Peggy Bayer 2026 - Match 1 & 2

This year the U21 and U26 Bridge Home Internationals are in Scotland, meaning we have the honour of providing two teams for each event. I am the non-playing captain for both the U21 teams, called Scotland and SBU, of which many are from The High School of Glasgow, and many are considerably under twenty-one. 

Event Website including Player Photos, System Cards and a link to Kibitz (which is just the U26 event).

Before the match I had to drive to Prestwick train station to pick up a couple of players. The airport seemed completely deserted, but I finally found them waiting the other side of a glass partition. I couldn't work out how to get there and in the end had to run down an up-escalator to get there - it was a bit like the Travelator in Gladiators but in reverse.

I ended up picking up three extra Scottish players and one English guy joined two to, cramming seven of us in the Zafira. Not sure they realised that's they were in for. Because of this I ended up being late for the team meeting I'd called, and there was precious little time for me to inspire the team. Luckily Niamh and Rachel said they'd already been inspired by a member of the public.

Captain Artem passes on some wisdom

The first match has now kicked off, Scotland against SBU, so my two teams playing each other. A guaranteed win (and a guaranteed loss). For Scotland our most experienced team of Niamh & Rachel alongside Isla & Eunice (all High School of Glasgow S6 pupils, 17 years old). For SBU the lead pair of Artem & Shiva alongside Emmett and Anya (three HSOG, one Hutcheson's, all S3, so 14 years old).

I pulled up a chair to watch the live action. My West player had sorted his cards into five suits, so I thought I'd stick around and see what he ended up doing. His partner then underled an Ace and I decided it would be more relaxing to go next door and not watch any more.

I will feature the first board of the match (and on Sunday, the very last). It's a good one, a nice slam hand. I can see what happened to the U26 team on RealBridge. The Scotland U26 team bid successfully to 6C, gaining against the U26 SBU team who settled in 3NT+2. 

Not a convincing auction from Antone and Kevin but a good result! The Irish North-South bid a less good 6S and the Welsh 4S+2. 

In our match I saw our North (Artem) open 2C. He ended in a decent spot of 4S, making twelve tricks. On the other table our most experienced North-South pair did something strange and ended in 4H, which luckily just made too.

At the end of match one it was 32-29 IMPs in favour of the senior team. Lots of games bid and made, so well done to both teams.

In the other two games England drubbed Wales and Ireland drubbed Northern Ireland, so our teams are currently 3rd and 4th!

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I'm now waiting for the second match to finish - which isn't until half eleven.

Reflections on the hotel - it seems nice, although it's quite an old building and I've not yet learned my way around yet. When I open a door I'm never quite sure what will be on the other side. There are traditional keys for the doors, and needless to say one of my team has already locked herself out in. 

Just before the second match started a different Scotland Junior came to see me to say there could be a problem, as one of the pool cues has 'broken'. Behind her two English players mimed someone snapping a cue on their knees. Apparently an apology email has been written.

We are now in action for the second round. Two tough matches, against Ireland for the Scotland team and England for the SBU team. This time I managed to stay to watch two live boards before leaving. 

I saw Niamh and Rachel defend accurately against a 3NT contract, setting up and cashing their Heart suit. On the same board debutants Andrew and Mayoan bid well to stop in 2NT, but declarer didn't have time to set up his long suit and went several off.

Next board the youngsters bid to a spirited 5C. Look at the Club suit, a classic combination:

If they split are 2-2 you are home. If they split 3-1, then you can survive here if you start with the Ace, dropping South's singleton Jack, then finesse against North's Qxx. But our declarer began with the King and had to go one off. Bad luck, keep bidding the games. But bid 3NT instead of 5 of a minor.

I'll be happy with any victory points out of these matches.

The master tactician planning the next win

The results are in. Here is one of our successes against the England team:

You can see that 5D from North suffers from three top losers. If they don't take them, you can throw two of dummy's Hearts on the Spade winners, but there is still work to do. Well done Artem bidding and making the contract for a ten IMP gain.

Here's one Andrew & Maoyan did well on, bidding and making 4S:

After West opens the auction went 1S-3S; 4S and this is a nice friendly deal in that you can draw trumps and still have plenty of trumps left for ruffing. Making five Spades, four Hearts, one Club. In fact, an eagle-eyed declarer can make an eleventh trick if he notices the Queen-Jack of Hearts falling.

The other 14 boards didn't go so well, and overall the SBU team lost to England by about 100 IMPs translating to a 20-0 trouncing. The Scotland team did better and lost to Ireland 15-5. This is the current table: