidding that West had at least three hearts. Thus, he exited a low heart from hand (6..Michael's false-card...one day hiding his lower hearts might be significant.) to the 7 and West’s 8, won the return and was able to lead 2 from dummy, to the 3 and 4, a very interesting third round of the suit.

Slam, bid with difficulty and played very carefully. That produced 12 imps for Michael and Ashley’s team and although they still lost the match narrowly, it was enough just to gain them first place as the previous leaders had suffered an even bigger defeat.

Congratulations also to Mary Ellen Newton, Michael Ware and GeO Tislevoll who came fifth in the 96 team event along with Australia’s Joan Butts . Meanwhile, during the same Congress, Wellington’s Mindy Wu and Sandra Coleman won the Women’s Swiss Pairs competition from a field of 34 pairs.

 

Richard Solomon.  Have you a “moment to share?”      press here

 

 

 

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