THINGS are ticking over at the Bridge Club in the run up to the holidays with a STAC week scheduled for next week, the Christmas Party on December 2 and the Bermuda National Teams all day on Sunday the 10th.Last Monday saw the winter ACBL Wide Charity game and in a very tight finish the winners were Jean Johnson-Lyn O’Neill from Rachel Gosling-Elizabeth McKee in second, Michael Bickley-Harry Kast in third and John Burville-David Cordon in fourth.

The winners had a game just over 60% with the others bunched in behind.

When a finish is close every hand matters and certainly this one counted well for the winners (positions changed for convenience).

N/S Vulnerable

Dealer EastNorth

[spade]K

[heart]KQ3

[diamond]QJ103

[club]Q1097

East

|0xab|52

|0xa4|Q97642

©764

|0xa8|AJ

The bidding:<$>

E<$>(Johnson) S W (O’Neill) N<$t1>

2[heart] (1) 2[spade] Pass 4[spade] (2)(1) Hmmmm . . . the better players get away with this kind of opener but not recommended for beginners, weak two’s in first position. I like a good suit with most of the points in the suit.

(2) An excellent bid because there may be transportation trouble in 3NT.

West led a low heart (even if you are playing MUD it is better to lead ‘count’ when partner has bid the suit-up the line with an odd number, high-low with even).

Johnson won the ace and now the switch is vital as declarer has ten tricks once his partner has room for a high diamond or a high club and reasoning that it needed to be the club to beat the hand Johnson played ace and another club.

The full hand:North

[spade]K

[heart]KQ3

[diamond]QJ103

[club]Q1097

West East

[spade]J106 [spade]52

[heart]1085 [heart]Q97642

[diamond]K982 [diamond]764

[club]K82 [club]AJ

South

[spade]AQ98743

[heart]J

[diamond]A5

[club]543The club ruff now sinks the contract — not at all an easy defence to find as that club jack looks useful. Well done as this produced a vital top for the winners.