Bridge - The Scotsman 21/05/2012

THE English Spring Foursomes is a very high standard event, a double elimination teams.

This year’s final was between Glyn Liggins (Joe Fawcett, John Holland, Ben Green) and Alexander Allfrey (Andrew Robson, Tony Forrester, David Gold). After 32 boards Allfrey led by 61-32, but Liggins, as the undefeated team, was entitled to claim 8 extra boards. Which his team won by an amazing 60-17 (including six double-figure swings and just one flat board) to take the title. This was the final board, the third of three slam swings to Liggins. The auction was almost identical in both rooms. North opened his 11 count – the 54 major distribution means that he always has an easy rebid. East’s overcall is normal, if minimum. It gives South less space to describe his huge hand, but he started with a forcing 3C. North bid an uncomfortable 3NT, and South now bid 4D to show his big two-suiter. Allfrey raised to 5D, and Robson pondered, but eventually concluded that partner would not have two aces.

Glyn Liggins liked his hand – it was minimum in points but the two aces and the singleton club were surely valuable. He cuebid 4S. Now 4NT asked for aces, and when there were two South could not stay out of slam. West led a heart, and East switched to spades, but there was no defence. Declarer won, drew one round of trump, cashed the ace of clubs and ruffed a club, then finished drawing trump and claimed his slam.