JULY 2000

BRIDGE by Malcolm Simpson

I have just returned from a delightful trip to the Holy Land (I did not find a bridge club, neither was I looking for divine inspiration to improve my recently flagging bridge skill as my regular partner has suggested), so my analysis this time has taken on a biblical tinge.The text this month is based on the words of Simon*,“Thou shalt never double a slam”.

The English Bridge Union Spring Congress was held at Bournemouth over the late May bank holiday.None of the local contingent (including myself) performed impressively enough to be worth a mention in this report and if East’s actions during the above deal (which occurred during the Swiss Teams event) were typical, then I can understand why.South opened the bidding with one club and West put the pressure on with a weak overcall of two spades.

When North bid a forcing three hearts, the higher of his two suits, East kept up his partner’s good work with a bid of four spades.This had the effect of shutting out North-South’s best trump suit, diamonds.South was a trifle over-impressed with his singleton top honour in his partner’s suit and wheeled out the inevitable four no-trumps (Roman Keycard Blackwood).North bid five spades, showing the two missing aces and the queen of hearts, which was enough to drive South to six hearts.East-West’s aggressive spade barrage had done its work and the “bad guys” had got themselves into the wrong slam.

However, East (who assures me that he has read Simon’s* words of wisdom on not doubling slams), became overawed with two almost certain trump tricks and doubled.Six hearts will not fare at all well, but East’s double had the effect of pushing South into six no-trumps.On the king of spades opening lead, South ducked once to rectify the count, took the next spade, unblocked the king of hearts and ran off all his diamonds and his remaining two top hearts.East was caught in an automatic squeeze and could not keep hearts and clubs both guarded, so South emergedwith twelve tricks.Six no-trumps made! And to add insult to injury, East had doubled this contract as well.

Can anybody come up with a bible reference/quotation which relates to East’s foolishness in doubling North-South’s slam?A bottle of red wine will be awarded to the best attempt. I reserve the right to withhold the prize unless I receive at least one entry of acceptable standard.

Write to 82 Loyd Road, Didcot or e-mail me onsimpson@malcrose.freeserve.co.uk.

Readers may be interested to learn that bridge is now being consideredas a “sport of the mind” and has been admitted as a demonstration sport by the International Olympic Committee.As with all Olympic sports, some bridge players were tested recently in Italy for “performance enhancing substances”.I trust and hope that this does not apply to either Claret wine or Worthington bitter, or my bridge playing days are numbered!

[*S. J. Simon, not the one called Peter]

LOCAL NEWSAbingdonWell done Nigel Wilkes (“A” Team Captain) who was a member of the winning team in the recent Bracknell Green Pointed Swiss Teams Event.