Practice Makes Imperfect

Sydney Morning Herald

Thursday June 7, 2007

Ron Klinger

In the final of the playoffs to select the Australian Open Teams for 2007, Pauline Gumby - Warren Lazer, Murray Green - Andrew Peake, Richard Jedrychowski - Bruce Neill defeated the OzOne team of Peter Gill - Paul Gosney, Sartaj Hans - Tony Nunn, Zoli Nagy - Bob Richman by 121 Imps to 120. The former team will play for Australia at the Bermuda Bowl (World Open Teams) in Shanghai in September-October, while the Ozone Team is currently in Indonesia, competing in the Pacific Asia Open Teams. You can follow the results in Indonesia on the www.abf.com.au website.

Someone thought it was a good idea for these two teams to have a practice on Bridge Base Online and the rematch took place on May 19. No doubt the winners thought it was a good idea. Whether the losers also thought so is a moot point.

OzOne won the 64-board match by 209- 91.

One of the problems with such matches is that there is little pressure on any of the players. Nothing is at stake other than pride, although that can be a big factor. Some might play in a lighthearted spirit and what is the value in that?

Some of the bridge was quite ordinary, to say the least. Take a look at Board 13:-

West dealer; Both vulnerable

NORTH

Neil

WEST EAST

Gosney Gill

SOUTH

Jedrychowski

West North East South

Pass Pass 1S 2H

Pass Pass Dble All pass

Lead: S10

This was all pretty normal. East took the SK and shifted to the CK. West overtook and returned a club. The defence collected three clubs, two spades, a spade ruff and the HA for two down and +500.

If East continues spades at trick 2, East- West can collect 800. At the other table:

West North East South

Gumby Richman Lazer Nagy

Pass Pass 1S 2H

Pass Pass Dble Pass

Pass 2NT?? Dble 3C

Pass Pass Dble Pass

Pass 3H Pass Pass

Dble Pass Pass Pass

Lead: S10

Pray tell me, what was that 2NT bid all about? Instead of playing in 2H doubled, this little frolic took North-South into 3H doubled. Still, there was no swing. East took the SK and shifted to the CK, but Gumby did not overtake it with the ace. She won the next club and shifted to a diamond. As East had no more entries, South was able to escape for -500 rather than the potential -1100.

Then there was Board 55:

South dealer; Both vulnerable

NORTH

Peake opened 1NT, fair enough, and played it there. He made eight tricks for +120. What happened at the other table was just rubbish:

West North East South

Lazer Hans Gumby Nunn

--- --- --- 1H

Dble 2NT (1) Pass 4H

Pass Pass 4S? Dble

Pass Pass Pass

(1) Limit raise in hearts

Lead: HK

South's 1H opening is normal. West's minimum takeout double with only three spades is not ideal, a stretch, but so be it.

The North-South actions after that are inconsistent. If North's hand resembles a limit raise in the N-S methods, then South does not have a 4H bid. If South with seven losers is worth 4H opposite a limit raise, North's hand is not within cooee of the values expected.

Then East decided to wander back in with a 4S sacrifice. Either you bid 3S to suggest the save to partner or you keep quiet throughout. Instead of collecting 100 or 200, E-W go -500. You see what I mean by `light-hearted'. Enough said.

Bridge writers can often be harsh on the players. That is why the players respond by

thanking the press from the heart of their bottom.

Tomorrow's problem:

West dealer : East-West vulnerable

West North East South

Pass 2C Pass 2D

Pass 3NT (1) Pass ?

(1) 25-28 points, balanced

What would you do as South with:

© 2007 Sydney Morning Herald

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