Report by Lloyd Eagling

The teams:

Dawes: Willie Crook and Sandy Fulton; Lloyd Eagling and Keith Rodgers; Graham Brindley and Graham Lee; Gordon Fullerton and David Burgess

Porter: Gerry Franklin and Rob Atkinson; Fay Kirk and Roger Staton; Phil Dale and Ray Furlonger; Ellen Overton and Jackie Parsons

Markham: Janet Jacques and Will Irving; Dorothy Close and Chris Close; Mike and Daphne Coggles; Daniel Crook and Nick Clarke

This match was full of hands which were difficult in various ways-obviously too difficult for most of our declarers given the results. Board 5 was an early exception: 

I led a small club against 3NT and Keith made a good play of the ten to leave declarer in trouble. On winning the Ace of clubs subsequently Keith played the Q of hearts and the contract had moved from difficult to impossible.

Willie also in 3NT received a diamond lead. He tried the effect of crossing to a spade and running the Jack of clubs losing to the Queen. In an unclear situation East helped a little with a small heart to J ,Q and K. The contract is still impossible but Willie gave the defenders some problems of their own by leading hearts. West won cheaply and played a diamond won by Willie who played another heart. Now if East had played the Ace from A9 swallowing his partners ten he would have been celebrating the famous Crocodile coup; as it was he played the nine, the reptile stayed in the swamp and East never made another heart trick. 3NT made.

Board 20 was in the difficult to make category. A few declarers managed it: 

Where East leads a top club-winning-and continues clubs declarer has to drive out the Ace of spades before establishing diamonds The miracle spade position now provides an entry to diamonds via the ten of spades. This may be correct but feels somewhat double dummy. An alternative line to success arises if East switches to diamonds at trick 2. Now declarer can cash diamonds and run the 9 of hearts to endplay East (even if West covers). Another miracle but as I say some declarers did make 3NT.

Finally board 19 was in another difficult category; difficult to go off. Again some declarers managed it.  

On the best lead of a trump only 11 tricks are certain but there are many chances for 12. The way to combine every possibility is to win and ruff a diamond before playing another trump and trying hearts. North wins but has to play another diamond and you are on your way to establishing a long diamond. Were you very unlucky you might have to eventually finesse clubs or view to squeeze someone.

On a day of heavy defeats only three pairs were positive on the Butler imps: Fay and Roger (+2), Will and Janet(+6) and Sandy and Willie(+34). Thanks to them and to Willie for the hand analyses.