Bridge - The Scotsman 19/03/2012

The 2012 Camrose Trophy was won by England. Their impressive score of 101 VPs on the second weekend was actually matched by Wales, ousting Scotland from second place. The final scores were: England 200; Wales 179; Scotland 160; Ireland 122; SBU 121; Northern Ireland 109.

Nobody bid this thin slam from the third match. Where North made a splinter bid of 4C South signed off – if partner has only four hearts it will be hard to establish the second suit. But the ten-card trump fit, plus South’s extra distribution, allows an easy twelve tricks. Declarer wins the spade lead with the ace, cashed the ace of hearts and two diamonds to discard his spade loser, and crossruffs the rest. East may overruff, but can’t stop declarer making nine trump tricks.

Some pairs play limited splinter responses, either 10-12 or very strong. So North responded a Jacoby 2NT, showing game values and at least four-card support. Over this South normally shows a singleton at the three-level; a jump to four of a suit shows 5-5. Had any South dared bid 4C North would realise there were no losers in the pointed suits, that he had plenty of trump to ruff clubs. He could employ two-suited Roman Keycard Blackwood, where the kings and queens of both partner’s suits count. The 5S response, showing two keycards with one key queen would deter him from seeking Grand Slam.