pre-prepared with computer-dealt hands and for a fee of S$5 (about £1.80) per person, we were entitled to a limitless supply of coffee and biscuits plus a copy of the hands at the end of play. Bidding boxes were used religiously, but convention cards were few and far between. Apart from the requirement to alert a weak opening one no-trump (I forgot twice!), the rules are basically the same as in the UK. Most opponents played Standard American, with just one pair playing Precision Club - even though the system has a Chinese inventor. The Association competes in British simultaneous pairs events and awards English master points - unless, of course, you prefer Japanese ones. Only the occasional animated discussion in Manderin Chinese reminded us that we were not playing at our local club.

In the above deal my wife Rose opened one diamond with the South hand, overcalled by West with one heart. Do you fancy a bid with the North hand, vulnerable and with only 4 points? I bid two diamonds and East bid two hearts. Rose bid two spades with her powerful hand and I signed off with three diamonds. Would you now bid game in diamonds with Rose's 19 points, having heard your partner make a free response? Rose passed after some deliberation - well, she has played with me before! An initial trump lead will defeat the diamond game if trumps are continued after the first heart is conceded, but our opponent cashed a top heart before leading trumps. Rose took the trump lead in hand, ruffed a heart, returned to hand with the ace of clubs (the safe entry), ruffed a second heart and cashed the king of clubs . After a successful finesse of the queen of spades, she cashed the ace of spades, ruffed a spade and claimed three master trumps for a total of eleven tricks. A risky game missed, but simply playing in a diamond contract was enough to get a good score. All down to my two diamond bid. My wife begs to differ, of course.
LOCAL NEWS Blewbury In the British Bridge League Winter Simultaneous Pairs held in January, Jose Eustace and Finn Clark came eighth nationally with a score of over 70%. Abingdon Congratulations to the following winners of annual club competitions - Spring Cup: Debbie Roberts & John Clifford, Handicap Pairs: Vi Maldram & Peter Beck, Open Pairs: SaraTulip & Peter Russell, Individual: Peter Russell.

Wessex League Results Wallingford A 2 Aylesbury A 18, Wallingford A 9 Thame A 11, Wallingford A 2 University B 18, Oxford C 0 Abingdon A 20, Abingdon B 7 Bicester A 13, Oxford B 20 Abingdon B 0, Abingdon A 19 Highworth 1, Abingdon A 15 Wallingford B 5, Abingdon B 5 Banbury A 15, Wallingford B 20 Oxford D 0, Bicester A 6 Wallingford B 14, Frilford A 15 Wallingford C 5, Abingdon C 10 Witney A 10, Aylesbury C 18 Wallingford C 2, Abingdon B 3 Oxford C 17, Wantage 18 Summertown 2, Abingdon D 0 Witney B 20, Frilford B 4 Abingdon D 16, Oxford F 16 Wantage 4, Oxford F 19 Abingdon D 1.

Wessex League Results
Oxford A 13 Wallingford A 7,
Wallingford B 19 Abingdon B 1,
Frilford Heath A 12 Abingdon C 8.
Blewbury 14 Witney 6,
Bicester 13 Wantage 7,
Wantage 6 Frilford Heath B 14.
Menagerie 14 Wallingford A 6,
Aylesbury B 9 Wallingford A 11,
Bicester A 2 Abingdon A 18,
Banbury A 17 Abingdon A 3,
Abingdon A 15 Abingdon B 5,
Highworth 10 Wallingford B 10,
Banbury B 5 Abingdon C 15,
Abingdon C 13 Thame B 7,
Abingdon C 15 Blewbury 5,
Wallingford C 6 Thame B 14,
Wallingford C 13 Banbury B 7,
Aylesbury C 7 Blewbury 13,
Witney B 16 Wantage 4,
Abingdon D 4 Bicester C 16,
Abingdon D 1 Summertown 19.
Wallingford C 3 Blewbury 17
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