In the first match of the Glasgow Summer League Anna and I were part of a team of eight playing aggregate. A 7 o'clock start is always pushing it for us to get the kids to bed, and this time I had the extra excitement of directing a match for my Juniors that started at 630. So at any lulls in our match on Bridge Base I looked over to Real Bridge to see how the pupils were doing.
It didn't prove too distracting and I think Anna and I concentrated well. What helped our concentration was that the opponents gave us the occasional gift, which is always welcome. Although we didn't get many good cards (and lost our table by 1450 points) I think we had the better of it, and the other North-Souths were all behind by around 3000 points.
This was the most interesting board:
East opened a top-notch weak 3♠ passed round to me. I'd much rather play 4♣ than defend 3♠, so I bid it. However, my reasoning is faulty, as any time partner has any sort of hand that gives 4♣ play I'm going to get raised, as happened here. Anna bid 4♥, which is a good bid and much better than 5♣. If I have the strength I've promised for a four-level overcall and a decent fragment in Hearts 4♥ rates to be OK. However, I have neither, and 4♥ was something of a struggle. After the defence found their cross-ruff Anna lost the first eight tricks, but recovered well for 4♥-5.
West said she didn't double as we would likely run somewhere else, probably 5♣x-2, and maybe I should bid 5♣ the first time. I just felt like keeping it as low as possible once I'd overbid once.
Five-off non-vulnerable for a score of -250 wasn't too bad (this was aggregate scoring), especially as they looked to be making +140 for 3♠=. But in fact our team-mates Anna and Neil saved us, as Neil opened the East hand 4♠ and made it. The defence ought to have two Hearts, one Diamond and a trump, but it's not easy for South to cash both top Hearts, and in fact on Neil's table one Heart loser went on the ♣A and when South got back in with his trump he played a Diamond, giving the contract.
In the other match East played 3♠-1 and 4♠-1.
In my other featured board Anna and I defended well to beat a strong NT:
Declarer has six tricks on top so we have to be very careful not to give it away. Anna led the ♦A, and I discouraged with the ♦8. She switched to a Club, and later when I got in with Spades I led a Diamond through, for one off (declarer can make by leading a Spade up directly up to the King, but had already cashed all the Hearts by then and was stuck in hand).
On the other table playing a Strong NT East was allowed to make 1NT from a low Diamond lead. The pairs playing a weak NT opened 1♥ and played 2♥= or 3♥-1.
Overall Team Rowan/Buchanan won the match by 2210 for a 12-4 win.
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