Team Buchanan vs St Mungo

This was the second match of the season for the newly formed Buchanan team, but the first outing for John and I. Last week e had a practice night at the club, and have also been using the Cuebids App. It was therefore good that we didn't have any bidding misunderstandings, and played a reasonable game. Although I was able to remember the more complicated parts of our system I still haven't quite got the philosophy of playing five-card majors and 2/1, and sometimes I'm surprised by how weak John's hand is.

The first hand I played was 4♠x-2 after John raised my 1♠ opener straight to game on a zero-count. Unfortunately this time the opponents weren't making anything (except 3NT, so technically we got the par score). Near the end I opened 1♥ with a nice 17 count and after John made a simple raise went straight to game. It had no play, unless an opponent revoked, which they did, but we were nice and let them take it back.

The other three hands I played all went off one or two, where if I'd have guessed right I'd have made it. Guessing right is the hallmark of good players, and I didn't have it tonight. This was my only highlight:

Love all S deal ♠ A K Q x x ♥ Q x x ♦ x ♣ A K x x ♠ x x ♥ A K x x x x ♦ A x x ♣ J x

Danny John W N E S 1♥ - 4♦* - 4♥ - 4NT* - 5♦ - 7♥

John opened the the South hand 1♥ and I knew that the only cards I cared about were the missing keycards; ♥AK and ♦A. But for some reason I feared an immediate Blackwood might be misunderstood so went through an unnecessary splinter. When I found John did have the keycards I duly bid 7♥.

West led a Heart. With 12 top tricks the obvious thing is ruff a Diamond for the 13th. So win the first Heart in dummy with the Queen, then cross to the Ace of Diamonds, ruff a Diamond, and cross back to hand to draw trumps. Although neither John or I spotted this at the time trumps were 2-2 and he duly made 7♥=. The other tables all made 13 tricks in 5♥, 6♥ and 6♥, so a good board for Team Rowan.

Overall we lost the match by a mere 1000 points, leading to a 10-6 loss.

Maccabi vs Rowan

Very enjoyable bridge last night, against good opponents (Steve Male and Marilynsil). It felt like they got a lot right, bidding a slam missed at two other tables and twice getting to a making five of a minor after we'd pre-empted. We also got caught in 2♣x, when I would say Anna needlessly volunteered a 2♣ rebid on a five-card suit, but then I'd entered the bidding with 2 points so must take quite a lot of the blame too:

I would definitely reply 1♥ without the double and decided to do it anyway. When Anna rebid 2♣ I assumed she had a very long Club suit. I also knew that she was likely void in Hearts, as I have seven and both opponents have them. Removing to 2♥ wouldn't help here, it's equally bad (but might not get doubled). I did think about redoubling 2♣, which Anna assures me she would indeed have taken as an escape. That might get us to the decent spot of 2♠, which can make lots of tricks on a cross-ruff.

At the other tables the contracts were 4♠x-1 by South (helpful ♦A lead), 3♠-1 and 2♥-2 by North. So not a good board for North-South.

Perhaps chastened by this misadventure we bid rather conservatively, and played 3 of a major many times. This was nearly always the right thing to do, as the cards lay badly, though didn't feel right at aggregate scoring.

Here's one we did bid game on, albeit the wrong game:

Playing a strong NT West opened 1♦. With 19 points I'm too strong to overcall so started with a double. In response Anna jumped to 2♥. We weren't clear on whether this jump shows a decent hand (7-10 say, with 4+ Hearts), or just good Hearts. I bid my Spade suit hoping Anna could rebid her Hearts if she did have length, but instead she supported my Spades with only two. My slam inquiry of 4♣ was quickly closed down and I was left to play 4♠.

It takes extra concentration to play what you know is the wrong contract.

I got a Diamond lead. With no extra entries to dummy I can't ruff out the Hearts, so have to rely on getting them right first time (either a finesse or dropping the Queen). But first I drew trumps. When they split 4-2 I had three trump losers, but this wasn't necessarily fatal, as the defence hadn't touched Clubs yet. My plan was to get rid of the last trump then rely on Hearts coming in. Even though it meant further weakening my trumps I played a fourth round to draw East's master trump, so that he couldn't ruff in during the Hearts. This was a rare time to break The Rule of One and draw a master trump.

Once trumps were drawn I played the King of Hearts and lead up to dummy. Crunch time. I knew that the Club honours were split (with KQJ West would have lead one) so to have enough points to open I thought West had to have the Queen of Hearts. I also knew she had 5 Diamonds and 2 Spades, so my only hope was 5422 shape with doubleton Queen of Hearts. Not impossible. I therefore played Hearts from the top. It didn't work, and because I'd drawn that extra trump I went three off. But I took consolation from the fact I think I played it the right way.

The one good thing about the Heart finesse failing was that it meant 4♥ was unlikely to make. However, on one other table North made 1♠+2, when South only replied 1♥ to the double, and on another North made 1♠+1 when he just overcalled instead of doubling. On the last table North made 3NT+3, after the Heart finesse miraculously won (West ducked the Queen of Hearts, perhaps a misclick). So 4♥ wasn't the popular contract I assumed.

Overall we lost our table by 110 and the match by 1230.

Glasgow League: Rowan vs Metropole

Anna and I had a good set here, mostly in defence. I bid pretty boldly and stole a few contracts. This was our highlight:

I have a great hand as East and was poised to make a Michael's bid but instead opened 1♥. Surprisingly Anna replied 1♠ and I splintered in Clubs. My aim was now to get Anna to bid Blackwood so I could show my Club void. This all worked out well, albeit with some big pauses in the auction while we both tried to remember the responses. After my 5NT Anna knew I had a void, obviously in Clubs, so she knew her Ace there was worthless and signed off in 6♠.

This made comfortably, as it did on every other table. I've called it our highlight though as we were the only pair to investigate 7♠, and would have been able to bid it if it was there.

Overall Team Rowan lost the match 9-7.

Rowan vs Hamilton

In our first league match of the season it became apparent that the children now go to bed a little later, and the 7pm start time was pushing it. We had to have a break after four boards so Alex could get a bedtime story. Then, as I was in the middle of a tricky 6♦ contract, I heard a little voice say from downstairs "Have you even taken any tricks yet?". It was Zoe, watching Anna's screen.

As it happens, I took all 13 tricks:

In the auction Anna's 1NT rebid showed 15-17, and my 2♣ was Checkback Stayman, asking for extra length in the majors. I was hoping for a Heart fit, but when Anna bid a negative 2♦ I knew that with short majors she was likely to have at least something in Diamonds, so felt fairly confident bidding the slam. In fact we could easily have hand a grand slam on if she has the perfect cards.

In 6♦ I got a Heart lead. Prospects are good. I drew trumps in two rounds and now the contract is secure. I think the best line for an overtrick is to test if the Club Queen drops, then if not try the Spade finesse. That led to 6♦+1.

On the other table they stopped in 5♦+2, after some good pre-emmpting in Spades from our team-mates Colin and Sheena Hamilton.

In the other match Jill and Barbara had no problem getting to 6♦+1, and on the fourth table the contract was the rather shakier 6♥=.

Now here is a pair of hands the indicate quite a gulf in the bidding style of my partner and I:

I have responded to Anna's takeout double with a free bid of 2♥, despite only having four Hearts and a bad hand. Maybe I should have said nothing. Later Anna bid 3♥ and I had to play it. Against ruthless defence from John Wilson and Kenneth Crooks the defence took the first eight tricks fro 3♥-4 (only good thing is one other table played 3♥-5).

It's unlucky to go four down, but we have certainly overcompeted with 3♥.

Compare with this deal from our recent Scottish Cup defeat:

This time I've made a takeout double, but Anna has still passed, with a much better hand than the one I bid 2♥ on in the deal above.

Overall we lost the league match 13-3.

Rowan/Buchanan vs Stirling

Anna and I didn't really get the cards in this match, but we still did plenty of bidding. We played more than our fair share of contracts, mostly with me declarer, giving Anna time to eat her dinner and do some yoga. Overbidding nonvulnerable was generally a winning strategy, although I did get a bit tired of trumps breaking 5-1.

On the very last board I faced a classic dilemma of deciding whether to accept partner's 3NT suggestion or insist on my major. My general rule is to always play the major if you know you have at least an eight card fit. But I didn't do that here.

West opened a heavy 3♣ and when it came round to Anna she doubled. I responded 3♥ and Anna bid 3NT, which I left in.

In 3NT you only have three Spades, two Clubs, and two Diamonds, so it's clear you're going to need some Heart tricks. The only way this is going to happen is if Hearts are 2-2 (else you can never get to dummy), and if Hearts are 2-2 you might as well be in 4♥ (barring the Spade ruff).

Here the Hearts did behave, but as West had a surprisingly good hand he got back in twice and 3NT lost lots of Club tricks. If that wasn't the case then 3NT might still have made - and it's also not totally clear when East wins his Heart trick that he must return a Diamond and not a Spade. However, on both the tables that tried 3NT East found the Diamond switch and the result was 3NT-4. The tables that bid 4♥ both made it.

I'm not sure if Anna's decision to double first affected my choice to leave in 3NT, as I wasn't sure what her bidding meant. She thought bidding this way showed a stronger hand, I thought it showed at least one four card major (in this case four Spades). I was mainly put off bidding 4♥ as I thought trumps might split badly or they might get a ruff (and I secretly hoped Anna had a running Diamond suit).

What should it mean to double then bid 3NT here?

Overall honours were about even on our table but we lost to a strong Stirling side 14-2.

Rowan/Buchanan vs Metropole

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.

Rowan vs St Mungos

This has been a relegation season for Team Rowan, finishing bottom of Division 1. For our last match Anna and I put in a good performance. With some good defence and some fortuitous overbidding I would say we were slightly above par on our table, at least until the last two boards were we missed a couple of difficult games. It helped that the speed of play was quite fast, which certainly helped my concentration.

On Board 10 I was faced with an absolute textbook hand. How do you play 3NT on the lead of the 6 of Hearts?

The first thing to note is that you don't have enough time to set up the Clubs. You have to lose the lead twice, which means they'll have knocked out your Ace-King of Hearts. You will then lose three Hearts and two Clubs.

If Hearts are 4-4 you are OK though. I therefore ducked the first Heart. When South followed with the 4 of Hearts on the secound round it looked like Hearts were 5-3 (at least). Over to Spades then. I unblocked the Diamonds (perhaps a mistake) and played a Spade to the Ace then a low Spade. I planned to duck this, but North popped up with the Jack. I can now establish a Spade trick by force, but never get to it, as I have no more entries to hand. So I had to duck this Spade. This so confused South he overtook with the ♠Q and I fortuitiously had nine tricks.

The best line in thie Spade suit in isolation is to play the Ace-King. This gains if anyone has honour-doubleton, and I'm always OK if they are 3-3. My line appeared to give benefits when Hearts are 4-4, but actually just messed up my entries.

On the other table my counterpart Mike McGinley got it right - just winning the fist Heart with the King and playing the top Spades.

Overall we lost the match 10-6, which for the team that's bottom of the league was quite a good result.

Rowan vs Kenmure Lions

A more relaxing game tonight. Afterwards when we thanked each other on the final board the words nice, pleasant and pleasureable were used.

Our opponents were less agressive than in previous matches, which worked well for them here:

With North-South silent Anna and I got to 3NT. Anna has a singleton Spade and knows I have only three, but reasoned that 3NT was probably still our best contract. And if my Hearts and Spades were the other way round it would have been. As it was the defence efficiently took the first five tricks for 3NT-1.

At the one other table where North-South passed the result was also 3NT-1. When South overcalled 1♠ at one table they played 3♠-2, and only once did East-West get to the top spot of 4♥. Well bid Neil and Anna. On a Spade lead I think the best play in 4♥ is to duck the first three rounds, but with trumps 3-3 everything works.

Anna's bold 3NT there might have been influenced by an earlier board, where we floundered in 3♣+1 with 3NT making. But I think with the hand above Anna can afford to bid 2♥ on her last turn, then when I fail to bid NT she'll know Spades aren't stopped.

Finally here's a hand where the opponents showed good technique:

On Anna's King of Diamonds lead declarer is in trouble, at risk of losing one Spade, two Diamonds, and the Heart finesse. But declarer correctly played on Clubs before tackling trumps, and could discard a Diamond loser to make exactly. Even if Clubs are 4-2 this play doesn't cost anything. I'm not sure but I think it might be even safer to cash the Ace of Hearts first, then if Clubs are 4-2 and an opponent ruffs they could be ruffing with the ♥K.

Three times the result was 4♥= and the fourth table played 5♥-2.

Overall we narrowly lost the match 8.5-7.5

Rowan vs Wanderers

Our newly promoted Team Rowan have lost their last three matches 16-0, including this one. On our table Anna and I were up against Derek Sanders and Gints Freimanis, who I have played alongside a little in the SOL league. They gave us a sound beating, getting to and making a lot of games.

Anna and I played OK. We made two mistakes failing to get a game, plus I expect our defence wasn't as challenging as it could have been. 

However, at the start of the match I'd say we were briefly ahead. Near the start they drove to slam with a flat 10 count opposite a 2NT opener (6♥-1), then we had a go at our own slam:

My first bid of Jacoby 2NT showed a game forcing raise in Spades. Anna could have shown a second suit or a singleton, but instead went for 3NT which for us shows six losers. When I bid 4♣ I was pleased to see her cuebid Diamonds, then I signed off lacking a Heart control. Anna had one so bid on, getting us to the decent spot of 6♠.

At least it's decent until East led a Heart. At that point there appears to be two inescapable losers. There is one legitimate line of play - to play Diamonds from the top hoping that one defender has ♦Jxx and also has the ♠A singleton. When they ruff your fourth Diamond away goes your last Heart. Anna instead went for sneaking a trump through before playing Diamonds, but it didn't work. Three of the four tables played 6♠-1, the other 4♠+1. The leads were a Club or a Spade, after which declarer must have thought they were going to make 12 tricks until they found the bad Diamond split.

Next I found myself in a tricky 4♠.

The auction is confusing but we ended in a decent spot. West led a Heart and you can see dummy and declarer have mirror distribution. This suggests an endplay.

After East took his two Hearts he switched to a Club. I won with the Ace (saving the ♣J), drew trumps, got the Diamonds right, and finally conceded a trump to West. He had the choice of leading Clubs round to my ♣KJ or giving me a ruff and discard. Either way it's 4♠=.

Except that's not what happened. After taking the first Heart East found an immediate Club switch. Now I'm scuppered. When West gets back in he can safely play another Heart across to East who plays the killing second Club. One off. It was great defence from both of them.

On the other tables it was 4♠-2 twice (declarer getting the Diamonds wrong) and once 5♣-4 from the Wanderers North-South. So in fact this board was a rare profitable one for Team Rowan.

Not making that game (but knowing how to) was the high point for me. After that we slipped somewhat, culminating in a 6000+ point defeat overall. 

Although the defeat was comprehensive there was some luck involved, both for us and against, as these two hands demonstrate:

Gints and Derek play a relatively simple system, and 2♦ was natural (and not game forcing). Anna therefore felt she could weigh in with 2♥. It's one of those occasions where bidding 3♥ might actually have been safer (as I won't play her for having so much defence). When the opponents got to 3NT, I fancied a double. I know that they've chosen to bid 3NT, but I figure with my Spades and Clubs sitting over declarer (and presumably partner has smoe Diamonds over West) it's not going to play well at all.

Plus, on the last hand they doubled me in 4♥ when things were sitting badly and I went two off, giving me more confidence it was the right thing to do.

However, here the Diamonds are running and declarer has 10 tricks in 3NT (the Spades are blocked but after taking all his winners declarer can play a Club from dummy and ends up with a tenth trick).

West passed the double of 3NT but East removed to 4♣. I felt obliged to double that, and also 4♦ when that came round.

This needs us to find at least one ruff to beat it, and we did. Anna led a Club to my Queen, and I returned a Heart and got a ruff. I still have my ♣A for one down, a great relief as I thought they were about to make 4♦x. As Anna pointed out afterwards I can give her a Club ruff, and maybe should have, but thought it might be declarer with a singleton Club so didn't want to risk trying to cash my ♣A getting it ruffed and letting the contract make.

On the other table West opened a very strong 3♦ and played there. The defence did get both ruffs for one off, so our gain was not what I hoped (but better than them making 3NTx+1).

On this last board I felt hard done by as it was the one board that the opposition didn't bid game on, despite having the values for it:

Anna's cheeky 1♠ opening left them in only 2♥, but the 5-0 trump break means 9 tricks are the limit. At the other table Colin and Sheena did well to find 4♥ but lost out as it went one off.

Rowan vs Stirling

The Glasgow league matches consist of four tables. In this match against high-flying Stirling when the first two tables had finished we were 310 points up. But when the second match, featuring Anna and I, finished, we were 5000 points down. It's fair to say we were not on top form, or even on medium form. 

It was a demolition. Of the 24 boards there were only two where we achieved a result above par. I was guilty of pushing too hard, against some very disciplined opponents. They defended well, we played poorly, and the result was inevitable. 

Here are three of the worst:

Against 2NT Anna lead a Diamond to my Queen and I returned a Diamond to the Ace. Declarer then ducked a Spade to me. I don't really want to lead any suit, but had worked out that declarer likely only had two Hearts, possibly ♥KQ, so a Heart return was safe. I tried the ♥9, which declarer ducked to Anna's Queen. She cashed her Diamond and that was four tricks to the defence.

At this point I strongly suspect declarer is down to a singleton King in Hearts, so if Anna returns a Heart it's one down, and a great defence. But I foolishly threw a low Club, encouraging Clubs. I was just thinking about Anna making a safe exit, rather than realising we actually had enough tricks to beat the contract straight away. The result was therefore 2NT=, when it was nearly one down. A missed opportunity.

On other tables East-West variously made 2NT and 3♥.

This part-score battle soon became irrelevant, as we gave away a few large penalties and one massive one. Here is an example of fine judgement by the opponents:

My 5♦ bid is a calculated overbid, luring West into 5♠, which goes off one. But instead he doubled me for -500.

At the other tables the results were 4♠=, 5♦x-2 and 4♠x=.

Finally one where I thought the opponents were lucky, but actually I misdefended:

My 4♣ is another 'pressure-bid' that backfired as they got to 5♦. Anna cashed the King of Clubs then switched to a Heart. Declarer naturally finessed, and I correctly switched to a Spade. But declarer immediately went up with the ♠A, and was able to draw turmps via a finesse, then cross to dummy's Hearts to discard all his Spades. Note it doesn't actually matter that Hearts split 5-1, as on the run of trumps North has to discard a Heart (or the King of Spades).

The correct defence now appears simple. We need three tricks to beat the contract, so need a Spade. On Anna's ♣K lead I should overtake and return a Spade. Then it's surely one off.

On the other tables the results were 3♦=, 4♦= and 3♣+1 the other way.

Overall, a crushing defeat.

Rowan vs Hamilton

Last night Anna and I took on Hamilton in what is likely to be a relegation battle in Glasgow Division One. We had a pretty good game, albeit with a few mistakes. Early on we bid aggressively to push them into 5♦, which I then doubled:

You can see that declarer has three losers, a Spade, Heart and eventually a Club, but the defence has to be very careful. Anna made a good start with a Club. Declarer won in hand and drew trumps (I threw a discouraging 9 of Hearts), then led a Spade up. Anna took her Ace and it's decision time.

The King of Spades is now a winner in dummy and declarer is likely out of Spades in hand, so has a discard. Anna therefore took her Ace of Hearts. This turned out to be fatal, as it set up declarer's ♥K for a Club discard in dummy. Three losers became two and the game made.

Taking the Ace of Hearts is essential if declarer started with a singleton Heart, but that relies on me starting with seven Hearts which is unlikely (though I did have six). Cashing the Ace of Hearst doesn't cost if I have the King (though I'd signalled that I didn't), but does costs on this layout. That meant we conceded 5♦x= for -550.

On two other tables North-South made 4♦= and 5♦-1 (at the same crunch point West played another Club), and on the fourth East-West were allowed to play the contract, in 5♥, which went four off after a failed Spade finesse. So not a good board for Team Rowan.

When you open 2NT and it gets passed out you are normally in trouble, as 20 points opposite 0-3 is not a good combination. On this one I put down a 0 point dummy:

2NT is not a good contract. You have five top tricks in your hand, with hope of developing a long Spade and maybe a Diamond or Club.

The defence led the ♥7, to the ♥2, ♥J, ♥A (should South know from the lead that partner has the ♥8 and play low?). Anna set to work on the Spades, starting with a low one (it is better to play the Ace?). Although Spades didn't break, her Ten of Hearts in dummy somehow became high, giving her an extra trick there, and the entry for a Spade finesse, and when she managed a long Club too that was eight tricks. That felt like a great result, 2NT= when it could easily have been two off vulnerable.

What's funny though is that on all four tables the result was 2NT=. It is really so hard to defend against? Maybe it is.

In the second half we beat them in a couple of games and stole a 4♠, when they were easily making 4♥/5♥/6♥. They bid a tight 6♥ which needs trumps 2-2 (they were) so things felt about even.

Our most pleasing board was the very last one:

I considered passing out 1NT but decided to show my 5-4 shape with a natural 2♣. Anna liked this very much and took it to 4♠. This got a Heart lead and has excellent chances. I tried to play it carefully, setting up the Clubs before drawing trumps (if Clubs are 3-1 and they get a ruff I don't mind), but actually everything sits nicely and I couldn't fail but make 4♠+1. The other tables played 2♠+3, 2♠+3 and 1NT=.

Overall we lost the match 12-4.

Rowan vs Bonnyton

Last night Anna and I played a Glasgow Division 1 league match against Bonnyton, a strong team who include many members of the David Shenkin team.

On our table we had 24 boards against cblackeyes and Bbigelow, who played a fast and accurate game. We were on good form, and didn't make many mistakes. But our opponents had the cards so we didn't have much to do. They stretched to bid games and compete in partscores, so Anna and I did a lot of defending.

The first board was typical:

It's not common to overcall a 2NT opening, but I felt like wading in. I could have maybe improvised a 3NT bid (undiscussed, but presumably minors?) but stuck with my best suit and 3♣. South had a think then pulled out 6♥. This is not without risk, as if I have ♣KQ and an outside Ace it's going down. However, this time he hit the jackpot with a very suitable dummy. ♥AKxx isn't bad support.

South could have bid an invitational 5♥ (which here North would have had an easy raise of), but I like the direct 6♥ too.

I thought about doubling 6♥ to try and get a Spade lead, but this has two problems. Firstly, we don't play Lightner doubles. Secondly, even if I do get a Spade ruff the score is just 6♥x= instead of 6♥+1.

Anna led a Club and declarer soon wrapped up 13 tricks. Our team-mates David and Heather also found 6♥ (after East overcalled a conventional 2♦ opening with 2NT). In the other match Bonnyton had an unopposed auction to 7♥ (well done Steve Male and Martin Diamond), and on the last table East came in with 4NT so North-South stopped in 5♥. So definitely a good hand for interfering in the auction.

If I do show both minors perhaps Anna would have sacrificed in 7♦. This has four top losers (-800), with maybe a fifth if the defence get their ♦Q (-1100). So not a great sacrifice.

Overall this was a good board for Bonnyton, and their extra 1000 points turned out to be roughly the final difference, and they ran out 11-5 winners. As we are minnows in Division 1 we accepted that as not a bad result.

Over the evening Anna and I only made two games, but we did collect +500 for this defence:

I made a 3♣ overcall, which I thought would probably be fairly ineffective, and South bid a prompt 3NT. The ♣Qxx stopper doesn't look like much, but even if Anna has ♣Axx and I have ♣Kxxxxxx it's going to be enough. But not this time.

Anna led a low Club, and I won the King and returned a Club. There's a high danger of us blocking the suit, but luckily I returned the ♣8, and when Anna had cleared the suit she played the ♣9 to my ♣T. On the run of Clubs declarer is in trouble, and after I cleared the Spades Anna took the last two, for a splendid 3NT-5.

Anna did very well not to double, as the opponents then have an easy escape to 5♦ (+1).

On the other table Bonnyton were East-West and played 5♣-4, for a total of 9 undertricks on the board. In the other match is was 3NT= and 3NT-1, so a good one for Team Rowan.

Glasgow Division 1: Rowan vs Buchanan

For our second match in Division 1 it was a sort of derby between two teams based at the Buchanan Bridge Club.

Anna and I had an unusually solid game, and as Anna said afterwards "I still felt sharp at the end". I couldn't see any full mistakes that we made, just this board that we could have done better on:

I have the East hand. Although the hand isn't ideal for a weak three (or even good) the fact I was second-in-hand vulnerable convinced me it was worth opening. In this position and vulnerability you want to have a decent hand, which I felt I had.

The hand did indeed belong to us, and Anna has a nice hand. You can see that 4♥ would go very well. I have three very useful cards for Anna; the ♠K, ♥K and ♦J none of which she is expecting. With only a Club singleton she felt she had to pass, and I was stuck in 3♣.

South lead the ♠J covered by the Queen and Ace. To stop a Spade ruff North returned a trump, to my Ten and Ace. At that point south switched to a low Diamond. I have a choice of taking a simple finesse in Diamonds or a ruffing finesse. I guessed right to take the ruffing finesse. With Clubs 3-1 I then just made it.

However, I was well aware that 4♥ would have made (especially with the ♥QJ coming down).

On the other table in our match the auction was the same. Against 3♣ the defence never returned a trump so declarer could ruff a Spade and make it without guessing Diamonds.

In the other match both Easts also opened 3♣ but the Wests responded 3♥ and they got to game (4♥+1). Maybe those pairs had more precise agreements about opening a Weak Three (so East guaranteed some strength) or maybe just more optimistic Wests.

Overall then a flat board for Team Rowan.

The rest of the match was typically close. Anna and I stole a couple of games on our table (and caught them in 3♣x-4), but our team-mates were unlucky in bidding two slams on a finesse that both failed. At the end of 24 boards on 4 tables we lost by just 80 points. That meant a loss by 8.5-7.5, but (mainly by virtue of having played more matches) we are currently top of the league!

Glasgow Division 1: Rowan vs Metropole

Last night we began a new season with Team Rowan in Division 1, having just got promoted. As our captain said, there are some very good teams in this division, but the worst that can happen is we get relegated again. Our first match was against Metropole, who recently got promoted too, and we narrowly lost to last time Anna and I played against them (see here).

The matches start at 7pm, which is quite early for us, and Anna was still reading bedtime stories at 6:59. This may have contributed to our slow start, as we missed a chance to beat 3NT then both underbid here:

I decided to make a Weak Two despite having four Spades as they were so weak. Anna bid Ogust and I showed what I thought I had, a weak hand with good trumps. Anna settled for 3♥. I thought about bidding on anyway but made a disciplined pass. On reflection I have exactly the sort of hand that could easily make game so should have bid 4♥, and maybe should have replied to Ogust differently too. I thought we judged hand strength by high card points (in which case I am weak), Anna thought by losers (in which case I'm strong). I think her way is probably better. This hand also shows why I don't like Ogust, as it doesn't really tell you anything useful (unless perhaps you play very wide ranging Weak Twos).

Against 3♥ the defence led a Spade, and took the first two tricks before East returned a third Spade for West to ruff and me to overruff. At this point the play in 4♥ would be tricky, as if the Diamond finesse fails I might lose a Spade as well (if I draw trumps first) or a Heart (if I ruff with dummy's Ace of Hearts). I think the best line would be to ruff a Spade high, and hope that you can still draw trumps without a loser.

In 3♥ I could just draw trumps, and when the Diamond finesse was on I made 11 tricks. 3♥+2.

Our team-mates Jill and Barbara also played in 3♥, and it was only one Metropole pair who got to 4♥, on the auction 2♥-4♥.

After this we settled down a bit, and had a few good boards making 6♠, then 4♥x+1.

Our daughter has just got her own clock and is allowed to stay up until 8pm, so during the first hour of the match I heard her chatting away to herself. Then she ran in to tell me it was "a very unsusual time, eight-ninety!", which was actually 8:09. I tried not to get distracted, but did then forget to bid Checkback Stayman and Anna made a comfortable 2NT+1 (missing 4♥=). Then there was one more slam board:

I had to count my points twice to believe it was really 20, as it didn't feel good enough. Perhaps I should have gone with my instinct and downgraded it. After I did open 2NT Anna bid Stayman then wasn't sure what to do when I hit her suit with 3♠. We play that an immediate 4NT here would be quantitative, so to set Spades as trumps she needs to bid the other major (here 4♥). But we don't play much together and I suppose Anna didn't want to risk a mix up so bid an immediate 6♠.

West led a Club. Dummy was a disappointment, and it looks pretty hopeless. We have good trumps but otherwise the hands don't fit well together. Move my Queen of Clubs to the Queen of Hearts and it would be an easy 12 tricks. As it is I need to play Hearts for one loser.

I thought for a long time how best to do this. Then apologised to the opposition and had another think. It needs some imagination to find any winning layouts. I decided the best chance was to lead low from dummy hoping to get either a singleton Queen or Ace-Queen doubleton onside. You can see this didn't happen and in fact I went two off.

When I was dummy on the next hand I looked it up on Suitplay and was pleased to see my line was best, giving me about a 7% chance of success.

Our team-mates and one opposition pair also played the board in 6♠ (all going down), with one opposition pair getting to the making 4♥. So not a good board for Team Rowan.

After this we finished with a few good games bid at all the tables. The final result was a loss of 180 at our table, but +1460 at the other for a 10-6 win overall. A winning start to the season!

Glasgow League: Team Rowan vs Shawlands

We managed to get the children to bed 15 minutes before the start of this match and I'm sure that helped, as Anna and I had a good game throughout. Three times we doubled them in 1NT. This was the most profitable:

Our doubles of a Weak NT are 14+, which happens quite a lot. In general I will only remove with a weak hand with a long suit. Here I am very happy to pass.

I'm not sure if East-West had a method to escape, especially as this was a double from the pass-out seat where different agreements apply. You can see that running to 2♦ would have been bad too, but not as bad as 1NT.

I led a Heart. Declarer won his ♥J in hand and started on Diamonds. They do not sit kindly. Anna won and continued Hearts. I didn't know how the Hearts were splitting, so took my ♥Q and switched to the ♣Q. This turned out to be a good switch, as it set up Anna's top Clubs.

Declarer finished with just one Spade and one Heart, for 1NTx-5 and -1100. There was the possiblity of a third trick for declarer if he'd hung on to a Club, but was forced to find a lot of discards.

On the other tables the results were 1NTx-4, 1NT-3 and North-South playing 2NT+2 when West made a surprising transfer over 1NT.

This was a hand where I could have defended better:

I led a low Heart, hoping partner had something in the suit. Anna produced the Queen which declarer won in hand and immediately led the King of Spades. I ducked, and declarer started setting up the Diamonds. My hope was that Anna had the ♥T, in which case we could get two Hearts, two Diamonds and the Ace of Spades. So I tried the Jack of Hearts, but when that didn't work out declarer actually had an overtrick for 3NT+1.

It was a mistake to duck the King of Spades. I know from the auction that Anna's ♥Q is her only high card. So if declarer has ♠KJ(x) then he always has five Spades, and the Ace-King of Hearts and Spades. That's nine tricks, with no shortage of entries to dummy.

So I might as well take my ♠A. I still have a decision to make, whether to go for the Hearts, or the Clubs. Here the ♣Q switch would work (same as it did against 1NTx in the hand above), as declarer doesn't now have the entries to set up Spades and Diamonds and goes off a lot. However, if I continue Hearts (as I probably would have) declarer still makes it comfortably, so I think I was quite far away from beating 3NT.

On the other tables East-West played 4♠-1, 3♦+1 and 3NT-2 by West, where North's Club lead makes it more difficult (declarer needs to play on Diamonds not Spades).

In the end we won our table by +3290 and the match by +3080 to win 13-3. Team Rowan are (for now at least) top of Division Two!

Glasgow League: Team Rowan vs Morison

On Monday in the National League John and I had a good game, beating Team Goodman. In fact, I think more accurately our team-mates had a good game, but still it was nice to be on the winning side. I found it very challenging when Iain Sime and Brian Short were defenders, as everything seemed to go wrong for me as declarer. Tonight it was more straight forward in the Glasgow League Division Two, and we rattled through the boards with me declaring about half of them. Playing total points is also the most relaxing format, as you know that overtricks really don't matter, so lots of early claims.

Perhaps due to complacency or fatigue here's one near the end I could have done better on:

I got the obvious Diamond lead and ducked twice before winning the Ace. This was the same on all four tables. I then lead a Heart up to the Queen. West played low, but after a long enough pause to make me pretty sure he had the Ace. I cashed my four Clubs, East throwing one more Heart. I then led a Heart from dummy and the Nine appeared from East. At this point if I'm really on the ball I can work out the whole suit. I don't think West would have ducked from ♥AJx, so East must have the Jack, hence West is down to a bare Ace. Playing a low from hand should produce the Ace, and I've got 7 tricks (and luckily they can't cash out in Spades).

Of course, I did the normal thing and played the King of Hearts, reasoning I might still make my Ten of Hearts in dummy. I didn't, the defence took three Diamonds, two Spades and two Hearts for 1NT-1.

Every other table made 1NT=, after West took the Ace of Heart straight away, cashed the long Diamond, and returned a Spade, East greedily grabbing the Ace-King and giving the contract.

Despite this minor mistake we were pretty good otherwise and got a few big swings on our table, stealing a few games from our opponents. Our match (along with Colin & Sheena) finished +1580, the other table (with David & Heather and Neil & Anna) was +940. That meant a 12-4 win

Glasgow League: Jacobin vs Rowan

Anna and I did a lot of defending in this match. It was a test of concentation. Could I have done better here?

Anna won the first Heart and correctly switched to a low Heart (from an odd number). I won this with my Ace and had a think. Or rather, I should have had a think. I just returned a Heart. Declarer won and took a losing Spade finesse, but with Hearts 4-4 we couldn't take enough tricks.

After winning the second Heart if I switch to a Diamond declarer is down. If he plays low we can take a Diamond trick to go with our three Hearts and a Spade, and if he plays the Ace of Diamonds we get three Diamond tricks and two Hearts.

Should I have spotted this at the table? Maybe. It's pretty likely declarer has the Queen of Hearts, else he wouldn't have ducked the King on the first trick.

On two of the other tables East-West bid and made a good 4♠, and on the last declarer went down in 3NT playing on Diamonds instead of Spades (perhaps afraid Hearts were 5-3).

We collected a lot of good results on part-score boards, and took advantage a few times when the opponent's overbid. On the rare times we had a game we bid and made it. But the opponents had the cards and did pretty well.

On this board Anna's caution was not rewarded:

I had a borderline 1♦ opener and an easy 2♦ rebid. Anna bid a forcing and natural 2♥, and I showed my Spade stop with 2NT. After a pause, Anna signed off in 3NT. With a good 20 point hand I think she was worth at least an invitational 4NT (which I would have passed), but in fact 6♣ is the winning bid here.

3NT made twelve tricks on a Spade lead.

This was not a good board for Team Rowan. One opponent bid and made 6♣, the other also 3NT+3. On the fourth table Colin and Sheena got to a good 6NT, but East found the killing Diamond lead - a low Diamond in fact. Declarer naturally went up with the Ace and finessed Hearts, going down two. Bad luck.

Overall we lost the match by about 2700 points for a 4-12 loss.

Glasgow League: Rowan vs Rouken Glen

In our last league match we didn't do too well, and during the week I sent Anna some stuff to read. I think she looked at some of it. This week we did a lot better. I can't really think of any bad boards that we had, although admittedly for the last few boards (defending a low contract making overtricks) some of my defence was a bit erratic.

This board was our best result:

I opened 1♣ and Anna replied 1♥. She's only got three points but it's safer to bid now than regret it later. East had a big 6-5 hand and chose to double. I bid a natural 2♦ over this, which came back to me in 2♠. At this point if I pass we've won the board, as they are missing out on 4♠. West was maximum to only bid 2♠ and East should have just bid game, making if his partner has the Ace of Spades.

I didn't realise it was their board though and pushed on, with a forcing 3♠. This is like a takeout double but stronger, rather optimistically hoping Anna could bid 3NT and it would have play. Anna had an easy 4♥ instead though. East gave this a long look then passed and lead a Club.

Anna correctly drew two rounds of trumps then played the Clubs from dummy, making 4♥.

During his long think I'd decided that if East bid 4♠ I would have doubled. This would have led to -790 instead of +620.

Our team-mates Neil and Anne did make 4♠x=, while the other tables were 4♠= and a surprising 3♠-1 where declarer never drew trumps.

This one I played unusally carefully (slowly):

Anna's 2/1 showed 10+ then when I rebid 2♥ she did well to invite, and I have to accept with a good 14 count. East led the Ten of Hearts.

It looks like I have three losers in Clubs so just need to get trumps right, and the trump lead round to my Jack has helped.

If trumps are 3-2 it'll be easy, but what if they're 4-1? I need to finesse on the second round, without even cashing a high trump first. So I crossed to dummy and lead the ♥9. There is very little risk here, as surely from his lead West doesn't have the Queen of Hearts (and if he does I will accept my fate).

As it happened trumps were 3-2 so my care wasn't required, but I was pleased I thought of it. Our team-mates Jill and Barbara also bid and made 4♥, as did one opposition pair, the other stopping in 3♥+1.

Finally, a lucky one:

West opened 1♠ and Anna doubled. Later she admitted this was a misclick, as she'd decided not to double but still had her mouse hovering over the double. She realised straight away but thought she couldn't ask for an Undo, as she'd taken a while to think of her bid, and doubling then changing it to pass gives away some information. While I can't fault her ethics I don't think she should even be thinking of a double with that hand.

East jumped to 4♠ and it was my turn to think. I ruled out Pass, as I thought they might be stealing from us at this vulnerability. We do have a Heart fit, and I could also bid 4NT (two places to play), but settled on double. Anna can take it out if she's got a really nice hand I thought (I obviously couldn't have trump length on this auction, so must just be doubling on strength).

Anna passed and lead the ♦Q. When I saw dummy I was rather concerned, a full 13 points. But the Diamonds were good to us and once declarer played the ♦K I covered with the Ace and returned the ♦7 to Anna's Jack. She found the Heart return to the Queen-King-Ace and we now have it one off. Even better, declarer tried a Club before drawing trumps. Anna snapped this up, crossed to my ♥J and I gave her a Diamond ruff for 4♠x-2 and +300.

Our team-mates Heather and David made 4♠ on this deal, when on another lead after South tried to cash his ♦A. On the other tables it was 1♠+2 and Pass.

In the second half I felt myself slowing down somewhat, and there was one enormous pause while I tried to find the right discard to prevent an overtrick in 2NT. I know it's aggregate scoring and didn't matter but I really wanted to get it right.

Anna and I kept a very tidy scoresheet, our only scores that were below par when the opposition found a good 3NT opposite a 3♣ opener, and a few times where we went one down pushing to explore game (which I think is the right thing to do at this scoring).

Overall Team Rowan won the match 16-0, to return to the top of Division 2!

Glasgow League: Rowan vs Ramblers

This was our first match in this edition of the Glasgow League (Division 2). Anna declared she was up for the game and we got right into it.

On the first board I played a nice 3♥-2 when they were making game, and indeed both our East-West pairs bid and made 4♠ for a great start.

My 2♥ is weak and natural, after which I think Anna should raise to 3♥ straight away. But we did enough to keep them out of game.

3♥ was of course hopeless, but while playing it I was hoping the Heart finesse failed (meaning they were making 4♠), so was actually pleased with down two. The East-West pairs who made it to game started with East doubling then bidding 3♠ after which West raised.

On the second board our opponents missed a Club slam, and it looked like this was going to be our night.

Looking at the East-West hands you definitely want to be in slam, as it makes on a non-Heart lead or if the Spade finesse works.

Our West opened 1♣, but he was the only one. On the other tables it was 5♣ (passed out), 4♣ (passed out), and 2♣ (getting to 6♣). I'd like to think Anna and I would have bid slam (starting with a 1♣ opening), and maybe we would, but when presented with our own opportunities we largely messed them up.

Here when Anna opened 1♣ and rebid 2♣ I was sure a slam was there, but bid Blackwood just to be safe. I did think about 7♣ (which has excellent play when Anna has a sixth Club), but when I saw dummy was glad I stopped in the slam slam.

On the Diamond lead Anna drew trumps and had a think. There are 11 top tricks, so the double finesse in Hearts offers an excellent chance. Unless she guesses the Jack and King wrong there's 12 tricks.

In fact, playing in 6♣ there's an extra possibility, of ruffing out the Spades, and making a long Spade if trumps are 3-3 and Spades are 4-3. So chances are excellent.

Anna unfortunately threw the long Spade so was pinning it all on the Hearts. Once she saw East show out of Spades she decided he had the Heart honours (or at least one of them) and led the Queen of Hearts. It's now down one.

If declarer tests the Diamonds she finds that West actually has the Hearts, but playing those Diamonds uses up your entries, so I think it's a case of well played, bad luck.

All three other tables were in 6NT, which isn't quite as good, but made every time. One made through a very generous low Spade lead from West. One made via Ace of Hearts and a Heart to the Queen (a 50% shot) and one a low Heart to the Queen (the start of a double finesse, a 75% shot).

This being aggregate the failure of Anna and I to make slam there put us about 1500 points down. However, it was not a low scoring match and there were lots more swings to come.

Although I'd say we were unlucky with that 6♣-1 we also made a lot of mistakes. In fact, Board 10 was our first positive score. This was a 4♥ that should never had made, except for a weird lead of the ♦2 from ♦KJ2.

That lead gives me two Diamond tricks, then I can use my Ace of Clubs to discard dummy's last Diamond and ruff two more.

I think it was a stretch Anna raising but she later claimed to be justified as I made plus one (the defence crashed Heart honours too). On the other tables our team-mates David and Heather defeated 4♥ on more normal defence, and the other two tables stayed low.

Although his lead gave the contract, to be fair to West he had exactly the same Diamonds on the following board, and led them once again to great effect, finding the only lead to beat my 3NT. It was that kind of night.

When our next slam hand came around Anna and I hit an all time low. With 15 top tricks we played 5♠ in a 4-2 fit. This could have made (comfortably) but to complete the misery went one off. It's hard playing a contract well when you know it's the wrong one.

We beat a couple of games but let a couple through to finish comfortably second on our table. Overall Team Rowan lost by 2000 points to lose the match 11-5.

Anna has said I need to stop playing with John on a Monday night so we can practice more.

Glasgow League: Team Ruffians vs Team Rowan

Last night Anna and I got the kids to be early and settled down for a 24 board match. Things started calmly with a series of one level contracts. I think we defended these well, but this was total points so they didn't matter too much.

Later on things picked up and we bid aggressively. This caused the opponents to miss a couple of games, but also pushed them in to games that they might not have got to otherwise.

This was a frustrating one:

At favourable vulnerability I thought I was worth a 2♣ overcall, showing at least 5-4 in the majors. West bid his Clubs naturally and East did the right thing bidding 3NT.

The contract makes or goes down depending on my lead. A heart gives declarer a free Heart trick, which turns out to be his ninth, alongside six Clubs and two Diamonds. Anything else, and declarer is stuck on eight tricks. As soon as he touches Spades Anna can win and fire through the Jack of Hearts. Best of all is if I lead Spades, in which case we get the first six tricks.

I lead a Heart, conceding 3NT=. My heart lead failed here, but could be the right thing to do if declarer has something like ♥KJx and we need to play the suit twice to set it up.

What about the other tables? 3NT was played twice more and also made, once with a similar Heart lead from South, once when North lead Diamonds then kept leading them. Sheena and Colin were on defence against 5♣, which needs excellent defence and got it, the defence getting their Spade ruff for one off. So overall the board was a win for Team Rowan.

Board 21 I'm not sure if we made life difficult for the opponents or helped them:

After Anna opened 1♠ and the next hand overcalled I went straight to 4♠. I think this is the right bid, though Anna says she would only have bid 3&spadees;. Here, where West has lots of Clubs, he has an easy 5♣ bid, but if he had for example a big Diamond suit with only two or three Clubs they're probably going to miss their game.

Anna was restrained in not bidding 5♠, which could go three off doubled for -800.

My trump lead was ineffective and declarer wrapped up 12 tricks.

In the other half of our match our team-mates missed out (playing 4♣+1), after East bid an unusual 2NT and South passed. In the other match Jill and Barbara had no trouble making 5♣+1 (again after an unusual 2NT and South passing). On the last table South found a 3♠ raise then North bid 4♠ then 5♠. That sounds suicidal to me but it was undoubled and in fact lost only two tricks for -200.

There may also have been a hand where I leapt to 6♣ missing two Aces, and both Anna and I apologised to each other afterwards.

But the good news is, overall we won the match by 2150 points, for a flying start to the season!