The team of Moss Wylie- Wayne Burrows and Steve Baron – Matthew Brown had a comprehensive victory in the Teams event at the weekend’s Taranaki Bridge Congress. Although only finishing 5^th out of 6 qualifiers on day 1 and needing a big win in the last round to qualify, they dominated the round-robin on Day 2.

1. Burrows	Moss Wylie- Wayne Burrows, Steve Baron – Matthew Brown	71.67
2. Jones	Barry Jones- Jenny Millington, Derek Evennett- Judy McLeod	58.72
3. Foidl	Gary Foidl- Brett Glass, Yuzhong Chen- Herman Yuan	55.36
4. Carter	Pat Carter- Julie Atkinson, Alister Stuck- Russell Wilson	53.94
5. Chen	Gary Chen- William Liu, Jeter Liu- George Sun	50.37
6. Whyte	Jan Whyte-Carolyn Yeomans, Robyn and Don Nightingale	25.16

Wylie won its first four matches averaging 16.38 and were mathematical with one round left. They lost their last match to Jones and could afford to be one of two teams to suffer with the following freak board:

 

After North opened either 1 or a weak 1NT, East would likely bid 4. At five of the six tables, South competed with 4. That ended the auction at three of the tables, though two East players competed to 5. One was doubled though at the other table, North-South went on to 5.

Much depended on the opening leads. In the Burrows – Jones match where the contracts were 5 by South and 4 by East, had both contracts been defeated, Burrows would have gained 4 imps though when they both made, they lost 17! Chen also lost 17 when their opponents, Carter, made 4 by South and 5x by East. The remaining match saw a flat 4 making.

4 by South cannot be beaten but 5 can with a diamond lead since West will soon regain the lead with the A and the defence will then take two red suit tricks. However, “in the real world” how can you look beyond the fateful heart lead? As long as the declarers cover with the 10, they will be safe (just a little matter of refusing the diamond finesse and taking the club one twice). However, if declarer plays low from dummy and East ducks, the defence would still have had a chance.

5 x required South not to lead either a spade or a diamond. 4 would also have been defeated had neither of these suits been led. Both declarers in hearts received the K lead to give East what he would not otherwise have, an entry to dummy to play a hopeful diamond…and life for East would soon become very sweet. One declarer made 11 and the other 12 tricks.

The above was not a good board for Jeter Liu and George Sun, who defended 5x..but the final result of the PMarion Hill Open Pairs was more to their liking:

1.	Jeter Liu -  George Sun	176.45
2.	Julie Atkinson – Pat Carter	172.61
3.	Grant Jarvis – Scott Smith	166.35
4.	Herman Yuan – Yuzhong Chen	165.65
5.	Christine Wilson – Glenis Palmer	165.61

 

Taranaki Intermediate – Junior Pairs

1.	Margaret and Neil Hearn	116.80
2.	Helen Kelly – Irene Taunt	116.40
3.	John De Bueger – John Holdom	112.20
4.	Theresa and Brian Needham	111.01
5.	Campbell Priest – Pamela Newson	108.37

 

Taranaki Swiss Pairs

1.	Grant Jarvis – Scott Smith	84.98
2.	Neil Stuckey – Glenis Palmer	82.67
3.	Reeve Pring – Campbell Priest	82.48
4	. Dean Sole – Pat D’Arcy	81.62
5.	Evelyn and Bob Hurley	75.43

 

A lot of Bridge was played during the three day week-end especially on the Sunday when those in the Teams final played 81 boards and others 74. There was the usual excellent Taranaki catering and an event VERYwell organized with Lorraine Stachurski directing.

Richard Solomon

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