Prof. Tony Campbell CBE

Penarth Bridge Club continues. The number of tables in each session may be less than before. But an enjoyable and social evening is still had by all. We are lucky to be able to use rooms at Penarth Church Hall, formerly Trinity Church . We aim now particularly to attract players on a Friday who play in East Wales and Welsh Bridge Union competitions, as well as Charity Simultaneous pairs where the same hands are played all over the country. So, Friday 5th November is a date for your diary, for the Children in Need SIMS for 2021. Here is an interesting slam hand from last week where a complex auction led to a successful slam, though arguably not the best contract.

The Auction

After three passes West opened with one club. In their system this showed either 20-21 points and a balanced hand or eight tricks in an undefined suit. East bid two diamonds asking which one was it. After West had shown 20-21 points, East transferred to spades by bidding three hearts. After West obediently bid three spades. Would a bid of four hearts now by East be a suit or a cue bid? East wasn't sure. So, he decided to show first or second round control in diamonds by bidding four diamonds. West now is very interested in a slam. He has all four aces, but still wanted to see if East held the king of spades. So, West then bid four no trumps, Roman key card Blackwood, asking if East held any of the five key cards with spades as trumps - the four aces and the king of spades. East’s bid of five diamonds showed either three or no key cards. To West it was obvious that East held no key cards. However, after the diamond cue bid, West thought that East must hold some points or he would have signed off in three no trumps or four spades. So, he righty jumped to six spades.

The play

Trick 1 – North was on lead. Holding the king of spades, he chose the safe option of the queen of diamonds. West, as declarer, won this with the ace. Trick 2 – West paused to consider the hand. As long as the hearts were split 3/2 between North and South, a 68% chance, he was home and dry, even if he lost to the king of spades. So, he refused to take the spade finesse and won the next trick with the ace of spades. Trick 3 – Declarer then played a small spade form his hand towards dummy, which was won by North’s king. Trick 4 – North then led the jack of diamonds, which West ruffed in dummy. Trick 5 – Declarer then drew the last trump, the ten held by South, using dummy’s queen. Trick 6 – Declarer then led a small heart from dummy, winning the trick with his ace. Trick 7 – He followed this by playing the king of hearts. Phew, both North and South followed. Trick 8 - Declarer won the next trick with dummy’s queen of hearts. Trick 9 – Next, he won the ninth trick with dummy’s nine of hearts. Tricks 10-12 – Declarer won the next three tricks with the ace, king and queen of clubs. Trick 13 – The last trick was won by dummy’s jack of spades, declarer making the contract with twelve tricks for a score of 1420. Well bid. Well Played.

What have we learnt?

1. When playing Benji/Acol many players often use the two-club opening bid to show a balance hand with 19 or 20 points, or eight playing tricks in a suit. If you hold only nineteen points it is much better to open one of a suit, leaving more space to find the right contract with the two club opening showing 20-21 points, as here.

2. With five spades and four hearts East here was tempted to bid three clubs after West’s two no trump bid. This would have been puppet Stayman, asking West if he held a five or four card major. West would then bid three diamonds showing he held a four-card major. East is then supposed to bid the major he does not hold. But which one? There is in fact a bid that East could have uses if he held four cards in both majors. Four clubs shows both but if East had bid four diamonds, then West would have played in six hearts, rather than six spades. A four-four fit can often be better to play in rather than a five-three fit, as the latter allows discards to be made.

Penarth club results

Tuesday 19th October: 1. John Salisbury and Tony Campbell (66.7%); 2. Meryl Skipper and Jim Elder (50.0%); 3. Patsy Cohen and Carol Cochlin (45.8%). Friday 22nd October: 1. Tony Campbell and Trish Tracey (60.9%); 2. Rod and Angela Hudson (55.6%); 3. Steve Webb and Tim Barsby (49.4%).

Further information

Mask wearing is no longer compulsory when playing at a table. People can bring their own refreshments if they wish, but coffee, tea and biscuits are now available. If you have any views, hands, or information you would like to share, please email me, campbellak@cf.ac.uk. Keep well. Keep safe. Bon chance. Table up!