By Neil Bonnell, Warwick Bridge Club
When a game can be made by either pair, as on Board 16 last Friday, there is bound to be some vigorous bidding. It was no surprise that after West opened 1H North overcalled 2D, no doubt planning to double a heart contract at a higher level.
Both sides then exchanged spade and diamond bids until South raised the bidding to 5D, which was passed around to East, Noela Collins, who thought deeply then wrote 5S on the bidding pad.
South, Beverly Bonnell, took out insurance against East/West making their contract and bid 6D. By this time East/West had had enough and passed quietly. Neither side, like young Albert’s doctor, were not sure whether they were “eighteen shillings out or eighteen pence in.” (See Stanley Holloway’s monologue Albert’s Jubilee Sovereign.)
One question was quickly answered when Noela led partner’s first suit, hearts, and Nea McGinness won with the Ace then cashed the Ace of spades to put the contract down by one trick. Would East/West have made 5S? Yes and No.
With East as declarer, South needed to lead a heart to beat the contract. This would have ensured that North’s King of hearts would be promoted. The King of spades and the Ace of clubs would also win to defeat 5S by one trick.
With West as declarer, as Nea would have been, a heart lead would have been no problem. As long as declarer set up the club suit, 5S would have made.
At teams, 6D was a worthwhile insurance against losing 10 IMPs. In last Friday’s pairs game, no other East/West pair bid against North/South’s 5D. Once Noela raised the bidding to 5S, there was nothing North/South could do to avoid a low score.
Results:
Monday, 30/08/21 (6-table Mitchell): N/S N. Collins M. Simpson (60.5) 1; J. Rose P. Campbell (55.3) 2; J. Mobbs S. Goddard (50.9) 3. E/W B. Reid J. McKeen (53.1) 1; A. Macdonald F. Wells (53.0) 2; T. Graham D. Moran (51.7) 3
Friday, 03/09/21 (3 & 1/2-table Howell): N. Bonnell B. Bonnell (66.7) 1; T. Hinde J. Mobbs (63.5) 2; J. Rose D. Moran (61.5) 3.
