Bridge - The Scotsman 22/06/2012

Published on 22/06/2012 00:00

ANOTHER member of the Scottish Ladies team in Dublin is Samantha Punch, playing with old stager Liz McGowan. Sam’s aggressive pre-empting style is legendary, but it was surprising to note that her reputation may have reached France, witness this deal from the Mixed Teams in Poznan last year.

In the Closed Room South did not open a weak two because she had four cards in the other major, but when the Scottish weak no-trump was passed round to her she risked a 2H overcall. When this came round to East she made a takeout double; such a double should almost always be taken out, but West, with four likely trump tricks, was prepared to make an exception here. The defenders made a spade, four hearts, a diamond and two clubs for three down, 500. Even if NS had a way to find their 4-4 spade fit 2S is not much of an improvement, booked for at least two down.

In the other room Sam was not deterred from opening her weak 2H. West’s 3H was intended to show a stopper in case partner could bid 3NT with a spade stopper. But East did not understand this, and decided that the only explanation was that her weird Scottish opposition had psyched. This contract could not be doubled, since there was certainly somewhere better to play – 3NT and four of either minor can all be made. So Sam and Stephen Peterkin collected 100 for two down, a nice 12 imp pickup

All of which demonstrates that it is still a bad idea to play in the same strain in both rooms.