“WHEN IN DOUBT BID ONE MORE”?

Inserting “justifiable” between its first and second words would make the guidance offered by the above-quoted ancient adage less hazardous to follow. Today’s deal began the third 14-board quarter of the women’s and seniors teams championships at last year’s Sydney Spring Nationals. 

In the diagrammed auction at one table in the former match, West’s 2NT over South’s third-seat natural 1♦ opening bid promised five or more cards in each of the two cheapest suits. Over North’s clearly artificial three-bid in one of those suits, East did bid one more after which,  whatever South intended by her double, everybody else passed. The ensuing play provided support for a less-ancient adage, “not vulnerable does not mean invulnerable”. 

After ♦K-9-8-4, ♥A-4-5-2, ♥K-6-8-3, ♥Q-7-♠2-♥10, ♠8-6-A-7, ♦7-3-2-♣2, ♦Q-5-10-♣4, ♣7-3-Q-A, ♣J-K-♠10-♣5, which at no point departed from double-dummy perfection, it was agreed  that the contract had gone five down for a table score of 1100 to NS.  

 That outcome would have cost eleven IMPs had North’s 4♠ contract at the other table, (reached via an uncontested auction that went 1♠-2♣-2♠-♠ in which 2♣ promised ten or more high-card points and, ostensibly, biddable clubs) succeeded. After ♦4-A-9-7, ♠4-6-9-10, ♦6-K-♣2-♦8, ♠5-♣4-♠J-Q, ♦3-2-♥7-♦3, ♠A-7-8-♣8, ♥5-3-A-4, ♥K-6-8-2, ♥Q-9-♣7-♥10, ♣5-A-9-3,  declarer conceded one down, which increased the number of IMPs won and lost to the much less frequently seen fifteen.  

That swing accounted for all but one of the IMPs by which Jodi Tutty (ACT) partnering Dagmar Neumann (NSW) and Eva Caplan partnering Jenny Thompson (both Vic) won the quarter while their teammates Jessica Brake and Susan Humphries (b0th NSW) were sitting out. The margin of 62.43 IMPs by which their team was then ahead of its all-NZ opponent may be what induced the latter to concede defeat rather than return to the tables for what would otherwise have been its members’ last participation in the ten-day-long event.  

In the all-Australian much more closely fought seniors final, both Norths became declarer in 4♠, an approximately slightly worse than two-to-one-against contract against unknown EW distribution which here too inevitably went one down at both tables for a tied board. Peter Buchen (NSW), facing George Smolanko (SA) got there via P-P-1♦-2NT, 3♥-P-4♥-P, 4♠-P-P-P in which 2NT showed a heart-club two-suiter. The play began ♣3-Q-A-7, ♣4-K-♠7-♣5, ♦4-K-9-7, ♠4-K-9-7, ♠4-6-9-Q. Notice East’s — Michael Courtney partnering Terry Brown (both NSW) — automatic expert ♠10, tempting declarer to continue clubs and surrender whatever opportunity there might be of an eventual trump end-play. Next nevertheless came ♦5-2-♣2-♦8,♠A-10-5. When West showed out, declarer conceded one down.  

At the other table, against Paul Lavings partnering Robert Krochmalik (both NSW) whose route to the same contract was P-P-1♦-2♣, 2♠-P-4♠ passed out, ♣3 was led to 5-A-9 and the play continue, ♣J-7-♠10-♣6,  ♦6-A-9-7, ♠4-6-A-7, ♠2-Q-5-4, after which one down was also agreed. 

Visit abfevents.com.au/events/results/results.asp?yr=2022&dir=sn for much more about the 2022 Spring Nationals including links to Nick Hughes’s compact yet excellent daily bulletins and to comprehensive archived bridgebase.com card-by-card coverage. Visit abfevents.com.au/events/results/results.asp?yr=2022&dir=sn for details of the 2023 significantly revised restaging which begins next Thursday (21/10/23) at Canterbury Park Racecourse.

 Entries open on Thursday 26 October and close at 18:00 on Friday, 3 November for the Australian Bridge Federation’s play-offs at the Canberra Bridge Club to select its next year’s international open team. For full details, including a link to an announcement about limitations to the ABF’s financial assistance to 2024 international representative teams visit abfevents.com.au/events/playoffs/2024/open