49
February 2016 English Bridge 49
February 2016 English Bridge
Board 8. Love All. Dealer West.
´ J 10 7 3
™ 8 5
t 9 7
® A K 10 6 2
´ 9 5 ´ K Q 8 6 2
™ A K 9 4 ™ 10 6
t Q J 10 8 5 2 t 4
® 7 ® Q J 9 4 3
´ A 4
™ Q J 7 3 2
t A K 6 3
® 8 5N
W E
S
Winning team members, from left, David Price, Jason Hackett,
Colin Simpson, David Mossop, Justin Hackett, Alex Hydes
West North East South
Jason Liggins Justin Erichsen
Hackett Hackett
Pass
1t Pass 1´ Pass
2® Pass 3t Pass
3NT All Pass
Justin and Jason had a natural auction to 3NT
and Jason as West received a spade lead, won by
South with the ace. It is now necessary to switch to
a diamond but that is not so easy to find when you
expect West to hold five from the bidding. Instead
Erichsen switched to a heart, which was ducked to
North's king and a heart returned. Jason played the
queen of spades from dummy, and when Liggins
won and continued spades, he could build his ninth
trick in the suit. At the other table:
West North East South
Malinowski Price De Botton Simpson
Pass
1t Pass 1´ Pass
1NT All Pass
At the other table Malinowski and de Botton
stayed out of game, despite the combined point
count being sufficient, and North led a diamond. To
make nine tricks now, he needed to rise with the ten
from dummy. However, he played low as there was
little problem in securing 1NT and eight easy tricks
were wrapped up, but conceded 10 IMPs to Mossop.
Mossop gained a few small swings on the other
boards, but the only other gain of note occurred on
the following deal:
West North East South
Jason Liggins Justin Erichsen
Hackett Hackett
1t Pass 1´ 2™
Pass 3® Pass 3NT
Pass Pass Dble All Pass
Liggins and Erichsen got a little high, and Justin
was there to punish them. He was sitting over the
clubs in dummy, and knew his partner would be
holding heart cards over declarer. He also held eight
points facing an opening hand so knew that the
opponents were short of values. The cards could
hardly have been lying worse for declarer, and when
the dust had settled he was three down for -500.
West North East South
Malinowski Price De Botton Simpson
Pass Pass 1´ Dble
Redble Pass 2® Pass
2t All Pass
When Malinowski elected to pass the West hand,
the auction was quieter. De Botton made a light
third seat opening of 1´ and Colin Simpson chose
to double rather than overcall at the two level with
his poor heart suit. Malinowski redoubled, and de
Botton described her light, distributional opening
by removing to 2®. Malinowski now knew to take a
cautious approach with this misfitting hand, and his
2t bid ended the auction and just made.
Overall this added up to seventeen IMPs to
Mossop and that was sufficient to see his team rise to
the top of the table. Congratulations go to Mossop
and Hydes, Hackett and Hackett, Price
and Simpson. r