Page 8 - ABF Newsletter August 2025

World Youth Championships
Players from our national Under-21 and Under-26 teams share highlights from their trip to Italy
Jade Wilkinson
This July, Australia sent an U21 team to the World Youth Teams Championships consisting of Adrian Le, Aadhi Hariharan, Taydon Gold, Tom Langdon-Mac- millan, Alexis Wilsmore, and myself. Held in Sal- somaggiore Terme, Italy, this was everyone’s first time competing internationally, and we were very excited to participate.
To add to the unfamiliar environment, the team was required to play with screens and use tablets for bid- ding. The screens partition the tables diagonally to prevent cheating, where you are unable to see your partner and can only communicate with one oppo- nent. When the auction ends, a section of the screen is lifted making it possible to see all the cards on the table.
While contemplating whether to double 3NT, I stopped to enquire about the opponent’s bids. 3{ was explained as Puppet Stayman, with 3NT denying a four-card major. I was then surprised by the screen being lifted with my partner’s lead face down on the table. When bidding on tablets it was more difficult to tell when the auction had ended. An excellent reason to place leads face down.
The screen was returned, and I decided to double, where it was then passed out.
Board 18. Dealer East. North-South vulnerable.
]AK5
[ A Q J 10 7 5 }97
{Q5
] Q 10
[43
} K Q 10 5 4 3 {AK2
]9862 [982
}—
{ J 10 9 8 7 4
]J743 While playing bridge, unfamiliar situations are [K6
bound to arise. During the very last match of the }AJ862 round robin against the Netherlands I was confront- {63
ed by this hand in the North seat:
] A K 5 [ A Q J 10 7 5 } 9 7 { Q 5
WEST NORTH
3{ pass pass ?
EAST SOUTH 1NT pass 3NT pass
After this unusual auction my partner had to decide what to lead. Having no prior discussion about the
Page: 8
Australian Bridge Federation Ltd. Newsletter: August 2025