Report by John Auld

Worcestershire are proving tough opponents these days and in this match they whitewashed Notts 18-2, 14-6 and 18-2.

The teams with the Butler imps per pair were:

Dawes:        Irene & John Auld   -33

                    Sandy Fulton & Steve Raines -19

                    Mark Goddard & David Hodge -32

                    Bill Whalley & Pravin Tailor -5

Porter:         Lloyd Eagling & Keith Rodgers -22

                    John Rolph & Gerry Franklin -47

                    Ian Dovey & Shirley Ashtari + 19

                    Dick Milne & Gordon Fullerton + 8

Markham:     Dorothy & Chris Close -22

                    Mike & Daphne Coggles -36

                    Tim Anderson & Bernard Scanlon -25

                    Daniel Crook & Ray Furlonger -3

So congratulations to Shirley and Ian, Dick and Gordon who added some respectability to our scores.

Despite the losses we had a few triumphs like board 20:

I played 6S and waited while East considered his options. He eventually decided that dummy's hearts were going to be set up and tried to establish a quick trick by leading diamonds-a deceptive ten in fact. I now had a strange moment where I thought I had suffered the only killing lead when in fact I had received the only lead to let me make. I played the Q and claimed. The bad heart break means that diamond losers do not all disappear on a passive lead. Alternatively one can do what our Easts did (on less informative auctions) and play Ace and another heart for a ruff. I really do not know the best theoretical move; one argument is that a heart ruff is feasible so represents a chance, whereas a diamond could work but is clearly dangerous against the advertised strong hands. Perhaps contrary to usual rules one should lead a passive trump and wait.

One good thing for Notts is the recent arrival of some good young players (recent for most bridge players meaning this century). Steve Raines, ex junior international, made his debut with Sandy Fulton in this match and found a good bid on board 19:

When I held the North hand I overcalled 3H and East settled for 3NT. Sandy also opened 3C but after the same 3H call Steve bid 6C. The overcall told him that the DK was going to be right- also the SA if needed. If North passes the route to slam is unclear so the minimum 3H overcall helped East. I am sure I would do it again.

There were lots of challenging play hands like board 10 much discussed after declarers on both sides went astray:

A common result was one off after a top heart lead; declarer won, finessed trumps and sustained  a ruff. Obviously two top spades works a treat and my immediate reaction was that cashing top spades then diamonds must be best. Second thoughts were that the chosen line only fails when the spade finesse loses and a heart is ruffed, whilst the alternative line needs the queen of trumps to drop or both suits to break. Not so obvious but I choose the alternative line not least because South ducked the SJ -not easy with the Q. Fortunately I was not declarer or I would still be thinking about it.

Well played Worcestershire.