The 2018 Celtic Pairs Tuesday 4th December

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1 The 2018 Celtic Pairs Tuesday 4th December Dear Bridge Player Session # 5215 Thank you for supporting the Celtic Simultaneous Pairs - I hope you enjoyed the hands and the commentary, which was written by John Murdoch - many thanks to him for the time he has spent on it. Now you will be able to see if he got it right! The Celtic Nations Simultaneous Pairs were started to raise funds for the Celtic teams participating in World and European events. It is organised by each of the Celtic Nations in turn - this one has been organised by the Scottish Bridge Union and we would like to thank our commentators for giving their expertise and writing these booklets for your enjoyment. The results of this event can, as always, be found at - just click on the link to Sims and you will see how to find them. Best wishes - and enjoy your bridge! Anna Gudge Celtic Simultaneous Pairs Organiser Mill Cottage Voy Stromness Orkney KW16 3HX anna@ecats.co.uk 1

2 Board 1. Dealer North. Vulnerability None [ Q 4 ] 10 2 { J 7 } A K [ A 7 5 [ K J ] J 9 7 ] 8 6 { Q { 2 } Q 9 3 } J 7 [ ] A K Q { A K } 6 After the likely 4[ overcall South will bid 4N for take out (if available) or just bid a slam. A winning line in 6] is to draw trumps and play a low diamond towards the jack for 12 tricks. Those with ambitions for 13 tricks in 6] need diamonds 3-2 and the hand with the short diamonds not to hold the J of ]. Playing the second diamond from dummy would be a wise precaution as whether East ruffs or not he cannot stop 12 tricks. Board 2. Dealer East. Vulnerability N/S [ Q J 4 ] 8 { A Q } K 7 6 [ A [ 6 5 ] A K J ] 10 5 { K 8 { J 9 5 } } A Q [ K ] Q 9 6 { 6 2 } J Against the likely 4] if North leads the Q of [ and finds he is still on lead at trick 2 West will make 10 tricks. However if South is awake he will overtake with K[ and return a red suit. Declarer will be defeated unless he takes a first round trump finesse. Trump leads will hold declarer to 8 tricks as not only do they deprive declarer of any ruffs they render Ace of clubs useless. Board 3. Dealer South. Vulnerability E/W [ K J 8 2 ] K 4 { } [ A [ 3 ] J ] A { K J { Q 5 4 } Q J 10 } A K 4 [ Q ] Q { A } The 6-1 fit plays better than the 7-1 fit because it has fewer trump losers. However West may be unable to appreciate the value of his ]J and keep bidding spades till 4[ is reached. Perhaps West will allow East to play in 3N which would make if South failed to make the obvious diamond lead. Board 4. Dealer West. Vulnerability All [ 10 ] { Q 9 7 } A K Q 5 3 [ A Q J [ K ] K Q 9 ] A { K { 10 3 } 8 6 } 10 2 [ ] J 5 { A J 8 } J East West do have 10 tricks in a spade contract but should they bid 4[? Well 4[ needs a successful diamond finesse. This 50% chance is reduced by needing trumps 3-2 (or this particular 4-1 break) and is further reduced by needing one of two side suits to break 3-3. But if a good contract is one that makes, 4[ is a great contract. Board 5. Dealer North. Vulnerability N/S [ Q J ] K 3 { K Q J 5 } 7 6 [ A [ 10 5 ] A J 9 5 ] { A { } 9 } A Q 5 4 [ K 6 ] Q { 3 } K J North will probably declare in 2[ and receive a heart lead to his K]. Declarer s best chance of avoiding 2 diamond losers is to reach dummy with a good club guess then lead a diamond towards hand. If West plays {A declarer s 2nd { loser disappears and if he ducks declarer ruffs his losing {. If East rises }A he has to give West a club ruff at once otherwise declarer will take a late finesse against East s }Q to discard his losing diamond. 2

3 Board 6. Dealer East. Vulnerability E/W [ Q J ] A 4 { } J 10 9 [ A [ K 10 6 ] 2 ] K Q 7 6 { J 9 { K Q 8 5 } K } Q 5 [ 9 ] J { A } A 3 East may declare in 2N or 3N after South has overcalled 2]. After a heart lead and return declarer does best to play a low club from hand. South must duck to stop 9 tricks being made wherupon declarer will shift to diamonds where he has 3 tricks. Result 8 tricks. If declarer plays on diamonds first South rises {A and clears hearts. Result 7 tricks. Board 7. Dealer South. Vulnerability All [ Q 2 ] J { 9 4 } K [ K [ ] A 5 ] Q 10 4 { A Q J 3 { } J 6 5 } Q 3 [ A J 5 ] K { K 10 2 } A 10 8 A strong 1N opening would end the bidding. South will win the probable spade lead in dummy then duck a club to West who has to play his last club to avoid giving away the 7th trick immediately. However this just delays the inevitable as he cannot find two secure discards on the run of the clubs Other opening bids will allow East West to reach and make 2[. Board 8. Dealer West. Vulnerability None [ Q 9 ] A K J { Q J 8 } 9 6 [ A [ K J 8 2 ] Q ] 8 2 { A 7 { K 5 4 } A J } Q [ 4 3 ] { } K 8 6[ is moderate. Maybe some declarers influenced by a 2] overcall may play North to have a singleton spade and hold themselves to 11 tricks. Maybe some North-South pairs will bid too many hearts (3] is too many) and get doubled for 500 or 800. Maybe 6[ will be bid for 920 or -50. But it is East West on this planet. Board 9. Dealer North. Vulnerability E/W [ ] A { K 10 3 } J 8 2 [ Q 10 4 [ A 6 ] K 10 ] Q 8 { { A Q J 6 } Q 10 7 } [ K J ] J { 2 } A K Whether East opens one of a minor or a weak 1N South will have a way of showing both majors. North may consider that his {K is of dubious value and simply bid 2] planning to bid 3] in competition. If North bids 3] directly South might reflect that his hand is scarcely better than it might have been and pass on the other hand he might not. Board 10. Dealer East. Vulnerability All [ Q ] A 7 4 { } [ K 9 [ A J 7 ] K Q 10 6 ] J 5 3 { K J { Q } 9 3 } A K J [ ] { A } Q 7 After a 1} 1{ - 3} start West is likely to play in 3N and receive a spade lead. Declarer can afford to make a slight safety play by cashing a top club (catering for singleton Q offside) and subsequently take a club finesse for 10 tricks when it fails. A few declarer s will drop the }Q and a few defender s will fail to cash both their Aces so making 10 tricks may not score well. 3

4 Board 11. Dealer South. Vulnerability None [ Q ] A K 10 { 7 3 } [ J 6 5 [ K ] J ] 9 { Q 10 4 { A K J } } A [ A 7 ] Q { 9 } K Q J 9 7 Declaring in 4] and receiving a diamond lead and continuation South will ruff and start drawing trumps then stop when the 4-1 split is revealed. Now when he plays a club East is end played into giving declarer a ruff and discard or playing a spade. Both result in declarer losing no spades and making 4]. If the defender s at your table find the winning defence against 4] don t play them for money. Board 12. Dealer West. Vulnerability N/S [ K 8 2 ] K 9 6 { K Q 5 2 } A K 7 [ A J [ 10 7 ] Q J ] A { A 7 { J 6 } 3 } [ Q 4 3 ] 3 { } Q J 10 8 After 1[ from West, North will probably overcall a slightly heavy 1N and West will try again with 2] which East would do well to raise to 3]. However West may think he has done enough and a reasonable game will be missed. 4[ needs the ]K to be onside which it will be most of the time and some luck in the spade suit especially when the trumps are 3-1. Board 13. Dealer North. Vulnerability All [ K J ] J 2 { 2 } K J 8 [ A [ Q ] ] { J 4 { } Q } [ 3 ] A K Q 10 7 { A K Q 3 } A His partner s 3[ pre-emptive opening will charm South and a frustrated though not necessarily unsuccessful lunge to 6N might ensue. Pessimists, having seen their partner s preempts before, will raise gloomily to 4[ hoping their contribution of 7 tricks will be enough. Board 14. Dealer East. Vulnerability None [ A J ] J { J 5 4 } K [ 8 [ 10 5 ] K ] Q 4 3 { K { Q 3 2 } 10 7 } A Q J 8 6 [ K Q ] A { A 10 } 5 4 South will open or overcall 1[ and be raised to 4[. 10 tricks are the limit with no?? scope for defensive error. If West is able to show a red two suiter and provided East guesses (somewhat bizzarly) to play in the suit that breaks 4-1 rather than the suit that breaks 3-2 a 5 level sacrifice will be profitable. Board 15. Dealer South. Vulnerability N/S [ J 9 5 ] Q { K } K 4 [ A K 7 [ Q 10 2 ] K J ] A { Q 2 { 10 4 } } A [ ] { A J } Q J 8 5 East will make an invitational heart raise and West will have no reason to bid 4]. Although 9 tricks are the limit the defence can fall from grace. If the defence switches to spades after taking two diamonds and declarer plays a club to the Ace North has to unblock his } K to prevent the overtrick otherwise declarer will cash one trump and eliminate spades before playing a second club to get a ruff and discard.

5 Board 16. Dealer West. Vulnerability E/W [ J 5 ] { J 8 5 } Q J [ K Q [ A 10 3 ] J ] A 7 { A 9 2 { Q } } A [ 7 6 ] K Q 8 6 { K 10 6 } K Declarer will aim to make 11 tricks in 4[. On the }Q lead he can pitch a diamond and play Ace and another heart planning to ruff 2 hearts in dummy. Alternatively declarer can play on diamonds hoping the {K is onside and/or the diamonds break 3-3. Since both lines work and the Q of clubs is a normal lead most pairs will make 11 tricks Board 17. Dealer North. Vulnerability None [ A K 5 2 ] K 9 { A Q 7 6 } K 3 2 [ [ ] Q 4 2 ] { K { J 9 4 } 7 } A Q J [ Q J 9 6 ] A J 7 3 { 8 2 } A preemptive overcall by East may lead to 3N rather than 4[, or a 500 penalty. In 4[ Declarer will make 2 diamonds; 2 diamond ruffs; 2 hearts; and 4 high trumps. Against 3N by North, a diamond lead delays declarer s acquisition of a 9 th trick. Declarer exhausts East of diamonds keeping West of lead and plays to the }8 to end play East. Board 18. Dealer East. Vulnerability N/S [ J ] { J 9 5 } 7 2 [ A 10 9 [ Q 8 4 ] 3 ] A K { A K Q 10 { } } K J [ K 6 ] Q J 10 5 { } A Q 9 8 On a spade lead West s 3N is secure and 10 tricks will be made. However a heart lead stops the overtrick and cause declarer some anxiety but his decision at trick one is immaterial. As the cards lie as long as he takes his 4 diamond tricks at a sensible time South, who is cursed with having too many important cards will have to make a fatal discard. The precise ending will depend upon what poison he swallows. Board 19. Dealer South. Vulnerability E/W [ ] A K 9 5 { } 8 6 [ K Q 4 [ A 9 8 ] J 6 3 ] Q { Q { K J 5 } A 4 2 } [ J 7 2 ] 7 2 { A 10 8 } K Q J 10 3 South may open 1} for lead directing reasons and play in 2} if East West don t compete. If West doubles 1} East will bid 2] and play there. All contracts above 1[ are doomed in theory though if South passes and West opens a weak 1N he will make at least 7 tricks as North will not lead clubs. Board 20. Dealer West. Vulnerability All [ ] A 6 { A Q } J [ K 9 4 [ Q J ] Q ] K 9 { J 6 4 { K } K 7 3 } [ A 2 ] J { 9 2 } A Q 10 6 In 5{ on a spade lead declarer will take the Ace then play }AQ setting up }10 to discard a heart after he reaches dummy with a spade ruff. In dummy he discards his losing heart and has to play trumps avoiding 2 losers. When, West follows with the 4 or 6 and East has a singleton, the singleton he has is twice as likely to be an honour (K or J) than the remaining small card so {A is right. Those who grasp for 12 tricks will make 10. 5

6 Board 21. Dealer North. Vulnerability N/S [ A J 7 2 ] A J 9 3 { 2 } A [ [ ] K ] 10 5 { A 5 3 { K J 9 6 } K Q 4 } [ K Q 9 ] Q 8 4 { Q } J 8 After 1} 1{ - 1] South may bid an aggressive 2N and North will bid game. West is likely to lead a spade and game will depend on decarer making 4 heart tricks. Starting with the Q and when covered subsequently taking a finesse against the 10 doesn t work but is recommended. ever mind but perhaps the ]Q will not be covered! Board 22. Dealer East. Vulnerability E/W [ K Q 2 ] 5 { } K 7 3 [ A J [ 4 ] Q ] K J { A { Q J 4 } A J 10 } [ ] A 9 2 { K 5 3 } Q 8 5 North will lead a diamond against West s normal 4] contract. Declarer may ruff spades and finesse clubs to make 11 tricks as the spade and club layouts are kind. Alternatively and equally successfully he can play a heart to hand planning to to take the double club finesse and eventually a ruffing diamond finesse. Board 23. Dealer South. Vulnerability All [ 10 ] A K J 6 { K } K [ K [ Q J 4 ] 10 7 ] { Q 9 4 { A J } Q 10 4 } A 3 [ A ] Q { 6 } J Following the habits of a lifetime many Norths will open the suit below his singleton. East may overcall 2{ and South is likely to raise to 3] which may not score too badly as long as -200 is avoided because East West can make 2[. Board 24. Dealer West. Vulnerability None [ Q 6 ] K J 10 3 { } K [ 9 3 [ J 8 2 ] 9 4 ] A { 5 2 { K J 8 4 } A Q } J 9 [ A K ] Q 7 2 { A Q 7 6 } Following a 3} pre-empt and a very good protective 3[ by South, North will agonise between 3N, 4[, and Pass. In 3N declarer will duck the club lead once and play on hearts to make 11 tricks if he takes the diamond finesse. In 4[ on neutral lead rather than }A which costs a trick, declarer will draw trumps and use heart entries to take diamond finesses. He will lose ]A and the {8 for 11 tricks. Board 25. Dealer North. Vulnerability E/W [ A Q J 8 3 ] 6 5 { K 10 2 } A 10 2 [ K [ ] K Q 3 2 ] J 10 8 { Q { A 9 5 } } K J 4 [ ] A { J 8 6 }Q 8 6 South may play in 1N or North in 2[. Although 9 tricks are available in both contracts, declarer is likely to attempt to run the [10 thus reducing his spade tricks from 5 to 4 and his total tricks by 1 Taking the spade suit in isolation it is correct to take the finesse while retaining the 10 to cater for the actual position. However the correct play is only correct if you are able to repeat the finesse and in this case you may not have the entry to do so.

7 Board 26. Dealer East. Vulnerability All [ ] J { 9 6 } A J 6 2 [ 8 6 [ A K Q 10 5 ] A 6 ] Q { K { A J } K } 7 4 [ J 9 7 ] K 7 3 { Q } Q 8 3 If the ]J is led against 3N the ]A will soon be gone and with it the best chance of 3+ diamond tricks. Assuming declarer has 5 spade tricks the best chance for a 9 th trick lies in the club suit where, playing for Q} and J} to be split or in the South hand, will produce a trick. Taking this line implies that you do not think opponents can cash 3 hearts otherwise you would play a club to the }K. Those who play in 4[ can make 10 tricks by ruffing a heart and playing for ]K to come down in three rounds. If opponents lead and continue trumps the ]A will be entry for a 3 rd diamond trick after a successful finesse. Board 27. Dealer South. Vulnerability None [ Q ] K 10 3 { Q 8 } Q [10 5 [ ]Q 2 ] J 8 { { K J 10 4 }K } A 4 3 [ A K J ] A { A 7 6 } J After 1] 1[ start South has a rebid problem. 3] inspite of the poor suit is a far better solution than 3[. Some may compromise with a 2{ rebid and on another day play there in a 3-3 fit with a 6-1 heart fit available. Still that would be very unlucky. As it is nearly everyone will play in 4] and make the same 11 tricks as those who play in NT Board 28. Dealer West. Vulnerability N/S [ ] 9 8 { J } A K 8 6 [ A Q [ K 5 3 ] 3 ] Q { A K { Q 6 3 } Q 10 } [ J 8 ] A K J { 8 } J After a heart or club leads against the common 4[ contract declarer will ruff in when he can and play trumps protecting against South having [Jxxx. Leaving a trump outstanding declare will play on diamonds hoping that should they be 4-1 the hand with 1 diamond has no trumps left thus enabling a losing diamond to be ruffed with impunity. Board 29. Dealer North. Vulnerability All [ Q J ] Q 5 2 { 10 9 } 10 8 [ A 10 7 [ ] 4 3 ] K { Q J 6 { K } A K Q 3 2 } 9 7 [ K ] A J 10 8 { A } J If North opens 2[ West will protect with 2N and play there. On a spade lead declarer will assume a 6-1 spade split and will take his [A at once and play 4 rounds of clubs. South will play diamonds and after cashing his 5 th club so will declarer and South will have to play hearts giving declarer his 8 th trick If on form North will lead the ]Q. Board 30. Dealer East. Vulnerability None [ A K 10 9 ] 6 5 { } Q [ Q 6 2 [ 5 3 ] ] AKQ J { K Q J { A 6 } 8 } 10 6 [ J ] 7 { 7 3 } A K J It will be easier for East West to reach 4] than North South to bid 4[. In a slow auction perhaps North can bid spades implying or showing club support then no doubt South would bid 4[ over 4] East West have to sacrifice over 4[ but not over 5} - very difficult to judge this but any pair having this decision are already on a poor score. 7

8 The Celtic Pairs Why the name? This is essentially a joint venture by SBU/WBU/ NIBU to foster their Celtic links. What are the funds raised used for? The money raised is divided between the Celtic NBOs (i.e. Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland) and is used to support their international teams. Next Year's events... There will not be a Spring Celtic Pairs next year - the WBU will run their normal St David's Day Pairs at the end of February (25 February - 1 March) and the SBU will run a five-day Easter Pairs incorporating the Bobby Allen Trophy from 11th - 14th March. In addition the SBU will be holding a one-off "Valentine's Pairs" to raise funds for their women's team which goes to compete in the 2019 Venice Cup having qualified through the European Zonal Championships. This will be held from February but please be advised that there will only be one set of hands so you must not play on more than one evening! We hope you will support these events as they are held by your own National Bridge Organisations - to enter them, just anna@ecats. co.uk - it's all the "normal procedure" and we would really love to have your company. 8