BRIDGE

Turning point

Susanna Gross

LAST WEEKEND, I played in Stage 1 of the England Women's Trials. Playing intensively over a two-day period always leaves me feeling uncomfortably hyped-up. The problem is that the excitement pro- duces a huge amount of adrenalin, but because one is sitting down all day, it has no real outlet. Ideally, I'd get up and have a sprint after each match. After the first day my partner Catherine Draper and were lying a disappointing 11th out of 13 pairs. I went home depressed, and slept very badly. I'm pleased to say things finally went our way, and we finished third — well enough to qualify for Stage II. Catherine Draper is not just an impressive player she also has a very even temperament and is always positive. She's a good judge of a hand, too — as on this one, which gained us a huge swing: Dealer South 6 A J 10 7 3 V K 10 5 • K 8 5 4 10 7 4

♦

r43 K 9 2 J 10 86

9 7

Both Vulnerable

6 4

8 6 5 VAJ ♦ A Q 2 +AKQJ 5

N

W

S

E

4 Q 4 111 Q 9 8 7 6 2

♦ 3 9 4 3 2

South West North East pass pass pass 2NT pass 3V pass 34 pass 4NT pass 6NT all pass I elected to pass with the West hand although I might have opened a spade or a no trump. When partner opened 2NT (20- 22 points) I made a 'transfer' bid to spades, and then jumped to 4NT, which in our sys- tem invites slam and shows a balanced hand with 5 spades. Catherine thought for a while, and eventually decided to bid 6NT rather than 64. Her strong run of clubs, she reasoned, might help provide 12 tricks even if there were two spade losers; moreover, being in no trumps cut out the danger of a possible ruff. It turned out to be the winning decision — and the turning point of the match for us. Most of the room ended up in 64; South led her singleton diamond, and when North got in with the 4K, she returned a diamond for South to ruff. On the other hand, 6NT was a breeze!