Does life feel a bit flat? Are you bored and listless? Then take up bridge! During the recent Lady Milne (the women’s home internationals) in Edinburgh, these are just some of the emotions I experienced: euphoria, frustration, elation, shame, exhaustion, self-loathing, pride, fear. The one thing I didn’t feel, not even for a second, was boredom. It helped that our England team was leading throughout. And that I was lucky enough to be playing with Sally Brock, probably the best woman player in the country. Our teammates were Jane Moore and Gillian Fawcett — I wish they were my teammates more often — and Lizzie Godfrey and Pauline Cohen, who were both on superb form; and by the way, this was Pauline’s first cap, aged 69. When we won, no drug could have produced a more exalted feeling.
Of course, it’s always the mistakes that stick in the mind. I found this hand very interesting: Sally, for once, didn’t find the best defence, but even if she had, I’m pretty sure I’d have missed the chance to shine:
West’s 2♣ bid showed the majors. I led the ♣K, then switched to a diamond. Sally won and returned a club to my ace, which declarer ruffed. Declarer then played the ♥K; I won and returned a heart, hoping to lock declarer in dummy so that I would make my ♠K — but to my dismay declarer won with the ♥9 in hand, and was able to take the trump finesse for the rest of the tricks. Do you see how Sally and I could have defeated the contract? At trick 3, Sally has to play a heart; then, when declarer plays low, I have to play the ♥5, letting dummy win.
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