Claytons in form at Te Aroha

WAP HEAT 4 - TE AROHA BRIDGECLUB

Results from today's WAP are now available on X-Clubs - scroll back to the 7th of June in Week 23. Likewise the overall ladder is now available on X-Clubs.

Cynthia & IanCynthia & Ian

We had 17 tables at the Te Aroha Bridge Club today. Split into 2 sections of 18 and 16 in a Howell (or howl depending how things were going) for the day. Nick Whitten was our director and has picked out some boards of interest below:

Session 1 Board 17

K7
75
A9653
Q854
QJT943
9432
42
3
52
AKT6
QJT7
J72
A86
QJ8
K8
AKT96

After South opens 1C third in hand should West try a jump overcall with 3HCP? The risk is minimal as it is almost certain, opposite a passed partner, the opponents have a game.
The bid will not stop NS bidding game here, but they are more likely to be in 5 than 3NT. Both contracts should make 400 but many notrump declarers found another trick or two for a much better score.

Session 1 Board 20

KT7
A65
AKJ832
5
963
97432
Q
9432
Q8
KQJT8
95
QJ86
AJ532
T764
AKT7

After North opens 1D and East overcalls 1H how good is the South hand?
The answer is “very”. The Losing Trick count says 6 losers but it is a better hand than that.
So what should one bid it? The answer is “who knows”. A diamond raise to any level is just a shot in the dark, and any temporising bid (such as 1S) is likely to only postpone the problem.
Although there is just 27 HCP total 7D is unbeatable (Norths three losers, the spade and two hearts, can be dealt with by Souths KC and trumps respectively.
13 tricks can also be made in spades or notrumps provided declarer doesn’t lose to the QS. But the text-book percentage play in spades is, after an overcall by East, to play East for fewer spades and finesse the 10S. Ouch.

Gary & YuzhongGary & Yuzhong
Third place overall new Grandmaster Gary and partner Yuzhong but they are just ahead of the Claytons in the overall competition with two heats to go.

Session 1 Board 25

QT4
JT9762
QT
J2
K9653
KQ3
J74
K9
872
A8
9852
Q853
AJ
54
AK63
AT634

Should North open a weak 2H with this hand? The NZB teachers say “two honours are required” but often forgetting the 10 is an honour. Those North’s who opened 2 soon found themselves raised to an unmakeable 4H contract.
But if North opens a multi-bid resulting in South declaring 4H he may have some chance. West may well lead a spade which is disastrous for the defence although it is a reasonable choice in itself (only a genius or a lunatic would lead a club or a trump).
Richard & LucieRichard & Lucie
Runners up today Richard and Lucie, in third place overall and challenging for the title this season.

In the second session East had some nice hands. In fact two of those had a total of 50 HCP!

Session 2 Board 3

J964
K432
T852
9
83
QT875
6
Q7654
AKQT72
AJ9
AKJ
A
5
6
Q9743
KJT832

Although theoretically EW can make 12 tricks in either major they would probably be wise to stay out of slam.
6S makes only if declarer takes an early finesse in trumps (anti-percentage) or, after leading only one round of trumps, two finesses in hearts (similarly anti-percentage). Although some were gifted 12 tricks when South led the singleton heart (not a bad idea) and North put up the KH (definitely a bad idea. North should deduce the only holding South could lead the 6H from is a singleton (so playing the KH does no good), or J96H (which marks declarer with the singleton AH).
Those who declared in hearts make 12 tricks more readily, although they wouldn’t think so at the start. Luckily for them South can’t ruff spades after one round of trumps has been played, and North can’t cash any clubs if he gets the lead with the KH after all the trumps are gone from the East hand.
Some Souths put a spanner in the works by opening 2NT first, showing at last 5-5 in the minors. This can be pretty effective provided both partners remember the system! One pair who didn’t had their bidding spiral totally out of control and ended up in 5 doubled. That gave the opponents -1100, bettered only by the one or two pairs who bid and made the slam.

Session 2 Board 13

J98
Q43
K6543
86
Q653
J9852
T
JT7
AK7
AT
A97
AKQ94
T42
K76
QJ82
532

An easier slam for EW to make this time provided they find the right suit (clubs). Not easy as East will bid a “balanced hand” and West will settle for notrumps perhaps after enquiring about majors first. Only 11 tricks available in notrumps compare with 13 in clubs (although both contracts make one less if the spades aren’t divided 3-3).

Session 2 Board 7

3
Q542
AKJ83
K52
J2
KT7
Q654
J843
84
AJ983
92
QT97
AKQT9765
6
T7
A6

How does North bid this slam after South opens 4S? (any alternative opening bid by South (except 2C!) won’t make it any easier to find the slam). North certainly can’t count on partner having solid trumps AND another ace.
A simple (if a little agricultural) raise to 5S is probably best (“how good is your hand compared with what it might have been for the same bid?”).
Tim and GeorgeTim and George
Thumbs up from Tim Rigter of Te Aroha and so it should be finishing top non open pair with George Sherrell.

The penultimate heat in the 2015 WAP series takes place on Sunday 28 June at the Morrinsville Bridge Club. The heat will be scored via Bridgemates and we will have our last of the popular Grandmaster Question Time with Jenny Millington returning to the chair the discussion.

See you there!

Jane Stearns
WAP Manager