Brdige 06/06/2011

The Spence Trophy, the Inter-District Pairs, was won by one of our highly successful Under-20 team, Abigail Wilson from Aberdeen, playing with Jim Hay, who has devoted much time to encouraging and coaching the youngsters. Second were Edinburgh's Malcolm McCardle and Derrick Peden.

The winners got off to a good start with this board. Jim was allowed to open 2C in fourth seat, but North jammed the auction with a pre-emptive jump in diamonds. Abigail passed, and South upped the ante. Not everyone has discussed how to cope with such a situation, and Jim bid 4NT, hoping it might be construed as natural. Abigail reckoned that her hand could be worse, and decided to make the practical bid of 5C, showing one ace if partner was asking about aces, or cuebidding if he was not. Jim now jumped to 6H rather than confuse the auction further.

North led the king of clubs, and dummy was quite a pleasing sight. Still, there were only 11 obvious winners. Jim drew trump in two rounds and led the jack of clubs to North's queen. North exited with a diamond to the king. Fortunately for Jim Abigail's trump were good enough to provide two entries. He led the four of hearts to the five and advanced the nine of clubs. When South did not cover he discarded his spade loser and claimed 12 tricks. If South does cover the nine with the ten Jim can ruff, cross to the ten of hearts and discard his spade on the eight of clubs.