I hope hands like the following (which came up in the last night of the Rothfield when the Vic ANC teams were all practising) occur regularly during the ANC to give players and spectators a lot of fun:

x
x
AQJxxxx
AQxx

1H  5D  5S  P
6S   P    P   7D
X

However all was well, partner had Kxxx of Diamonds and out in a flat hand.

1 B. Haughie & Z.Nagy 85

2 T. Strong & D. Janzekovic 85

3 P. Gumby & W. Lazer 79

4 E. Adams & T.Nunn 77

5 R. Jedrychowski & J Pszczola 75

6 R. Stuart & A. Yezerski 74

7 D. Hohor & T.Chira 70

1 L. Harkness & J. Bates 80

2 J.Butts & T.Zines 80

3 A. Paul & B. Mill 79

4 M. Wear & F. Hutton 76

5. J. Courtney & R. Kaplan 75
6. F. Brown & J. Brown 75

7 J. Hall & M. Elson 72

Too bad, pard, that was an unlucky grand slam — the ace of trumps was offside.

There are three kinds of bridge players:
(1) Those who can count, and (2) those who can’t.

Women’s Butler Stage I 10.30am
2.30pm
Stage II 8.00pm

Open Butler Stage I 10.30am
2.30pm
Stage II 8.00pm

Senior’s Butler Stage A 8.00pm

City Edge Eclectic Pairs 4/5 10.00am

City Edge Eclectic Pairs 5/5 2.30pm

Victor is an institution in Victorian bridge. Well known for such endearing qualities as correcting the opponents’ systems cards, settling their arguments, tearing off and concealing the bidding slip, interfering in the logistics of the movement etc, etc.

I played with Victor for 6 years and during that time developed great admiration, respect and affection for him. If I played a "technically incorrect" card he would be grumpy and critical but on the other hand, forgiving and understanding if I had a mechanical or, as Victor called it, a "blackout".

He taught me an enormous amount, dragging me up from the ruck and transforming me into, what Marlon Brando would have called in "On The Waterfront", a Contender.

I have a great many "Victor stories" some of which may find their way into this Bulletin over the next 2 weeks. (They will all be told with affection Victor, so please don’t take offence)

Victor is totally no-nonsense, During the NOT he plays at Rydges, sleeps at the ANU and eats at the Working Mens Club. He has the walking time between the three down pat to an exact fraction of a minute and he organises his day accordingly.

Once, during a play-off to decide the State Team, we were up 53 imps with 8 boards to play. Victor benched himself announcing to our Captain Ian McCance that he was going home. An hour later Ian was on the phone telling him to hurry back in as our team had dropped 53 imps over those 8 boards and there was to be a 4 board play-off.

Now well into his 80’s he is still a very fine player and fierce competitor and next week he will play in the Seniors Teams, representing Victoria for the umpteenth time.

The following simple auction;

West North East South

1S D'ble R'dble Pass

Pass ???

had earth-shattering ramifications back in stage 3 of the Butler trials in 1977. The deal was from the final round, and Victorians Tim Bourke (South) and David Smith (North) were in contention for the top two places. In those days, the first and second place-getters in the Open Butler event qualified for the Australian Team, together with Tim Seres

+ partner, who had automatic qualification.

What should North do in the passout seat? It all revolves around the meaning of South's pass: is it neutral (nothing of interest to bid) or penalties (wanting to defend 1S)? If you haven't discussed this with your partner, then you should!

Well, Tim and David had indeed discussed this sequence, and agreed that South's pass is for penalties - a good hand with long strong spades. So David correctly passed it out in 1S redoubled.

BUT, Tim had unfortunately forgotten the agreement (or more accurately, he remembered it just as he completed writing the diagonal line on the bidding pad) - he had a balanced nothing. The only remaining complexity in the hand was calculating the score for 1S redoubled and vulnerable, making 10 tricks. After a recount or two, it came to 1870.

And David and Tim finished in an agonizing third place - had they avoided disaster on this hand, they would have made the Australian team.