Click here for the next entry

Date	21^st May 2006
*Event*	Porter
*Partner*	Peter Neville
*Team Mates*	Brian & Sheila Stockdale Tony Marshall & Brian Chamberlain Gary Duddle & David Green
*Result*	Leicestershire 20 Staffs 0

Date	20^th May 2007
*Event*	Porter
*Partner*	Harry Gordon
*Team Mates*	Ian Bruce & Mick Mahoney Tony Marshall & Brian Chamberlain Hugh Cairns & Geoff Shaw
*Result*	Leicestershire 7 Lincolnshire 13

Boards

Board

Result

Score

Comments

Imps

Butler

Cross

3N+2 by W

460

3N+2 by W

-460

-2

After three passes, Peter opened one club. I bid two clubs and Peter bid the no trump game.

These same boards were accidentally played again in the match against Lincolnshire – so I have been able to do what I always wanted. Play with myself as team-mate. I’m bound to do well, aren’t I? Comments in black are from the Staffordshire match; red from Lincolnshire.

Scores in blue are imping against ourselves.

2S by S

-110

4C+1 by W

-150

-2

-1

-6

-4

-1

-3

South opened one spade and Peter decided neither to overcall two no trumps immediately or to protect when North’s raise to two spades was passed round to him.

The Lincolnshire West was more aggressive; making an immediate two suited overcall. Eleven tricks rolled in when neither of us felt the need to lead trumps.

6D by W

1370

6D by W

-1370

-5

-16

Peter opened one diamond, North overcalled two clubs and I made a forcing pass. Peter re-opened with a double and I bid two hearts. The bidding continued two spades – three clubs – three diamonds – four no trumps – five hearts – six diamonds.

2N by E

120

2N by E

-120

-1

-3

I opened one diamond, Peter bid one heart and I rebid one no trump. Peter bid two clubs and continued to two no trumps over my two diamonds. After South led the king of clubs I had time to win and knock out the ace of spades for eight tricks.

2C+2 by E

130

2H+3 by W

200

-1

-7

-8

-7

-46

North opened one no trump and I overcalled two clubs.

This time I had the one no trump opener but the opponents reached two hearts. I failed to find the spade lead and declarer lost just two tricks.

4H-2 by W

-200

4H by W

-620

-13

-12

-13

-10

-6

-49

-20

Peter opened one heart, I bid three hearts and Peter went to game. This can be made by knocking out the ace of clubs, playing the hearts for one loser (either by ace and another or finessing twice) and discarding spades on dummy’s clubs; but Peter took the spade finesse.

I led a spade.

4H+1 by W

650

4H by W

-620

-6

-9

Peter opened one heart and rebid four hearts after I bid four clubs. A diamond was led; Peter played dummy’s two and won in hand with the ten. Peter played a trump and, when North took the ace and switched, Peter was able to win, finesse the jack of diamonds and discard two spade losers on the ace and king of diamonds.

The spade lead at least saved an imp this time.

4S by W

420

5C*-2 by N

-300

-5

-2

-4

North opened one heart, I doubled, South bid two hearts and, after a long pause, Peter passed. North passed too but I thought I had enough to justify two no trumps and Peter then bid four spades.

I opened one club, East doubled, South bid two clubs, West bid two spades and I jumped to five clubs.

-23

-28

-95

Boards

Board

Result

Score

Comments

Imps

Butler

Cross

3S*-2 by E

500

3N+2 by S

-460

-7

-6

The bidding began one diamond, one spade, double. This was for take out but, when the opponents continued to three spades, I felt I could double for penalties.

6N-1 by W

100

3N+3 by E

690

I like this board. Can we play it in every match?

3N-1 by E

1N*-1 by S

100

-9

-7

-31

Our opponents reached three no trumps after I had opened one no trump. I led the king of diamonds. Peter discouraged with the three of diamonds and declarer won the ace. Declarer played a spade, I won the king and, realising declarer must have the jack of diamonds from Peter’s signal, switched to the jack of hearts. Declarer played small from dummy, Peter won the king and switched to the nine of diamonds, pinning dummy’s eight and gaining the defence three tricks in diamonds, to go with the two major suit kings.

We were headed for 500 until I revoked.

3N by S

600

2C+2 by N

-110

Peter opened one club and re-bid two clubs over my one diamond. I thought I was worth one more try and bid two no trumps. Peter raised to game. With diamonds 3-3 and the ace of spades on my right there was no difficulty in making nine tricks.

Our auction was replicated by the Lincolnshire pair as far as two clubs; this was passed by South.

3N by S

600

2N by S

-120

-8

-3

-16

We reached three no trumps via the sequence one diamond – one heart – one spade – two diamonds – three no trumps. The jack of clubs was led. I won and set about the spades; East taking the king and switching to the four of diamonds. I nearly went with my instincts to let this run round to the nine but, instead, went up with the ace. I knocked out the major aces; West returning clubs each time and played on spades. I was saved when East discarded a diamond. I was then able to knock out the ace of diamonds and use dummy’s nine as an entry for the king of hearts.

6N*-3 by N

-500

3N by S

-400

-14

-13

-1

-80

-15

I opened one heart and re-bid two hearts over Peter’s two diamonds. Peter now attempted to entice a club lead in three no trumps by bidding a semi-psychic two spades. Unfortunately, I now considered my hand to be greatly improved and bid six spades. Even with three spades this would have had chances (albeit not on the actual distribution) but Peter removed to six no trumps. East had an easy double and lead.

3N by S

600

3N-1 by S

100

-1

We reached three no trumps via the sequence one heart – one spade – two diamonds – three clubs – three no trumps. After a club lead there was no difficulty in giving up a spade to make five spades, three clubs and a heart.

The first two bids were the same, but I overcalled two diamonds. After the diamond lead declarer couldn’t afford to lose a trick to me and played for split heart honours.

2C*-3 by E

800

4H-1 by N

Peter opened one heart, East bid two clubs, I passed, Peter doubled and I passed again.

-8

220

Boards

Board

Result

Score

Comments

Imps

Butler

Cross

6S by S

-980

4S+2 by S

480

-11

-6

-44

-6

Our auction was one diamond – one spade – three clubs – three hearts – three spades – four spades

3N by N

-600

3N-2 by N

-100

-10

-6

-12

-10

-6

-63

-26

North played in three no trumps after responding one spade to South’s one diamond opening bid. The bidding dissuaded me from leading a spade; the heart chosen gave declarer three heart tricks which, when Peter didn’t find the difficult switch to the king of spades when in with the ace of diamonds and I didn’t find the rather easier switch to the six of spades when declarer didn’t guess the diamonds and allowed me to win the jack, added to four diamonds and the ace and king of clubs for a ten imp gain.

I guessed the diamonds correctly, but it was too late, my one spade response had not dissuaded the Lincolnshire East from leading spades.

3D-2 by S

100

2D-1 by S

-50

-6

North opened one no trump, I overcalled two hearts and South used Lebensohl to reach three diamonds.

I passed the North hand; West opened one heart and I doubled in the protective position. Harry bid two diamonds and played there.

2H by E

110

1N-2 by N

-200

-5

-3

-5

-1

-25

-4

North opened one no trump, and, in the protective position, Peter bid two diamonds. I tried two hearts. It was a scramble to make this when we would have defeated one no trump by at least two tricks and, given a following wind, might have been able to make four spades.

Lincolnshire did defeat my 1NT by two tricks.

3N+2 by S

-660

6D by N

1370

-1

North opened two clubs, I overcalled two spades, South passed and Peter made a psychic bid of three diamonds. North doubled and South bid three no trumps.

Playing Benjamanised Acol our uncontested auction was two diamonds – two hearts – three hearts – two no trumps (!) corrected to three no trumps – six diamonds.

3N-3 by E

-300

2H+3 by E

-200

-5

-2

-11

-8

-2

-48

-18

I opened one diamond, Peter bid one heart and I rebid one no trump. Peter bid two clubs, Crowhurst, and North took the opportunity to double for the lead. I passed and Peter bid three no trumps. I lost five clubs the king of diamonds and the ace of spades.

Lincolnshire opened one no trump and had a straightforward transfer sequence to two hearts.

3N by E

600

3N by E

-600

-8

-20

Peter opened one heart, I bid one spade, Peter rebid two diamonds and I tried three clubs. This allowed Peter to bid out his hand with three diamonds and there was no temptation to continue over three no trumps. Somehow, I managed to unravel the entries to make nine of my eleven top tricks.

3N+2 by W

460

3N+2 by W

-460

-1

Peter opened one club and re-bid one no trump over my one heart. I bid three no trumps direct.

-5

-3

-23

-22

-8

-142

-10

Board

Result

Score

Comments

Imps

Butler

Cross

2S* by E

-670

4S*-2 by E

-500

-11

-7

-15

-12

-9

-53

-42

Peter opened one diamond, East overcalled two spades, I passed this and I also passed Peter’s re-opening double. I was unable to prevent declarer ruffing a club in dummy without giving up one of my trump tricks so declarer made five spades, two aces and the club ruff.

I broke my principle of not closing options too early by overcalling four spades and paid the price.

6C-1 by S

-100

5C by N

-600

-12

-10

-5

-40

-33

We played this hand the wrong way round; such that I held the North cards. Had we not, I am sure we would have gained a better score. West opened three hearts; I bid three spades (Fishbein) and could not resist checking for aces and continuing to six clubs after Peter’s four clubs response.

5C*-3 by W

800

3H+1 by S

-170

-2

I opened one heart, West bid clubs, Peter supported hearts, I went to game and the opponent’s chose to sacrifice in five clubs. Peter doubled. We lost a trick in the defence when the natural heart lead allowed declarer to discard a diamond loser.

4C-1 by E

1N+1 by W

120

-7

-1

-6

Can’t remember how they got there; but playing at the four level in a 4-2 club fit when there is a choice of making games in spades or no trumps is a fairly bizarre result. I think they might have differed in their interpretation of East’s two club bid after the sequence one club – one diamond – one no trump.

Perhaps three no trumps doesn’t make after all. Our sequence was one club – one diamond – one no trump. I suspect those pairs who open the West hand one spade will have an easier route to the spade game.

2S by E

-110

4D-1 by S

100

-1

-2

-16

East played in two spades after I had opened one no trump.

4S-3 by S

-150

5D by S

-400

-8

-10

-11

-5

-7

-32

-27

We reached this dreadful contract after I had opened one spade and West had overcalled in hearts.

3D*-2 by W

300

3N by N

-600

-3

-7

-10

-51

West opened one spade, Peter doubled, East passed and I bid two clubs. West now tried three diamonds. This time, Peter’s double was for penalties.

Harry passed, North opened two no trumps, I overcalled three hearts and South bid three no trumps. When my king of clubs lead was ducked, I continued the suit and it was all over after Harry discarded two spades.

6D*-1 by N

-100

6D*-1 by S

-100

-12

-8

-62

West opened one spade, Peter overcalled two diamonds, East bid two hearts and I bid five diamonds. This was not enough to silence West who bid five hearts. Nor was that enough to silence Peter who continued to six diamonds. This was doubled and finished one down. Peter’s bid was probably good insurance; it doesn’t look as if he has any tricks and he would hardly expect me to have had two aces. Indeed, had diamonds broken 2-0, five hearts would have made.

-16

-15

-27

-15

-26

-85

*Statistics*	*Hands*	*Imps*	*Imps/Bd*	*Tot Pld*	*Tot Imps/Bd*
*Small Slam For*	3	16	5.33	6	0.33
*Small Slam Against*	2	2	1.00	3	0.67
*Played by Harry*	3	2	0.67	22	-1.59
*Doubled by Tim*	2	0	0.00	38	1.08
*Played by Tim*	6	-2	-0.33	268	0.61
*Opening Lead from Harry*	11	-6	-0.55	27	-0.56
*Opening Lead from Tim*	11	-25	-2.27	345	-0.18
*Doubled contracts played by Tim*	1	-11	-11.00	26	0.57

*Site Map* *Last Updated* *29^th May 2008*
*1. Home Page*	Club News	Glenfield A Fixtures	Glenfield B Fixtures	Forthcoming Events	Links	Master Points
*2. Newsletters, Photos and Correspondence*	Bulletin Board	April 2003	Xmas Tree Competition	Xmas Party	AGM
*3. Competitions*	Chairman’s Prize 2003
*4. Results Archive*	Buildrite Cup	Helen Doughty Memorial Trophy	Club Results	A team results	B team results	C team results	D team results
*5. Statistics*	Statistics Archive
*6. Technical Library*
*6.1 Bidding*	Strategy	Acol	Psychic Bidding	Precision	Blue Club
*6.1.1 Hand Evaluation*	Defensive Tricks	Losing Trick Count	Playing Tricks	Point Count	Total Number of Tricks	Passing
*6.1.2 Opening Bids*	One Club	One Diamond	One Heart	One Spade	One No Trump	Pre-empts
	Two Clubs	Two Diamonds	Two Hearts	Two Spades	Two No Trumps
*6.1.3 Responding to an Opening Bid*	Simple change of suit	Opener’s Rebid	Responder’s Rebid	Preference	Opener’s Second Rebid	Jump in a new suit	Responding in no trumps
	Limit Raise	Inverted Minors
*6.1.3.1 Responding to 1NT*	Transfers
*6.1.3.2 Responding to 2NT*	Transfers	Baron
*6.1.4 Conventions*	Stayman	Fourth Suit Forcing	Reverse	Crowhurst
*6.1.4.1 Conventional Opening Bids*	Lucas Twos	Multi Two Diamonds	Weak Twos
*6.1.4.2 Competitive Conventions*	Jump Overcall	Lebensohl	Unassuming Cue Bid	Unusual No Trump	Continuing after opponent’s take out double	Take out Double	Cue Bid
	Fishbein	Defence to 1NT	Halmic	1NT Overcall	Redouble	Simple Overcall
*6.1.4.3 Slam Conventions*	Blackwood	Gerber	Roman Key Card Blackwood	Splinter	Jump to 5 of a suit	Grand Slam Force	Acol Four No Trump Opening
	Asking Bids	DOPI and ROPI
*6.1.5 Doubles*	Optional	Penalty	Lead Directional
*6.1.6 The Protective Position*
*6.2 Declarer Play*
*6.2.1 General Technique*	End Play	Squeeze	Finesse	Lose tricks early	Pin	Avoidance	Restricted Choice
*6.2.2 Trump Management*	Ruffing	Ruffing Losers before drawing trumps	Trump Coup	Ruffing Finesse	Loser on Loser	Coping with bad splits	Cross Ruff
	Dummy Reversal
*6.3 Defence*	Second Player	Signals	Third Player	Play the cards you are known to have
*6.3.1 Defensive Tactics*	Forcing Defence	Passive Defence	Merrimac Coup
*6.3.2 Opening Leads*	Fourth Highest	Third and Fifth	MUD	Top of Nothing
*6.3.3 Plays in Third Hand*	Finesse Against Dummy	Finesse Against Partner
*6.3.4 Entry Management*	Unblocking
*6.4 Probability*
*6.5 Glossary of Terms*
*7 Through the Pack*

Date

Date