Losing Streaks are Over.

Spare a thought for the Bridge Masters who have had a tough time with little going right at the table. 13 successive losses. So, the small wins over Turkey and Bulgaria should bring just small smiles, perhaps of relief.

The Bridge Blacks remain extremely competitive especially after a fine win over Norway, one of the countries a little way above in the low qualifying places. However, there is still a 32 vp gap to claw back to 8^th place with only 8 matches left.
Netherlands and China would always be big asks for the Bridge Ferns and while they would have preferred a few more vps from these matches, the big win over South Africa keeps them competitive, 14vps behind 8^th. They face France and Canada in two of their next three matches, two countries just above them on the table.
                  Showing the Flag

 No doubt getting ready to cheer on the All Blacks, our Bridge Ferns show off their flag.
Christine Gibbons, Shirley Newton, Glenis Palmer, Kris Wooles (npc), Linda Cartner, Jenna Gibbons
and Jenny Wilkinson
Let's hope that the All Blacks have a similar flag to cheer on our bridge teams too.

The win over South Africa ended a run of 9 successive losses for the Mixed Blacks and will hopefully give them a boost for the last three days’ play.

 

                Open (Bridge Blacks)                                                                Women (Bridge Ferns)

Match	Opponents	imps	NZ Vps	NZ Position		Match	Opponents	imps	NZ vps	NZ pos.
13.	Israel	25-37	6.72	15th		13.	Netherlands	6-67	0.00	15th
2.	Norway	52-22	16.73	12th		14.	South Africa	57-9	18.97	14th
3.	Egypt	44-17	16.26	11th		15.	China	25-45	5.00	14th

 

Seniors (Bridge Masters)                                                   Mixed (Mixed Blacks)

Match	Opponents	imps	NZ Vps	NZ Position		Match	Opponents	imps	NZ vps	NZ pos.
13.	Netherlands	12-51	2.03	24th		13.	Denmark	36-59	4.44	20th
14.	Turkey	28-22	11.76	24th		14.	Chinese Taipei	13-51	2.15	22nd
15.	Bulgaria	49-46	10.91	24th		15.	Pakistan	51-24	16.26	19th

 

If you like life in the fast lane, then fasten your seat-belts and keep your eyes open:

 

South may have had his eyes on a sacrifice with such an overcall. Their partner had other ideas after Matt’s raise to game. If 4 was going to make, it was going to make doubled!

South led a passive 2 which Michael won in his hand to cash K. Both opponents appeared to give count showing an even number of clubs. So, guessing the correct lie of the defenders’ suits, he cashed A and Q before crossing to dummy with a heart to the ace. North had to follow to two high diamonds while South’s discard on the fourth round confirmed that his shape assumption was correct.

He ruffed a heart for his 8^th trick leaving the following cards remaining in the two hands that mattered:

 

Michael exited with Q and received a small spade back for trick 9 and exited this time with the J and awaited his 10^th trick as he still held  J9 with North on lead withK10.

Watch your penalty doubles with Michael Whibley around! He was the only Open declarer to make this contract. At the other table, the Norwegians did not try with Ashley Bach the declarer in a more modest 2 contract as South. He failed by a trick but the Bridge Blacks had 12 valuable imps in the bag.

             The “Choice” One Does Not Like to Have to Make

 

3 was a game forcing hand with both minors and 4 and 4 were cue-bids. 5 showed one or four key cards.

The Bridge Blacks win against Egypt would have been much larger had Ashley Bach not have to make a decision in the trump suit on Board 11 or had guessed correctly. With no interference, he had little information to guess the lie of the club honours. After A lead and a heart switch, he was in hand and unfortunately led a small club to the jack and ace. Decision time!

After East followed with the 4 then 6, it was a pure guess and he guessed wrong. When West’s jack appeared, it was twice as likely that West had no choice but to play that card than that he had ( he had a choice to play either card with QJ but no choice with singleton jack)…Restricted Choice. Unfortunately, West had chosen to play the jack and the slam failed.

In 3NT, as was the case at the other table, after a low spade lead, a declarer should  finesse through East, definitely the danger hand not to win a trick ( though the contract would be safe if declarer had tested diamonds first).  

USA 2, India and Poland are today’s opponents for the Bridge Blacks. They currently lie 12^th,16^th and 6^th.

Lightning Strikes Again?

On the previous day, Mixed Black John Patterson had opened a gambling 3NT at equal all vulnerable and had proceeded to see his partner, Kate Davies, doubled in 4, two down, -500. He was determined that was not going to happen again in their match against Chinese Taipei, even if this time, his side was not vulnerable. Thus, in third seat as North, he started with 1, which set in motion one of the longest auctions of the week:

 

It seems East did not need a club hold to bid 1NT. It would have been interesting to know what would have happened to 1NT xx. Was West going to stand this contract?

The auction meandered along until West decided to double Kate’s 3 bid…and after that West could not stop doubling!

Eventually, three players pulled out “Pass” cards and it was John who faced the music this time in 4x. East led K followed by K, ducked, and Q and a third diamond. John ruffed this and played five more trumps to leave this ending: