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Jan’s Day: “Catch-Up” Bridge

There is a skill of trying to recover lost ground when you feel you are behind in a match. One’s natural urge may be to do something unusual to create a swing. The trouble can be is that you will end up twice as far behind as you were before the board was played! Even worse, you may not have been behind at all.

How come? You must remember in a Teams match, there is one other pair on your side who can sometimes bring home some unusual results…

 

Yes, it’s a Teams’ match and there’s a fair few imps about to be traded on this board. Have a stab at what the two contracts were. In today’s scoring, imps traded were 18. Perhaps even Jan would like to have a guess? A guess? Not really as she was present at one of the tables. 18 imps in..or out? Find out below.

 
Jan Cormack

Steady does it, for you do have friends

“One of the most interesting things about playing Teams Bridge is comparing the results with your teammates at the end of a set and analysing where and why points were gained and lost.

Sometimes, amazing results occur on hands where one would least expect them to. This is why if you think things are going badly at your table during a match, it is very important not to make extreme decisions in an endeavour to “catch up” but you should continue to play steadily.

Who knows what miraculous feats our teammates are achieving at their table? Today’s deal from a national Teams event produced a much needed pick-up for our team.           

 

Sitting North, my partner opened a pre-emptive 3 and I raised swiftly to game. West’ s double produced 5 from East. We seemed to have no defence to this contract and so I bid 6, confident this would be a profitable sacrifice. To my surprise, West bid 6 to end the auction.

Both minor aces were cashed for down 1, +100 to the “good guys”. When time came for the score-up, our teammates (Jocelyn Kinsella and Stella Secker) produced a very unexpected result.

West              North             East                South

                        2NT                Pass              3

X                    Pass                3                3

X                    Pass                Pass              5

X                    All Pass

North’s 2NT opening was a pre-empt in one of the minor suits. Perhaps if North had redoubled the double of 3, South would have worked out that their partner did have long diamonds rather than long clubs. When 5 came back to North, confusion set in and he decided to pass.

Against 5 x, West made the excellent lead of a small trump and South managed A, a diamond, a heart ruff and one further trump for down 7, +1300 (in the old scoring system: +1700 today) to the “good guys”. Match saved.”

Following Suit?

 

Your partner’s 1 promised at least a 4-card suit and your 2 showed at least a 6-card suit and less than 6 hcp.

Do you regret anything about the bidding?

Your partner leads the A (declarer plays 10) and continues with K. Which two cards do you play to tricks 1 and 2?

Richard Solomon

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