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David and Goliath repeated?

More “Giant Slaying” at Rubber?

A couple of months ago, we reported how last year’s National Rubber Bridge winners, Anthony Ker and Russell Dive, were beaten by a pair very much the Juniors in the bridge world, Andrew Chambers and Sharleen Grounds, a real “David v Goliath” battle.

We said we would follow Andrew and Sharleen’s progress in a world largely dominated by grandmasters. So, last weekend, they took on two more, “grand mistresses” in the form of the two “Joans”, Waldvogel and McCarthy. Again, experience certainly favoured the Joans but would the cards? History certainly favoured them as they have a total of 1982 A Points combined which is 1982 more than their opponents!

Remember a match in this event lasts for 30 boards.

Over to Andrew:

“We were really excited to finally be playing, the match had been delayed by covid, inconveniently timed tournaments and general life. When we finally met, the Joans were lovely. 

 

The match started fast, with the Joans getting 3NT on the first board to go one game up before we could even blink. But we bounced back with 4 on the next board to tie things up again. This pace continued with six game contracts made in the first 8 hands, with 2 rubbers going one to each side, both 3 games long.

 

Things got serious in the 3rd rubber with neither side prepared to give away even a part score. This rubber lasted 17 boards, 9 of which went light. The bidding was fierce, both sides bidding over the other, sometimes over 50 points in the pack being promised if you believed the bids. Bluff and counter-bluff.

 

The rubber and the match came to a head at the 25th board, both of us with 1 game on (all vulnerable) and both on a part score of 60, each only needing a 1NT contract or better to take the rubber. Everyone knew that this was the deciding point, as the loser wouldn't have enough boards to come back from defeat at this point.”

At this point, we will give you today’s problem. It is your bid. Would you?

 

All Vulnerable, both sides +60.

Well, it’s not much of a hand to be dealt even you only need to score + 40. So, one toe in the water? If you did by bidding 2, you might start regretting this as the auction continued at rapid fire:

 

Maybe you are starting to regret your action? Joan Waldvogel was! There are two opponents and only one of them needs to put in a penalty double!

Neither did!

At this point, a recommendation that if you ever need a partner to produce a decent Rubber Bridge hand at the right moment, just call on Joan McCarthy. Her namesake did need just that and Joan M did not disappoint:

 

Sharleen took the first trick with K but that was the only trick for the defence. Joan M commented that were she pushed to, she would have competed to 6.

                          THE COMPETITORS

 

           
  Sharleen and Andrew              Joan Waldvogel and Joan McCarthy

 

Back then to Andrew:

“With only 5 hands to go the Joans were suddenly 960 points ahead and we needed a 2-game rubber or at least a slam to catch up. Suddenly the cards started offering only part-scores. We kept bidding, hoping for a miracle: only to go light 4 times in part-score contracts.

 

The Joans were well deserved winners, holding their nerve on the decisive board and taking the opportunities when they were presented.

 

They were great to play against, lovely people and we both learnt a lot from playing with them (thanks for explaining checkback Stayman, it is now included in our play).”

 

The final margin was 1730 but was much much closer than that for the first 25 boards, the greatest margin in those boards being 690.

Joan Waldvogel added “Sharleen and Andrew were delightful but very tenacious opponents and didn't allow us to settle into low level contracts. This was one of the most enjoyable rubber bridge matches I've played.”

So, no repeat giant-killing act but a match that was a great advert for this form of bridge, not just with its different scoring and tactics but also for the social side of our game. I am sure Sharleen and Andrew will be back for more next year.

Richard Solomon

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