Bridge | 6 January 2024

One of the things I like most about bridge is that it allows you to be sociable without actually having to talk to anybody. At the Year End Congress, held between Christmas and the New Year, it was lovely to see all the familiar faces. But what a relief not to have to answer the sort of bland questions people usually ask. ‘Did you have a good Christmas?’ etc. I much prefer people asking about things they really want to know, like: ‘Do you play standard count?’ As for that dreariest of greetings – ‘How are you?’ – must I really bore us both with my reply? But it’s never dull to be greeted with: ‘Hello, are you weak or strong?’

I played the Mixed Pairs with my friend Kevin Castner. On this board, he found the only lead to beat 3NT:

The bidding was the same at nearly every table, and most players sitting East led the «K or «Q.