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Daily Bridge in New Zealand
Hugh McGann and Candice Smith.
“Fall” in Tasmania.
Some Kiwis spent last weekend at the Tasmanian Festival of Bridge and we can record some successes there.
Ashley Bach, playing with his regular Australian partner, Arlene Dalley, won the Australian Mixed Swiss Pairs. They also finished second in the Australian Mixed Pairs with Matthew McManus and Michael Ware finishing 7th.
Arlene and Ashley
In the Mixed Swiss, Ashley and Arlene won by 6.15 vps from Candice Smith and Hugh McGann. Candice and Hugh led for much of the 8 round competition but dropped to 3rd with a significant loss in their 7th match. However, a good win in the last round saw them climb up to second.
Candice would have been very happy with the following board:
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West |
North |
East |
South |
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1 |
Pass |
Pass |
Dbl |
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2 |
Pass |
Pass |
2 NT |
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Pass |
? |
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As North, would you bid or pass in the above auction?
Normally, 2NT would show in region of 20 hcp, perhaps a point either way. However, with 1NT in the balancing position being often less than the normal 15-17( 18), 2NT here might also be under the 20 hcp mark. Maybe that influenced Hugh McGann not to raise to 3NT. 2NT therefore became the final contract.
On the lead of 
K, this faced Candice:
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West Deals |
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West |
North |
East |
South |
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1 |
Pass |
Pass |
Dbl |
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2 |
Pass |
Pass |
2 NT |
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Pass |
? |
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She could count to 8 tricks if she lost a trick to the 
K though it was likely West would take 5 diamonds and the K before Candice could regain the lead. Candice did not mind losing the lead to East as West had no quick entry assuming Candice ducked at least one round of diamonds.
She ducked two rounds, winning the third round of the suit. She was not going to take a losing finesse and was well rewarded when she took what looked like a slim but successful line of laying down A. After all, West had opened the bidding and rebid diamonds.
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West Deals |
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Very soon, she had 9 tricks without losing the lead. Perhaps, a smile and a rueful question to her partner as to why he had not raised to game! Had the K not fallen, game would simply have been one extra trick down whereas there would have been a game bonus on the actual deal.
A nice thoughtful play from Candice.
Richard Solomon
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