LAST Friday night and Saturday afternoon saw the two local heats of the 20th Worldwide Bridge Contest, which, since its early days, has embraced the new technology to give us overall results within minutes of the last hand being played. Winning the Friday event were John Burville and David Cordon from Vera Petty and Roman Smolski and Nea Willits and Penny Garrison.

On Saturday Michael Bickley and Tony Saunders came out on top with Petty and Smolski once again in second place and Sheena Rayner and Magda Farag in third.

Cordon-Burville scored 61.93% on Friday which placed them 268th out of the 5,504 pairs taking part in 33 countries — the winners on the night were a Japanese pair with 75.38%. Saunders-Bickley scored 62.01% on Saturday, which placed them 240th out of 5,233 pairs from 33 countries and the winners were an Italian pair with 73.86%.

The event is well organised and a lot of fun — congratulations to the winners.

This for me was one of the most interesting hands of the night.

Love All

Dealer — EastNorth

[spade]K 9

[heart]A Q 3 2

[diamond]K 9 2

[club]A 8 7 3

West East

[spade]10 8 5 3 [spade]A J 6

[heart]J 7 5 [heart]10 8 4

[diamond]J 8 6 [diamond]7 3

[club]Q J 6 [club]K 10 9 5 4

South

[spade]Q 7 4 2

[heart]K 9 6

[diamond]A Q 10 5 4

[club]2One would like to be in the diamond slam. West is unlikely to lead a trump with that holding, so a couple of spade ruffs could do it without relying on the hearts to break three-three, which they do.

Most pairs played in 3NT which has ten tricks against a club lead as the spade trick can’t be established.

Some pairs played in 4 hearts which provides a declarer play problem on a club lead, especially since declarer expects hearts to break 4-2. If declarer receives a club lead and hearts don’t break 3-3, the defence can cash clubs later on and defeat the contract.

One line of play is to let the first club win! Now if the defence continues, club’s declarer can ruff, play three rounds of trumps and later on set up a spade while still keeping control of clubs. Eleven tricks and plus 450 brings a great score! Those who don’t see the danger will win the ace of clubs, ruff a club, draw trumps, cash diamonds, throwing clubs and eventually score +480 and a top, probably oblivious to how lucky they were!

LATEST RESULTS

Bermuda Bridge Club

Mixed Pairs, final placings<$>: 1. Vera Petty-Roman Smolski, 2. Alan Douglas-Jane Smith, 3. David Pereira-Sheena Rayner, 4. David Sykes-Sally Sykes, 5. Bill Pare-Nea Willits, 6. John Glynn-Elizabeth McKee, 7. Lyn O’Neill-Michael Bickley, 8. Eddie Kyme-Stephanie Kyme, 9. Jean Johnson-Tony Saunders, 10. Marge Way-Kevin Comeau.

Monday morning, May 29, N/S: 1. Gillian Gray-Mary Arton, 2. Wendy Gray-Richard Gray, 3. Janette Zuill-Bea Williams. E/W: 1. Louise Rodger-Greta Marshall, 2. Gwen Christensen-Enid Hyland, 3. Dorry Lusher-Peggy Sinclair.

Wednesday afternoon, N/S<$>: 1. Elizabeth McKee-Lisa Burland, 2. Nea Willits-Louise Rodger, 3. Jean Wakefield-Mary Jane Coelho. E/W: 1. Jean Johnson-Lyn O’Neill, 2. Dolly Winwick-Aida Bostelmann, 3. Gwen Christensen-Enid Hyland.

Wednesday evening, N/S<$>: 1. Cliff Alison-Stephen Cosham, 2. Mabs Turner-Stan Turner, 3. Alex Moir-Dorothy Moir. E/W: 1. Annabella Fraser-Dee Griffiths, 2. Sara Zug-Peter Jones, 3. Judy Patton-Rosie Smith.

Friday, N/S: 1. David Cordon-John Burville, 2. Stephanie Kyme-Judith Bussell, 3. Joseph Wakefield-Jean Johnson. E/W: 1. Vera Petty-Roman Smolski, 2. Nea Willits-Penny Garrison, 3. Lyn O’Neill-Audrey Smith.

Saturday, N/S: 1. Michael Bickley-Tony Saunders, 2. Jean Johnson-Margaret Way, 3. Nea Willits-Judith Bussell. E/W: 1. Vera Petty-Roman Smolski, 2. Sheena Rayner-Magda Farag, 3. Stephen Ball-Lynanne Bolton.