49

February 2016 English Bridge 49

February 2016 English Bridge

www.ebu.co.uk

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