Birthday bridge bash

It was Michael Joseph’s birthday, so what better way to spend it than playing teams at the Otago Bridge Club with one of his favourite partners, Ann Wood.

Let’s watch Ann and Michael in action on today’s hand. This pair’s Acol system was not quite as rigid and prescribed as some — more inclined towards the intuitive.

Michael’s two clubs showed gameforcing values. North’s two no trump was unusual but he had some reservations about bidding at all. Sure, the vulnerability and suit distribution were favourable and his side might have a profitable highlevel sacrifice, but the bid might also assist a declarer in the play of the hand.

Ann had a slight problem over her Michael’s three hearts. Her hand was really a little too good for a simple raise to game, but she was reluctant to take control of the bidding by launching into an ace ask; better to let Michael be the captain with his strong hand. So five hearts it was.

Michael was confident that Ann had the king of hearts and ace of spades for her bid, so launched into the grand slam.

South led a diamond, which Michael won in hand.

Now Michael expected North to be short in hearts for his bid. He could see the contract was doomed in the unlikely event North held all four trumps.

If South held the missing hearts then the contract was safe. So Michael played his ace of hearts from hand then finessed the 10 for 13 tricks. Well done.

At least one other top player in the same contract was embarrassed to admit he had attacked trumps by playing up to the king.

Bidding and making a grand slam was a great birthday present for Michael — even better than £10 from each player.