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Release 2.19q
Staffordshire (Away) 03/04/2016

Report by John Auld

Captain Rodgers had most players available and felt confident in his selections. This confidence proved misplaced in the Dawes match (lost 3-17) but justified in the Porter (16-4) and the Markham (11-9).

Gordon Fullerton & Frank Ball  had the best Butler imps score across both counties.

Teams and Butler imps:

Dawes

John & Irene Auld                                    5

Willie Crook & Sandy Fulton                   -28

Steve Raine & Ankush Khandelwar         -48

Mark Goddard & David Hodge                -28

Porter

Frank Ball & Gordon Fullerton                   38

John Rolph & Gerry Franklin                     7

Lloyd Eagling & Keith Rodgers                -16

Pravin Tailor & Bill Whalley                      25

Markham

Tim Anderson & Bernard Scanlon             21

Dorothy & Chris Close                            -23

Phil Dale & Ray Furlonger                        13

Janet Jacques & Will Irving                     - 3

 

Ankush and Steve were not alone in having an off day but they did well on board 4:

At our table Irene passed 3C which proved within my competence. Elsewhere many Souths ventured 3NT often made on a spade lead and continuation. Steve and Ankush did better as East West. Steve led a top spade which effectively stopped Ankush from continuing the suit. Instead a heart switch killed the contract. Declarer ducked a club to get another heart through. He could not win and cash his spade without creating losers so he played the ten. That was not good enough as Steve now locked him on table with a club and waited for his diamonds. Nicely done. 

A few hands later on board 9 North picked up the same distribution: 

This is a hand that shows there is interest in the simplest situations. Nine tricks can be made in spades and were made everywhere but if you look hard enough the defence has a small chance.

I led HK won by declarer who drew trumps and played a club to the K which I won with the Ace. I should have known that we needed two diamond tricks to have any chance of beating 3S and therefore should have played a small diamond to partners putative QX. However I did not do that and it would not have worked. Instead I exited with a club and declarer won and played a heart. Partner did the natural thing playing hearts until declarer ruffed and played diamonds inevitably dropping JT and making the contract. So where is the small chance? When partner wins the hearts she knows two diamond tricks are needed and in a moment of inspiration should lead the ten! Declarer now has  to decide whether South has done something brilliant or stupid and will guess the position of the DJ accordingly. Anyone who found this line please get in touch.

A few years ago David Bird and Taf Anthias produced an amazing book which with  computer analysis showed that the most unlikely opening leads are often the best. I think that Bernard Scanlon has been consulting the tome.

Declarer has 8 tricks but on the usual heart lead makes 9. Bernard led his club and waited for one off. I wonder what the computer analysis would show. It would not surprise me if a diamond were best in theory.