THE Mixed Pairs Championship that ended at the Bermuda Bridge Club on Monday resulted in a hugely popular win for Rachael Gosling and Craig Hutton. Close behind in second were Harry Kast and Janice Trott, which was also a great result for this pair, followed by hot favourites Roman Smolski and Vera Petty in third, Lynanne Bolton and Steve Ball in fourth and David Pereira and Gertie Barker in fifth.

Special mention also for Stefan Juliusburger and Elisabeth McKee who were leading after the first session.

The win was popular not only because of the popularity of the two players but it also represents a real breakthrough for a whole group of players who, along with Rachael and Craig, are beginning to come to the forefront in major events.

I hear that the winners were feted by all present, including the fancied pairs, and it is great to see the events played in that spirit. So to all the ‘newer’ players in which I include Craig, Rachael, Lynanne, Steve, Gertie, Stefan and Elisabeth — a huge well done !

Congrats and better luck next time also to the more experienced group of Harry, Janice, Roman , Vera and David P.

Bidding at bridge is certainly the most difficult and important part of the game, especially at the top level. Newer and intermediate players soon realise that while one has to learn bidding struggle and values, distribution often changes the entire complexion of a hand.

There are few better hands in the world to display the impact of distribution than the famous James Bond hand from Ian Fleming’s Moonraker.North

[spade]7 6 5 4 3 2

[heart]6 5 4 3 2

[diamond]J 2

[club]None

West East

[spade]None [spade]J10 9 8

[heart]None [heart]10 9 8 7

[diamond]10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 [diamond]None

[club]A Q 10 8 7 [club]6 5 4 3 2

South

[spade]A K Q

[heart]A K Q J

[diamond]A K Q

[club]K J 9Contract: 7[club] Redoubled by West

Opening Lead: [heart]3

M calls James into his office with an unusual assignment. It seems that there is this fellow, Hugo Drax, who is thought to be cheating at bBridge at M’s club, but no one has any evidence. M asks James to play against Drax and see what he is up to.

Well, Bond does go to M’s club and quickly discovers what Drax is doing. He has a shiny cigarette case that he lies on the table and when he deals he can see everybody’s cards as he deals them. Bond also notices that his unusual bids and plays only occur when he is the dealer.

Bond decides to teach Drax a lesson. He prepared a deck ahead of time which he slipped into the game during the final rubber of the night. It was the infamous Duke of Cumberland hand, which Ely Culbertson used to spoof his quick trick bidding methods.

The hand was named after Butcher Cumberland, son of George III, who lost $100,000 betting on it at the casino in Bath, southwest England. He was known as Butcher because he commanded the English army at the battle of Culloden Moor n 1746.

This was the last battle fought on British soil and one of the bloodiest, the battle which drove Bonnie Prince Charlie from England forever. The battle orders were written on the back of the 9. That is why the 9 is known as the “Curse of Scotland”.

Bond held the West cards and opened 7 clubs! (Yes — suspend belief!) Drax, sitting South, could not wait for the bidding to come to him so he could say double. He was positively drooling when Bond redoubled.

The opening heart lead was ruffed by Bond and he ruffed a diamond in dummy. After Bond successfully finessed the 10 Drax began to sense what was happening to him. Bond ruffed another diamond in dummy and finessed the Q. He ruffed another diamond in dummy, setting up the suit. Bond ruffed a spade in his hand, cashed the A and claimed the balance. Drax started to mouth a word (cheat), but thought better of it.

Oooh — that boy James! Just good at everything, he was!