LONDON TROPHY 3RD ROUND
EPSOM GOLF CLUB VERSUS WALTON HEATH GOLF CLUB
21st January 2003

Your webmaster played for Epsom in one of the closest London Tropy matches ever.
The first 12 boards were scored relatively flat except that Epsom (Prizant/Morton) had missed an easy vulnerable slam. At the break Walton were 750 up. Then Walton, piled on the points in the first six boards in the second half with some very sound accurate bridge and Epsom were about 1400 points behind with 6 boards to play. But bridge is a funny game and the gods were with Epsom. They pulled back the deficit on the final 6 boards to win by the magnificent total of 30 aggregate points!
Read on. (Epsom East West).

Board 13 : Dealer North : All vulnerable	ª K Q 6 5 3 © A 10 8 3 ¨ A 7 § 10 9		Bidding
			N	E	S	W
			1ª *	P	3ª	P
			4ª	P	P	P
ª 2 © K Q 6 4 ¨ Q J 8 5 § K Q 5 3		ª 10 9 8 4 © J 7 5 ¨ K 10 6 4 § 4 2
	ª A J 7 © 9 2 ¨ 9 3 2 § A J 8 7 6		* 5 card major

This was a fairly routine board. With the clubs badly placed and trumps breaking 4/1, four spades is one off. The Walton declarer, unfortunately ruffed a losing heart with a trump honour and drifted 2 off.
In the other room the same contract went 1 off.

Board 14 : Dealer East : Love all	ª 8 3 2 © K Q J 10 7 5 3 ¨ - § 7 5 4
			E	S	W	N
			1NT	2¨	3NT	4©
			X	Pass	Pass	Pass
ª Q 9 6 © - ¨ A 8 7 6 2 § A Q 9 3 2		ª K 10 7 5 © A 9 8 6 ¨ K 10 4 § J 10
	ª A J 4 © 4 2 ¨ Q J 9 5 3 § K 8 6

This was the board that recovered a large part of the deficit. After Walton South's frisky 2 diamond overcall, the Epsom West did not double as he knew they had at least a 9 card heart fit. He bid 3NT. Now North, hoping for a few bits outside diamonds following partner's overcall tried 4 Hearts. East knew what to do!
After 3 rounds of clubs, West thought awhile and led a fourth round. Not expecting the 4/0 heart break and perhaps hoping for East to hold K Q spades, declarer ruffed high. East refused the overruff, guaranteeing a second heart trick to go along with the 2 spades in the wash. Four off!
Of course, in hindsight, declarer should discard a spade on the fourth club. Also in hindsight, West should attack spades rather than leading the fourth club. Holding both Queen and 9 of spades, it can be arranged that West wins the 3rd spade and now can lead the club to promote a second trump trick for partner.
In the other room, 3 hearts was doubled for 2 off.

Board 15 : Dealer South : NS vulnerable.	ª A Q 2 © 9 8 6 2 ¨ Q 8 7 3 § 9 3		Bidding;
			S	W	N	E
			1¨	2§	2¨	2©
			3¨	4§	Pass	4©
			Pass	Pass	Pass
ª 5 3 © K 4 ¨ J 9 § A Q J 10 7 6 5		ª K 9 8 4 © Q J 10 7 5 3 ¨ 2 § K 8
	ª J 10 7 6 © A ¨ A K 10 6 5 4 § 4 2

Some agressive bidding by Epsom landed them in the top spot. 5 diamonds is a good sacrifice but who was to say that 4 hearts was making? After a A K of diamonds declarer could simply draw trumps as the spade ace was favourably placed.
Strangely, Ace of diamonds followed by a club lead and a second club when in with the heart ace cuts declarer off from dummy and defeats the contract. A spade lead is not good enough. South cannot duck a heart!
Walton played 4 clubs one off in the other room.

Board 16 : Dealer West : EW vulnerable	ª 7 4 2 © 3 ¨ A K J 8 7 2 § K 6 4
			W	N	E	S
			Pass	1¨	1ª	2¨
			3ª	4¨	All	Pass
ª Q J 9 6 5 © K Q 9 5 ¨ 10 4 § 8 5		ª A K 10 8 3 © 10 8 6 2 ¨ 6 5 § A Q
	ª - © A J 7 4 ¨ Q 9 3 § J 10 9 7 3 2

Walton missed an opportunity here missing the almost laydown 5 diamonds. If East gets off to the best lead of a trump, declarer can go for the clubs.
Epsom also missed game in the other room allowing Walton to play 3 spades making. A setback on the road to recovery!

Board 17 : Dealer North : Love all.	ª Q 10 7 5 4 © K 10 9 3 ¨ 9 § 9 8 6
			N	E	S	W
			Pass	1¨	1©	2¨
			2©	2ª	Pass	3ª
			Pass	4¨	Pass	5¨
ª 6 3 2 © Q 8 5 ¨ Q 10 2 § K Q 4 2		ª A K J 8 © 4 ¨ K J 8 5 3 § A 5 3	All Pass
	ª 9 © A J 7 6 2 ¨ A 7 6 4 § J 10 7

Epsom, still pushing for points, bid a very agressive five diamonds. South led her singleton spade. After winning the first trump, however, she did not have the courage to underlead her ace of hearts to obtain a spade ruff. Another game in the bank!
Walton managed to make 3 Spades in the other room in spite of the 5/1 break!

Board 18 : Dealer East : NS vulnerable	ª A J 6 © Q 10 5 2 ¨ 6 3 § K Q J 7		Bidding;
			E	S	W	n
			Pass	Pass	1¨	X
			2NT	Pass	3NT	Pass
			Pass
ª 8 2 © A 9 7 ¨ K J 10 9 7 5 § A 5		ª Q 7 5 © K 8 ¨ A Q 2 § 10 9 8 4 2
	ª K 10 9 4 3 © J 6 4 3 ¨ 8 4 § 6 3

Given the rules of the competition, West was not sure whether 2NT was natural or a raise to 3 diamonds. Whatever the answer, he bid 3NT! South led a spade and that should have been curtains. Since partner had been silent in the auction, however, North was not sure that a spade return would be best, and returned the club king. Another game in the bank!
Epsom had managed to buy the contract in 3 spades down 2 in the other room. Was all this enough?.

Phew!! 30 points in it overall !!

Epsom Team; Alan Prizant, Roger Morton, Gerry Halls Maureen Halls.