THE Bermuda National Pairs competition concluded at the Bridge Club on Monday, Alan Douglas and Charles Hall, who had a storming 67 per cent second session, winning the event by just less than one board. They needed the big game because Vera Petty and Roman Smolski, who had a 64 per cent-62 per cent advantage after the first session had a 61per cent second session, and an average of 62.5 per cent is usually good enough.

In third place were Sally Sykes and John Glynn.

Congratulations to Alan-Charles and to Roman-Vera with both pairs putting together two excellent sessions.

This hand came up on OK Bridge the other night and was a really good example of declarer using the bidding sensibly.North

[spade]6 4 3 2

[heart]Q J 6

[diamond]K 8 2

[club]109 3

South

[spade]A 10 5

[heart]A K 10 8 5

[diamond]A J 3

[club]8 7The bidding was informative:South West North East

1[club] (1) 1[diamond] Dbl (2) 1[spade]

2[heart] (3) Pass 3[heart] (4) Pass

Pass Pass1. Precision

2. Any 5-7 HCP hand

3. At least 5 hearts, 16-18 HCP, non-forcing

4. Invitational on a favourable placing of the diamond king.

West kept away from a diamond lead and cashed king-queen of clubs and then played the jack of spades. When this was ducked, West continued clubs.

Declarer now did well. Ruff the club, draw only two rounds of trumps, leaving a high one in dummy and played king-ace and jack of diamonds, throwing West on lead.

The full hand:North

[spade]6 4 3 2

[heart]Q J 6

[diamond]K 8 2

[club]10 9 3

West East<$>

[spade]J [spade]K Q 9 8 7

[heart]9 7 [heart]4 3 2

[diamond]Q 10 9 7 6 [diamond]5 4

[club]A K Q 4 2 [club]J 6 5

South

[spade]A 10 5

[heart]A K 10 8 5

[diamond]A J 3

[club]8 7West now has only minor suit cards left and is forced into providing a ruff and discard — contract made!

l I have sad news to report in that Pat Kett, one of the leading members of the Bermuda Bridge Club in the Seventies, recently passed away. I have no further details.

When I first came to the island Pat was a pivotal figure in the running of the club and the Regional and also played a big part in the move to Pomander Road. In the long list of people who have contributed to the current good health of bridge in Bermuda, Pat ranks right up there.LATEST RESULTS

Bermuda Bridge ClubMonday afternoon, December 5: <$>1. Peggy Sinclair-Julia Lunn, 2. Alice Palmer-Gwen Christensen, 3. Dolly Winwick-Dorothy Moir.

Monday evening, N/S:<$> 1. Sally Sykes-John Glynn, 2. Richard Gray-Wendy Gray, 3 (jt) David Pereira-Barry Rahman and Joseph Wakefield-Anthony Saunders. E/W: 1. Vera Petty-Roman Smolski, 2. Charles Hall-Alan Douglas, 3. Jean Johnson-Margaret Way.

Wednesday afternoon, N/S: 1. Jean Johnson-Lisa Burland, 2. Aida Bostelmann-Patricia Hayward, 3. Joan Sims-Gwen Christensen. E/W: 1. Michael Bickley-Charles Gambrill, 2. Jean Bath-Nea Willits, 3. Dorothy Moir-Dolly Winwick.

Wednesday evening, N/S: 1. Aida Bostelmann-Anelise Scheland, 2. Jon Turner-Debra Randall, 3 (jt) Enid Hyland-Gwen Christensen and Annabella Fraser-Patricia Colmet. E/W: 1. Julia Lunn-Judy King, 2. Sally Godet-Scott Godet, 3. George Ogden-Sandra Ogden.

Friday, N/S:<$> 1. Judith Bussell-Stephanie Kyme, 2. Michael Bickley-John Hoskins, 3. Jean Johnson-Anthony Saunders. E/W: <$>Vera Petty-Roman Smolski, 2. Magda Farag-Stephen Ball, 3. David Pereira-Alan Douglas.

Bermuda National Pairs: <$>1. Vera Petty-Roman Smolski, 2. Charles Hall-Alan Douglas, 3. Sally Sykes-John Glynn, 4. Joseph Wakefield-Anthony Saunders, 5. Jane Smith-Gertrude Barker, 6. Jean Johnson-Margaret Way.