The winning team from the House of Lords -

Baroness Blackstone, Lord Kalms, Baroness Henig,

John Deech, Lord Harrison, Lord Skelmersdale, The

Earl of Caithness, Baroness Billingham (seated),

Baroness Byford (seated)

THE 41st annual match between the House of

Lords and the House of Commons took place

on 4 November, and was won by a large margin

by the team representing the Upper House.

Aggregate scoring was used, and over 24 boards

they finished 2940 ahead. The winning team is

pictured above.

This broke a run of victories for the team

from the House of Commons, and the House

of Lords now lead the series 22-19.

The event was sponsored by Lord Kalms, and

organised by the two captains, Baroness Henig,

and Bob Blackman MP.

The Tony Berry Trophy for the best played

hand was judged by England international

Tom Townsend, and presented to Tony

McWalter of the House of Commons team.

The hands were set by Paul Bowyer, and his

fun and educational commentary is available

from http://tinyurl.com/q4ymvhk

25

February 2016 English Bridge

www.ebu.co.uk

gave his partner a spade ruff. With the tA still to

come, that was one down. For Earl Chiltern, whose

tendency to bid too much when vulnerable had led

to the phrase The Chiltern Hundreds, this was a

good result.

A little later I saw the board being played at

another table (for you this will be a second reading).

The Countess in the West seat smiled at me. She had

a roving eye and rumour had it that she was not

averse to a Squeeze without the Count. The EBU

lawyers tell me that I should not give her name;

never mind, I expect you will be able to find it on

some social media site.

The bidding took a different course.

West North East South

Countess CP Lord Y CoWaM

1´ Dble 2™

3® Pass Pass 3™

Pass 3´ Pass 4™

Dble All Pass

Lord Yarborough, whose hand was much stronger

than usual, ventured a take-out double on the East

cards. North-South then had a full and frank

exchange of views, ending at Four Hearts.

'That's what we call a filibuster auction,' South

told me, as he placed his 4™ bid on the table. 'It goes

on and on and on until the time runs out.'

The Countess slapped down a double card. 'And

that's what we call a Motion of No Confidence,' she

said. She led the ®K and the erstwhile Coalition

Partner - known as Dummy - laid out his hand.

Declarer, the Chairman of Ways and Means,

considered his ways and means, eventually playing

low from both hands. He won the club continuation

and played the ™K.

Continued overleaf

Tony McWalter receives the Tony Berry Trophy for

the best played hand from Tom Townsend

S The House

of

Commons