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Two Contrasting Contests: National Rubber Bridge Semi-Finals.

The two semi-finals of the 2021 National Rubber Bridge competition took place in the last few days and they could not have been more contrasting contests. It was “Wellington against the World” as Russell Dive and Anthony Ker took on Tauranga’s Jo and Sam Simpson while Martin Reid and Peter Newell were up against Christchurch’s Fiona Temple and John Kruiniger. Both matches took place on Real Bridge over 30 boards.

Russell and Anthony made short work of their battle with Russell acknowledging they had by far the better cards. The following helped them on their way to a large victory.

 

 

 

 

Sam and Jo could only watch as Anthony took over an auction which started with a 16+ Precision 1C. Russell showed 2 key cards and the SQ (5S) and then one king (6D). Anthony did not care which king it was as that woSam and Jo could only watch as Anthony took over an auction which started with a 16+ Precision 1. Russell showed 2 key cards and no Q (5) and then one king (6). Anthony did not care which king it was as that would prove a place to discard his only loser, 3. The play was over very quickly with the only solace for Jo and  Sam being that their opponents could not claim honours.

 
Sam and Jo..in search of good hands

1590 up after two rubbers, Anthony and Russell more than doubled their lead (3330) after the third thanks partly to the above grand-slam. Jo and Sam fought back to a 1900 deficit after the 4^th. Hand 29 saw them bid and make a not vulnerable 6 but still trailed by 2210 going into the last board. They bid to the required grand on Board 30, needing a major suit or no-trump grand to win. They chose 7 though Anthony doubled and showed them the A at trick 1!  

Meanwhile, the other match was a “battle royale”!

Here is John Kruiniger’s take on the match:

It was a hard-fought contest, with the card gods distributing the points very evenly, (591 to us, 609 to them).  We declared 16 hands, they 14, and the match was decided on the last board!

With several lead changes during the match, board 30 saw us 60 points in front, in a new rubber with nothing in.  Fortunately, the gods dealt us a hand that we could bid and make 3, (which being doubled flattered the final score).

The pressure arrived much earlier though.  On board 5, with the opponents having already got vulnerable on the board 1, and we now 90 in, this board arrived: (EW vul, NS +90)

 

 

Many of us would recognise Peter’s East hand from our own unsuccessful Rubber sojourns!

Fiona opened 1.  My first anxiety began on my first bid.  Being 90 in, I just wanted us to bid and make something!  But I really didn't like spades.  I toyed with bidding 2 since it was such a good suit, trusting Fiona to pass if she held a modest hand, and remember that we only needed 10 points for game.  Still, even at rubber, I think it's best to be honest on the first couple of bids, so I went 2.  When Fiona went 3, I knew she had at least something better than minimum.  Try as I might, I couldn't justify not bidding 6 - I knew that we might need the points later on...

When the heart finesse worked, there were 13 easy tricks.

It was stressful to bid, but given that we entered the final board with a cumulative score of +60, I was very thankful for those points scored way back on board 5.”

Fiona commented afterwards: “The most anyone was up was Martin and Peter when they were 910 ahead at board 27! We got the Vul rubber in with honours at board 28 (I had 4 aces in 3NT).” Fiona went 2 down doubled in 5 on Board 29 and that that set up the gripping climax.

 
Peter and Martin, unlucky losers

Such close Rubber Bridge matches are really exciting, especially if you emerge victorious. Fiona and John will take on Russell and Anthony in the final very soon.

 

Richard Solomon

 

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