SBU Bronze League Week 3

This was the debut of my S2 players in the SBU Bronze League. They did well, with plenty of good stuff. The lunch-time before we'd done a lesson on ruffing in dummy, and I was pleased to say they took it on board and did lots of ruffing in the match. In fact, maybe too much ruffing, as there were a couple of times they could have drawn trumps but didn't. They played the first 8 boards, then in the second half myself and the more experienced S3 took over. We did slightly worse, but did well on this deal:

I opened 1♥ and Isla correctly replied 2NT showing 10-12 balanced. I raised to 3NT, and West led the King of Diamonds.

At this point I encourage the pupils to count sure tricks. You have 2 Spades (Ace and King), 0 Hearts, 1 Diamond (the Ace you just won), 3 Clubs. That only makes six.

Where are the other three coming from? You can get two more from Diamonds (the Ace-King are already gone, knock out the Queen and you have the next two). You can get one more from Hearts. What can go wrong? In theory, nothing. You have no weak suits so have plenty of time to establish your three extra tricks.

Our young declarer got me worried by cashing a couple of Spades and a couple of Clubs. Those are not the suits to build extra tricks. However, right at the last minute, she switched to Hearts then finally played Diamonds to secure nine tricks. Well played!

This was a great relief. We bid and made a game. This was a rare flat board but we lost the match overall.