Bridge - The Scotsman 04/06/12

SCOTLAND completed a very successful Home International series by adding the Senior Camrose to the Women’s and Junior trophies.

John Matheson, Willie Coyle, Irving Gordon, Bill Whyte, John Murdoch and Iain Sime, captained by Mike Ash, finished second to Bernard Teltscher’s sponsored GB team, but take the trophy as the leading National Bridge Organisation.

This deal saw Willie Coyle produce a huge swing for Scotland. West led a heart against his slam, to the king and ace. To tackle clubs, Coyle set about counting the distribution. He cashed the king of diamonds and he queen of hearts, then played a spade to the eight. He discarded a club on the ace of diamonds and ruffed a diamond. Then he played a second trump to the nine, discovering the 2-2 break. East surely had at least six hearts for his weak jump overcall; since he also had two spades and at least three diamonds he could not have more than two clubs. Coyle led a club from dummy, and when East produced the ten he ducked. When West also played low East was endplayed; whatever red card he played Coyle could discard a second club from hand while ruffing in dummy. Scotland gained 17 imps when the Welsh declarer tackled clubs by leading ace and another.

It did not occur to West to overtake with the jack of clubs to lead a second club, forcing declarer to guess whether East had K10 or a singleton ten.