Janet de Botton

Bridge | 6 February 2014

issue 08 February 2014

January ended for me with the annual Icelandic Bridge Festival in Reykjavik. There may be a better tournament but I haven’t played it. This year it attracted a record number of entries for the Pairs and Teams — and a record number of Brits. The star for me was the divine Mrs P, playing with the brilliant Brian Senior, known to all as Grumpy. They did very well in the Pairs, but in the Teams, playing with Brian’s wife, multiple World Champion Nevena Senior and Rumen Trendafilov, they were unbeatable, leading virtually from the start and winning with a match to spare.

Mrs P — Sandra Penfold — has had a cracking bridge career and despite Grumpy’s withering sarcasm carries on smiling and playing like a pro.

This hand illustrates that when things are well placed for declarer, it costs nothing to muddy those still waters.

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in