When do you concede a match? I was considering it when, after 56 boards, we were a vast 48 IMPs down in our Gold Cup semi-final with eight boards to go. Fortunately my team wouldn’t hear of it and in they went with my battle cry of ‘Believe you can do it’ echoing around the room, although to be honest I didn’t think we had a prayer.
How wrong I was! The last set (do I need to say I didn’t play?) had six boards that held the possibility of generating huge swings and generate they most certainly did.
My Norwegian killer pair had to find a way to beat 3 NT on this last board of the set (see diagram).
In the first room, Tom Townsend had received a Club lead against 4H which let the contract in.
The first hurdle was cleared when Thomas Charlsen as South avoided the Club lead and instead found the inspired ♦️7. This held the trick (!), and he continued with the King.
Had declarer realised what the hand looked like, he could have taken four rounds of Hearts, discarding Spades from dummy, and exited a Spade; North would have to give dummy a trick in one of the minors. Possibly affected by the onslaught he was facing, he instead took all his Hearts and threw the Diamonds from dummy. Thor Erik Hoftaniska in the North seat could breathe a sigh of relief; when declarer finally exited with a Spade, he was able to underlead in Diamonds to partner’s 10 for the vital Club switch. One off and the miracle was completed. 69-0 and a place in the final. Never in doubt!
Comments
Join the debate for just £1 a month
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just £1 a monthAlready a subscriber? Log in