Page 14 - ABF Newsletter June 2024

Spooner and the in-form Ella Jacob who has won or been in contention in a number of events this past year. They reached 7\{ on this board – any time the opponents reach a grand slam at Matchpoints you are pretty much guaranteed a poor result, and Andrew and Ella scored 96% on the board. The runners-up did even better on the board, as Paul Gosney made 7NT on a squeeze. With North (Harrison - Brake) having made a 1\] overcall, South duly led a spade to North’s jack and East’s king. From here, when South holds the \[J, it is simply a matter of running five clubs and three hearts, leaving this end position as the third heart is cashed: \]97 \[— \} Q 10 7 \{ — \]3 \[ Q 10 \}K5 \}A96 \{— \]Q6 \{— \[J65 \}— \{— Needing to keep the diamond guard, North has to throw a spade on the \[Q, as declarer throws the now-useless \}6. Then two rounds of diamonds, ending in the West hand, force South to also come down to a singleton spade (in order to keep the \[J). With a complete count on the hand, declarer can return to hand with the \]A, dropping the queen to take a well-deserved 100% for the board. The next board also presented an opportunity for an advantage to be gained when East-West pushed on to 4\[ after the following auction: Board 20. Dealer West. Both sides vulnerable. \]Q532 \[AQ \} 10 9 3 \{A764 \]AKJ64 \[ K J 10 7 5 \}— \}QJ762 On lead, Kelso (North) opted for the \}9, promising the ten and a higher honour, or a doubleton. De- clarer put up the jack, covered by South’s king and ruffed. Declarer then played the \]A and ruffed a spade in dummy before playing a club up to hand, losing to the \{A. North opted for another diamond shortening declarer’s trumps. Declarer, hoping for the \]Q to drop on the third round, crossed to dummy with a club and played a heart up to the jack and North’s queen. North cashed the \[A and exited with a diamond – declarer was forced to ruff with the last trump, and eventually drifted three off. A few boards later came an interesting Matchpoint bidding problem. Board 23. Dealer South. Both sides vulnerable. \]A932 \[K876 \}K95 \{A7 \] 10 8 6 4 \[A9 \[J53 \} J 10 7 \}6 \{KQ62 \{J9843 \{KJ9 WEST 1\] 3\[ \]987 \[843 \}AK854 \{85 NORTH EAST pass 1NT pass 4\[ \{ Q 10 3 2 SOUTH pass all pass \] A 10 \[— \] 10 \[962 As South I opted for a pass in first seat at this vulner- ability with the 6-4 holding. When partner showed a heart fit and 11-14, I opted for the plus score and passed given the amount of work that might be involved in making 4\[ (at Teams I would have no problem inviting game). Once West balanced with a double and North showed a goodish hand, I had to bid over 3\] since it was entirely possible that East- West had a lot of black-suit cards. If 3\] had been making, West now had to double 4\[ to preserve their potential result. This backfired when 4\[ dou- bled made with an overtrick. Matchpoints is generally played at the local club in duplicate sessions, but is seen rarely in congresses or national events. The River City event was a most enjoyable weekend and I look forward to returning again in 2025. \]7 \[ Q 10 4 2 \}AQ8432 \{ 10 5 WEST NORTH EAST pass 1\{ 2+ pass pass 2\[ pass dbl 3\[ 3\] dbl all pass SOUTH pass 1\} hearts pass 4\[ \]KQJ5 Page: 14 Australian Bridge Federation Ltd. Newsletter: June 2024