Page 10 - ABF Newsletter February 2026

Will’s 1} opening could be short, as he and Mike play a strong club system (unless they’re unfavourable, as of yesterday). Shane’s appetite for competing was in- satiable but I suspect he had some regrets when Jess bid his void at the three-level.
This contract looked to be an absolute disaster, but Shane’s prospects improved immediately when Mike led ]A then ]10 to Will’s king. Will found the best defence of a trump switch, Shane playing low and Mike winning his jack. Mike continued a third round of spades which Shane won and began setting up his clubs, playing the jack to Will’s ace. Will continued trumps: [6 - seven - four - eight. Shane didn’t really want to be in dummy, but he ruffed a diamond then started running clubs through Mike. When Mike re- fused to ruff in, Shane was able to pitch all of dum- my’s diamonds and only go one off! I think he’s used his get-out-of-jail-free card for the week, though.
You can’t expect anything but more insanity, forgot- ten system agreements and copious undertricks from this table as they played Board 20 next (out of order).
Board 20, dealer West, both sides vulnerable.
] K J 10 7 4 [2
}A6
{ A 10 8 7 6
]86 ]A953 [AKQJ4 [ 10 8 }J932 } K Q 10 {K2 {J543
the situation since the whole hand had been crazy, and she played a spade which allowed Mike to draw the trumps and get out for four off, undoubled!
They started their last board with no time left on the clock (putting it generously) and the lunch break already underway:
Board 26, dealer East, both sides vulnerable.
]KQ86
[ 10 8 6 3 2 } K 10 7 {K
] A 4 3
[AKQ5 [7 }AQ }J542 {J742 {A865
]Q2 [97653 }8754 {Q9
WEST NORTH EAST Brake Jenner-O’Shea Harrison
1[ 3{* dbl all pass
SOUTH Doecke
3}
3{ was alerted and explained as “About a year ago we agreed to play this as both minors, non-forcing,” not prompting a huge amount of faith in the part- nership agreement. Mike and Will had bid to one of Jess and Shane’s last making contracts, but neither of them could really double.
Jess’ [A lead was both obvious and costly, blocking the suit. When it held, she switched to a low diamond, won in dummy, and Mike called for a small spade. Shane was awake and won the ace, drew dummy’s last trump then played his [10. Jess overtook to cash two more hearts. To take the contract down five, she had to give Shane a heart ruff with his }Q then score her last two diamonds. In reality, it was hard to read
WEST Brake
2NT 3[
]J2 [J94 }9863 { Q 10 9 3
NORTH EAST Jenner-O’Shea Harrison
pass pass 3{ * pass 3NT
SOUTH Doecke
pass pass all pass
] 10 9 7 5
Open Pairs and Mixed Pairs winners Shane Harrison and Jessica Brake
Page: 10
Australian Bridge Federation Ltd. Newsletter: February 2026