Plus ça change

Quite a different team for the Tolly qualifier this year, but not much change in the outcome. After 5 matches we had 50 VP out of 100 and hopes of mid-table respectability, but we then scored 2, 0, 1 and 1 to free fall down the table, only saved from last place by a Devon team that was much weaker than usual. (It's good to know that we are not the only county to have problems in selecting their best team.)

The single most costly hand was against East Wales, where both of our pairs overbid to 4 hearts with

	♠ A K Q ♥ 8 ♦ K Q 10 7 5 ♣ K 9 6 3
	♠ 9 4 ♥ A Q 10 9 5 4 ♦ J 9 ♣ 10 8 4

Even vulnerable at teams, this is a rather optimistic game and both opposing pairs stopped in 3 hearts. However, the Ace of clubs was onside and there were no defensive ruffs, so 4 hearts depended on playing the trumps for one loser.

It may look like a pure guess whether to finesse the Q or the 10; this is so if the suit breaks 3-3, but on a 4-2 break it never gains to finesse the 10. Finessing the Q has a 40% chance of success, compared with 34% for a finesse of the 10. Unfortunately both Dorset players finessed the 10, converting a gain of 40 imps to a loss of 26 imps.

Ann and I saved some face by finishing above half way in the Butler rankings, although I felt that this flattered our performance as we had more than our fair share of presents. My main contribution to the debacle was this hand

	♠ 9 4 2 ♥ 9 6 ♦ Q 6 ♣ J 9 8 7 6 4
	♠ 8 ♥ A K J 7 5 ♦ A K J 8 7 5 2 ♣

I was South and opened 1 diamond - I strongly believe that you should bid your suits on this type of hand rather than open with an artificial strong bid. West bid 1 spade, East made an unassuming cue bid of 2 diamonds and I bid 3 hearts. East now bid 4 spades, passed round to me and my 5 diamonds was doubled by East.

The defence began with two rounds of spades. The correct line is to ruff, cash A K of hearts and ruff a heart with the queen. Return to hand with a spade ruff and ruff another heart with the 6 to set up the last heart. East can overruff but you ruff the return, draw trumps and claim. These manoeuvres were necessary as West held four hearts to the Queen and East held all four trumps. I managed most of this but suffered what my partner described as a 'senior moment' and ruffed high at the end to go one down.