All News

National Teams in Rotorua.

Like so many activities, sports etc, Bridge is going through troubled times. At least, we have the options of live and on-line games. This year, the National Teams, too, had “troubled times”. It was not able to be held at the scheduled venue of the Hamilton Bridge Club but the Rotorua Bridge Club stepped in to hold the event.

In past years, National events held around the country have attracted good numbers, though not so this time. The day before the event was to start, 14 teams had entered but there was a late withdrawal because of Covid. A local Rotorua team stepped in to make the number even.

There were also problems once the event had started with a number of players protesting about the format. After a vote after one round, the consensus was to change the event from a 4 round Swiss qualifying for a 4-team final with the rest continuing the Swiss, to a 7-round Swiss event. Both formats had 14 board matches.

The amended format meant the event was vastly “over Swissed” though the majority view was that they preferred all teams to be in contention the whole way through. Perhaps a complete round-robin would have been better for a comparatively small number of teams though that would have meant 8-board matches. Every format had its drawbacks.

On then to the event itself which was efficiently handled by the director, David Stephen, and scorer, Kevin Walker along with support from the always friendly and efficient Rotorua club members, including with respect to catering.

The finish was close, very close, with the winners powering through from 6^th place in the final round. Congratulations then to the following:

vps

1

Malcolm Mayer

Grant Jarvis

GeO Tislevoll

Jeremy Fraser-Hoskin

91.19

2

Judy Pawson

Kate Terry

Di McAllister

Hugh McAllister

88.66

3

Kathy Yule

Noel Grigg

Ken Yule

Michael Curry

87.85

4

Alan Grant

John Skipper

Tom Jacob

Brian Mace

87.83

5

Leon Meier

Michael Whibley

Matthew Brown

Steve Boughey

83.09

 

                                             TOP FINISHERS

     
   Grant Jarvis, GeO Tislevoll      Judy Pawson, Kate Terry        Mike Curry, Kathy and Ken Yule
   Jeremy Fraser-Hoskin,             Di and Hugh McAllister           Noel Grigg  
   Malcolm Mayer

and of course, a hand!

There were not many slams around over the course of the 98 deals and the following is one that most who tried did not succeed. What’s your line in 6NT on the lead of a rather unhelpful 5 from North?

 

If you can count on 4 tricks in clubs (3-3 and some 4-2 breaks), then you need 4 tricks in spades along with A and three diamond tricks. Chances are fair but not over-bright, possibly squeezing an opponent out of their major suit holdings on the run of the minors.

Success on the day, however, came down to how you started playing the club suit. Would you appreciate a 5-1 club break? Almost certainly not except where won the opening lead was won in the West hand and West started clubs with the 7. There is no advantage in starting with Q if you aim for four club tricks.

 

The early arrival of the K meant you had three club tricks but no more. Even assuming you made four spade tricks, you now needed two heart tricks as well. So, win A, unblock Q and try either A or even better a low heart. Could North resist putting up K? If they did play low in tempo, West would probably play T with a smooth duck from North. In practice, where North takes K, West has a marked finesse against J but not enough entries to the West hand to do so and then make A. Such a line does not seem practical.

What is though is that after North wins K to exit a diamond and a third round of diamonds cashed, West knows that North held originally 6 hearts, 3 or 4 diamonds (North would be wise to discard a heart not a diamond on the second round of clubs) and the singleton K. The second- round spade finesse is becoming more likely. So, 4 spades, 2 hearts and 3 tricks in each minor would add up to a hard earnt 12 tricks.    

5 pairs tried and failed in 6NT, another in the doomed 6. 4 pairs stopped in game which leaves the only pair to bid and make 6NT, Shirley Gainsford and Maureen Carter, members of the fill-in local team. Their team had a tough two days though bidding and making 6NT on this board would have been a highlight. The lead from North was a friendly spade though there was still work to be done. One East-West pair did not have to try as hard for their 1400 score but that is another story!

Should you actually be in slam? After West opens a 15-17 1NT, or rebids 2 or 3NT as applicable after opening 1 of a suit, East should really be content with a 4NT quantitative raise. West is very minimum meaning for their range so that this poorish slam should be avoided.

Nice though if you bid and can make it!

Richard Solomon

 

Go Back View All News Items