Bridge - The Scotsman 14/09/12

Published on 14/09/2012 03:39

IN THE Transnational Mixed Teams, East-West had adopted Gazzilli, a convention that blends well with a five-card major system where the 1NT response is wide-ranging.

After 1S-1NT a 2C rebid is either natural, or shows a strong hand with at least 16 points. With 9+ points West responds 2D, making the auction game-forcing (unless declarer rebids his major, showing a weak hand with clubs.)

Other bids from West show a weaker hand. With a doubleton in partner’s major he bids that; a new suit is natural; and 2NT shows both minors. East had a senior moment, imagining that 2NT was a transfer to clubs. 3C is a pretty awful spot, but one should never give up. South led a heart, and when declarer played low from dummy North decided not to waste his queen. East won the nine and played ace, king and a spade ruff. A diamond to the queen scored, and now came a winning spade.

South discarded a heart, and declarer ruffed with the nine of clubs, which, surprisingly, scored. He returned to hand with the ace of hearts, his seventh trick.

On the next spade, South split her trump honours, but declarer discarded from dummy and had to make two more trump tricks with dummy’s AJ over South’s K10xx.

In the other room East-West stretched to 4S, so making 3C gained 5 imps. Bridge can be quite unfair!