Bridge - The Scotsman - 29/10/12

THE DIAMOND Senior Pairs was played in four centres this year: Prestwick, Elgin, Dundee and Kelso. This experiment with a Simultaneous event brought the numbers up to 54 pairs, bucking the downward trend.

Winners were Iain Sime and John Murdoch (of our Senior team); second Allan Gordon and Beryl Campbell (Dundee); third Charles Outred and Nigel Guthrie (Prestwick).

This deal illustrates the importance of the 4-4 major suit fit. Strong no-trumpers mostly opened an imperfect 1NT, and Stayman got them to 4S. There was an inevitable trump loser, but where West did not lead a heart declarer could establish clubs and diamonds and make 12 tricks. The pair who bid slam might consider themselves unlucky that West was experienced enough to make an attacking heart lead.

The optimistic slam bidders registered a few points because several pairs never found their spade fit. Over 1C it is accepted practice to bid suits up-the-way, but if South is going to rebid 1NT to express the strength of his hand rather than rebid a four-card major you need some form of Checkback Stayman. Lacking such a method it is a good idea to respond in your major.

On the featured auction West was warned off both his four-card suits, so he led his better major, the ten of hearts. When that was ducked, East showing an odd number, he continued with the king. When clubs did not break and the spade finesse failed declarer was one down.