Last week was STAC week in Bermuda where players earn extra master points of higher levels and compete not only in the local field but also against the other pairs in District 2.

The week saw some excellent results for the locals in the bigger District 2 game.

On Monday, Ed Betteto and John Burville came first in a field of 70 pairs with a score of 68.45 per cent to earn 8.44 master points and on Friday Margie Way and Tony Saunders came first in a field of 162 pairs with a score of 70 per cent to earn a huge 14.70 master points.

Many congratulations to both pairs – with no Regional being held in Bermuda the opportunity to compete against overseas players to earn points are limited, so it’s great to see the locals stepping up.

All four of these players have been in the top echelon of Bermuda players for quite some time and the scores are impressive – 70 per cent games are hard to achieve in a normal game and reaching that score in a more competitive field is quite an achievement by Tony and Margie, as is the 68.45 per cent game by John and Ed.

Today’s hand is all about thinking ahead and trying to foresee all the pitfalls in a hand – one declarer did that and the other one did not. See Figures 1 and 2.

Both North/South pairs in a team game reached three no-trump on the lead of a fourth-highest five of spades. After winning the first trick with dummy’s King of spades, the declarers’ approaches diverged.

At the first table, declarer cashed the Ace of diamonds and led a low club to his ten, reasoning that he needed two entries to his hand to set up and enjoy the diamonds. Alas, West produced the Queen of clubs and continued with a low spade to dummy’s now-bare Ace.

Declarer saw that, as the spades appeared to be five-three, his only hope was that East had started the deal with Queen-third of spades. So, declarer crossed to his hand with a low club to the Jack to lead the Queen of diamonds, throwing a heart from dummy. East won with his King of diamonds and led his third spade to West, who cashed three spades to set the contract.

At the other table, declarer found a clever play that guaranteed at least nine tricks. After cashing the Ace of diamonds, this declarer led a club to his King to play the Queen of diamonds, discarding dummy’s Ace of spades! After winning trick three with the King of diamonds, East exited with a spade to declarer’s Jack and West’s Queen.

West judged that declarer clearly had the 10 of spades remaining plus some good diamonds, so instead of continuing with a spade he shifted to the Queen of hearts.

Declarer won with the Ace and continued with a low club to his 10 and West’s Queen.

The defence then took their heart trick but that was their last and declarer succeeded in his contract.

A really well thought out declarer play problem!

BRIDGE CLUB RESULTS

Friday, October 28

1. Marge Way – Tony Saunders

2. Aida Bostelmann – Heather Woolf

3. Rachael Gosling – Ed Betteto

Monday, October 31

North/South

1. Elizabeth McKee – Stephanie Kyme

2. Diana Diel – Pat Siddle

3. Gertie Barker – Jane Smith

East/West

1. Martha Ferguson – Marge Way

2. Louise Rodger – Dorry Lusher

3. Lorna Anderson – Heather Woolf

Tuesday, November 1

North/South

1. Catherine Kennedy – Richard Hall

2. Rosemary Smith – Felicity Lunn

3. Malcolm Moseley – Mark Stevens

East/West

1. Sandra Ogden – George Ogden

2/3. Jane Downing – Jamie Sapsford

2/3. Amanda Ingham – Heidi Dyson

Wednesday, November 2

1. Marge Way – Ed Betteto

2. Pat Siddle – Diana Diel

3. Lynanne Bolton – Peter Donnellan

Thursday, November 3

1. Linda Pollett – Elizabeth McKee

2. Stephanie Kyme – Charles Hall

3. Wendy Gray – Richard Gray