TOLLEMACHE HEAT 2002

Oxfordshire was drawn in Heat A, where the two seeds were London & Kent. Eight twelve-board matches later, the seedings were justified, first and second places going to London and Kent in that order. They were also Oxfordshire’s first two half-matches and the team did well to recover from early setbacks here to be above average by dinner-time on the Saturday night. Late that night with two matches now complete and six half-matches to go we were on average ( a provisional 80 out of 160)in fifth place. As Sunday wore on (and wear is the correct verb) we held our ground overall and a fine last stanza, especially against Warwickshire who were above us, saw us finish marginally in third place on 86 VPs at the head of the pack. For a number of the players the Tolle was a new experience (the captain also noted that we seemed on average a younger team than most around us - or is it just that the Tredinnicks’ hair now looks greyer than his is?). It is therefore greatly to their credit that they lasted and that the team behaved like a team throughout, not complaining about others’ failings, getting on with it and ( as it seemed to me at least) enjoying their bridge.

The Separate Match results:

1. v. London -36 IMPs, 6-14

2. v. Kent -49 IMPs, 4-16

3. v. Herts +96 IMPs, 19-1

4. v. Sussex +39 IMPs, 15-5

5. v. Warwks +66 IMPs, 17-3

6. v. Lincs -13 IMPs, 8-12

7. v. Yorks -58 IMPs, 3-17

8. v. Herefords +36 IMPs, 14-6

Total + 81 IMPs, 86 VPs

Stuart McPhee/ Richard Lonsdale + 30 IMPs

Steve Noble/ Keith Bennett + 15 IMPs

Abbey Smith/ Lizzie Godfrey + 142 IMPs

Tim Pike/ Alan Wilson +35 IMPs

Mike Webley/ Nigel Wilkes -41 IMPs

It should be remembered that these scores arise from cross-imping with two other pairs. So no pair can be said to have had a completely disappointing result. On the other hand, it is clear that Abbey and Lizzie had an excellent weekend. After missing the first session (Lizzie having an unequal struggle with Coventry parking), they played continuously every set until the last but one and returned for the final set, giving little away and taking most of what was offered. Steve and Keith were as steady without always having the best of luck with the result when it came to comparing scores. Tim and Alan had an up-and-down start but by Sunday were playing confidently in a groove. Stuart and Richard were on the wrong side of some point-laden boards, but compensated by conjuring up some unlikely swings. Mike will tell you that it was his fault, not Nigel’s that they had certain dire results, but they also had some good sets that cannot be put down to one player alone.

We lost a lot to London on this one. Both sides vul., with South dealing and passing West holds S. J52, H. AJ9853, D 32, C. 86 opposite his partner’s S.AQ1093, H. Q1064, D. J984, C-. How high should they get in the bidding? Answer: the 6 level, if they have to. For North holds S. K , H. -, D. K105, C.AKJ1095432 opposite S.8764, H.K72, D.AQ76, C.Q7. Our North-Souths didn’t bid to the 6 level; our East-Wests didn’t find the cheap save at the 6 level (it takes some nerve vulnerable).

In America they lick their lips when you play the weak no-trump against them. This hand would make them salivate. You play as West, vulnerable, 1NT doubled with S. Q643, H.KQ, D. A74, C.QJ72 opposite S.10852, H.642, D.J93, C.543. Opponents’ hearts split 5-3; KJ7 of spades lie over your Q. 10D lies under your J9. You have 2 tricks + perhaps a third if they play diamonds for you or allow you to set up a spade.

Abby and Lizzie took 1100, Tim and Alan lost 1100. It must have been Steve’s unflappable air that allowed him to get away with five tricks - 2 diamonds on the lead, two hearts ! and a club in the endgame.

In the evening Board 19 against Herefordshire saw us bid and make two small slams; Herefordshire by contrast bid and made a grand, but also stayed in game. West holds S. K3, H. A109842, D.Q, C.AQ63; East S.AJ94, H. -, D.A975, C. K10984. After 1H-2C or 1H-1S-2C, you are likely to get into a flurry of cue-bids that will propel you upwards. How do you fancy your chances in 6C or & 7C? If the hearts are 4-3, it looks as if you can set them up, but you will need the trumps to be 2-2 unless the opponents conveniently lead a heart for you (South has H. KQ76 but should be put off by the bidding if on lead). I saw Alan make 12 tricks on cross-ruff lines, which requires 5 low ruffs before the 3 high ruffs. The Herefordshire declarer in 7 was forced to go for the heart and trump break and all was well for him.

A considerable contribution to our loss against Yorkshire was this hand. As East and dealer you open one heart on S.KQ87, H.KQ9852, D.107,C.3; South bids 4 clubs, partner 4 diamonds and, after your 4 hearts, starts slamming and you end in 6H, dummy providing S.A10, H. A74, D.KJ985,C.A102. Lead is KC, trumps turn out to be 2-2 and S reveals a singleton spade. How to play the diamonds? Tim, believing the bid to be in the modern style, finessed for the Q in the South hand; so did Keith. Wrong: South had the ace. Yorkshire got it right, but from the safety of game. Still, that was -44 IMPs on one board.

A last problem (Steve’s) from memory (I haven’t got the hands with me at the moment):

You hold S.10, H.Axxx, D.J10x,C.J109xx. LHO opens 4NT; RHO quivers, then bids 5 Spades; 6 Diamonds from LHO, further longer quiver and pass from RHO. Keith leads a heart and dummy reveals S.AKQJxxxx, H.Qxxx, D.x, C.-. Your AH draws JH from declarer. What now? Steve eventually tried a spade to cut declarer off from dummy: sadly, it had the opposite effect of getting declarer into dummy. He held S.-, H.J,

D.AKQxxxx, C. AKQxx. One club went on the first spade, Steve ruffed the second spade, but declare could now ruff his last low club with the singleton trump in dummy. A trump at trick 2 would have killed the contract. Maybe the actual holding is more likely with a sane declarer than his having a singleton spade and no club queen, but it is an awfully close call.

The players will have many other memorable and forgettable hands. All this inexperienced captain can now do is to thank them for propping him up and being a very cooperative team.

Andrew Lintott