48 English Bridge February 2016 www.ebu.co.uk

THE PREMIER LEAGUE is held over three weekends

and the winners represent England in the

subsequent Camrose series. It attracts all the top

players in the country and is a fierce competition.

Last year the event was won by Allfrey and they

again found themselves at the top of the table, ahead

of Mossop by just one victory point, with one match

to go. Hinden and De Botton were also close behind.

Allfrey played Hinden in the final match and

managed a 10-10 draw.

Meanwhile at the other table Mossop was playing

De Botton, with a win for either side likely to move

them into first place.

The first swing occurred immediately when

Liggins and Erichsen playing for De Botton, bid a

decent slam which was missed at the other table on

the following deal:

West North East South

Jason Liggins Justin Erichsen

Hackett Hackett

1´ 2® 3®

Pass 4® Pass 4´

Pass 4NT Pass 5™

Dble 6´ All Pass

Liggins essentially drove to slam after his partner's

unassuming cue bid and checking for aces along the

way, despite the fact that he failed to cue-bid over

4®. The contract relies only on the diamond finesse

through the overcalling hand, since the third

diamond will disappear on the club once the king

has been driven out. On the other table:

West North East South

Malinowski Price De Botton Simpson

1´ 2® 3®

Pass 4® Pass 4t

Pass 4™ Pass 4´

All Pass

Price's partner Colin Simpson did co-operate

with a cue-bid over 4®, and yet the slam was

missed. Did Price do enough with his great trumps?

Certainly for both Souths, the trump quality would

have been a concern, and sometimes it is necessary

for the hand with good trumps to take the pressure

off partner by taking control of the auction.

Mossop, however, were to fight back straight away,

including a useful swing on the

following deal:

Board 1. Love All. Dealer North.

´ A K Q 9 8 6 5

™ 2

t Q J 7

® A 7

´ 7 4 ´ -

™ Q J 7 5 4 ™ K 10 9 3

t 10 9 5 2 t K 8 3

® 10 4 ® K 9 8 5 3 2

´ J 10 3 2

™ A 8 6

t A 6 4

® Q J 6

N

W E

S

Board 3. E/W Game. Dealer South.

´ K 5 3

™ K 2

t K J 8 5 4

® 5 3 2

´ 10 ´ Q J 8 7 6

™ A 8 7 5 ™ Q J 4

t A Q 7 3 t 10 6 2

® K Q 7 6 ® A 10

´ A 9 4 2

™ 10 9 6 3

t 9

® J 9 8 4

N

W E

S

Premier League 2015 by Heather Dhondy

ReportReport

click

link