Bridge

Auctions in events in some countries can be dull, both pairs bidding identically to the same contract. Not so in Scotland, where the Outred two-way club system ensured variety at the Scottish Cup Final.

On this deal, the natural system in the other room saw South open 1D. Playing weak jump overcalls, West bid just 2C. This was passed around to South, who re-opened with a double. Neither East nor West competed further, and North bought the contract in 2H. This went one down, for -50, a promising-looking result when East-West had a certain part score, perhaps even a game

Here South opened 1C, often 11-14 balanced, but occasionally 16+. West made a rather odd double. North was reluctant to get involved, and East liked his majors enough to cuebid. South made one competitive noise, showing the strong type of 1C opener, but East-West sailed into game.

Vi Outred led the king of diamonds, and declarer took a while to digest the unexpected dummy. He ducked the first diamond, but Vi persisted with the queen of diamonds to the ace. When John Murdoch now led a spade she won the ace, cashed one top heart, and led the ten of diamonds.

Declarer could no longer make his game. If he ruffs low, North overruffs for an immediate one down. When he ruffed high, North discarded a club, and could not be prevented from making a trump trick with his J10.