Page 11 - ABF Newsletter June 2025

2nd Central West Festival
Will Jenner-O’Shea & Catherine Chaffey
Despite being in its infancy, the Central West Festival has already established itself as a not to be missed event on the bridge calendar, selling out again this year.
It is easy to see why. Not only do bridge players get four days of competitive bridge, they can enjoy what Orange has to offer when they are not playing, in- cluding quality food, wineries, distilleries, boutique shops, galleries, and walking and cycling options. Players from across Australia and overseas make the trip to Orange to attend the Central West Festival and enjoy a holiday experience.
Another great feature of the Festival is its offering of events for novice and restricted players. These events help new and emerging players to devel- op their game, and in doing so, they support the growth of the bridge playing community. We all benefit from a larger and more diverse community.
The last round of the Teams threw up this misfitting hand:
Board 22. Dealer East. East-West vulnerable.
]3
[J
} K 10 9 7 6 5 { K Q 10 7 5
North has a terrible hand to be responding to a 2{ Michaels, and many Norths suspected that they were in a lot of trouble if they tried to play in 2[ or 2]. Some Norths found an excellent alternative to bidding a major, which was to PASS in 2{. While 2{ might not be a fun contract, at least you aren’t doubled (yet).
When I saw this hand record, I made a mental bet with myself that of all the North-South scores in the room, someone would be playing in each of the trump suits.
I was right. North-South played in spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs and notrumps.
Those who managed to stop at the two-level were mostly not doubled. Those who continued bidding to the three-level were frequently doubled.
In a misfit, stop low, and try to play in a suit contract.
What I hadn’t appreciated when I was looking at the hand records, was what East-West might do. They also played in hearts, diamonds, clubs and no- trumps, but never in spades.
Since East-West have significantly more HCP that North-South, they were rarely doubled, but ran into terrible breaks, so went down in most of the con- tracts they bid.
The next Central West Festival will be held from 9-12 April next year.
Captions for Page 1 (photos by Rob Ward)
Novice Teams champions: Jen Woodhouse, Miriam & Peter Dayhew and Greg Brackenreg
Intermediate Teams champions:
Deanna & John Stuart, Atul Hajela and Chris Tough
Open Teams champions:
Sue Lusk, Pauline Gumby, Warren Lazer, Bruce Neill
Restricted Teams champions: Melissa Ardern, Kathy Duke, Shannon Queree and Connie Szenczy
Restricted Pairs champions: Michael Jackson and Claire Bonic
Open Teams runners-up: Sandra Richman, William Jenner-O’Shea, Vanessa Brown, Andrew Richman
Novice Pairs champions: Denise Reid and Judy King
] K 10 9
[A9872 [63 }Q43 }AJ2 {J2 {A863
]A8765 [ K Q 10 5 4 }8
{94
The bidding started with a 1{ opening, and South overcalled with a 2{ Michaels Cuebid (showing 5-5 or better in the majors).
WEST NORTH
EAST SOUTH 1{ 2{
]QJ42
Note that a Michaels Cuebid is preferable to a double, and can also be made on a weaker than opening hand.
First things first: West should not bid hearts over the Michaels Cuebid. Perhaps they should double to show some points (around 10+ at the two-level), with the next double by East-West being takeout of the suit that North-South bid to.
Australian Bridge Federation Ltd. Newsletter: June 2025
Page: 11