Independent Pursuits: Bridge
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.I SUPPOSE that, if I wanted to set a totally impossible problem in a bidding quiz, I would ask entrants to guess the auction that led North-South to a contract of 3 No-trumps doubled on this deal. As a spectator in the World Senior Teams event in Lille, I enjoyed the hand far more than did East-West. Give up? This is how it went.
East South West North
pass 12 (a) pass 1# (b)
pass pass (c) 14 22
24 2NT pass 32
3! pass 34 pass
pass 3NT double All pass
(a) This was a variant of the Polish Club system - it might have been a weak no-trump or a variety of much stronger hands.
(b) Negative - fewer than eight points.
(c) To quote SJ Simon: "Lunatic or genius?"
West's protection and his partner's raise were routine enough; North- South would surely have come to rest in Three Clubs but now it was East's turn to reopen. As he said afterwards, it seemed inconceivable that this would push his opponents to 3 No-trumps.
It strikes me that West's conversion of Three Hearts to Three Spades was misguided - surely his partner held a six-card suit for his bid? - and so far they had escaped a double.
South's final bid of 3 No-trumps was a real flyer but dummy proved to have just the right cards. West doubled in rage and, as the play went after a spade lead, declarer did not even bother to take the heart finesse that would have given him a doubled overtrick.
We regret that a book was described incorrectly on 28 September. The book is: `Mendelson's Guide to the Bidding Battle' by Paul Mendelson (Colt Books, pounds 8.95)
North-South game; dealer East
North
4Q 9 3
!9
#Q J 9
2J 10 7 6 5 4
West East
4A 10 7 6 2 4J 8 5
!4 3 !Q 10 8 7 6 2
#7 6 2 #A 3
2K Q 8 29 2
South
4K 4
!A K J 5
#K 10 8 5 4
2A 3
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments