Peggy Bayer 2023 - Round 8 Scotland vs Northern Ireland

In the last round I watched with Wayne Somerville and along with most of the bridge following people in the lounge we noticed that Northern Ireland had taken a lead against England. Miraculously, they held on for a famous win.

Now Scotland, usually the underdogs, were Northern Irelands next targets. I'm pleased to say we've gone from underdogs to being a team-to-beat, at least in the Home Nations.

With Kevin & Michael heading home early (and me on a train back too), our group of five players was down to three for the last two matches. Not quite enough for a bridge team. Tournament Director Gordon Rainsford allowed us to field a substitute player from the U25 ranks. This however makes us 'playing without standing', ineligible for the trophy, both as they are over-age and by using two different players our squad is up to seven. 

This didn't matter too much as we are also ineligible to win by being a long way behind England. 

Against Northern Ireland our ringer was Antone Huang, a skilful cardplayer but maverick overbidder who I'd enjoyed watching on Vugraph but was more anxious about having on the team.

Given that most of our team have similar bridge backgrounds (i.e. they went to my school bridge club), and play simple systems, we have had no bidding misunderstandings at all as far as I know. Certainly people could have bid better, and missed opportunities, but no out-and-out calamities.

As ever though, the plays the thing, and I'm scratching my head as to how we went down in 5D here:

Queen of Hearts lead. The contract went two down, which must only mean you were left with some Heart losers at the end.

We bid two no-play slams, and were in trouble, but came through in the final board here:

Playing 3NT, our West got a nice Queen of Hearts lead. There are now two Hearts, four Clubs, and a Diamond finesse gets you up to nine.

A routine Spade lead puts 3NT at least two down, as happened on both tables in the England-Ireland match. On our other table North bought it in 2S, one off.

At the end of this match we won 50-43 IMPs for a narrow win.