Filling big shoes

When Cary Salmi, Brian Fraser and Guy Coutanche-last years’ Swiss Team winners asked me to play with them in Duncan, Vancouver Island because their fourth, keith Dowdall was not available, I accepted gladly. 

Our team played well and finished second overall. The winners were Dick Grant, Tim Kennelly, Pete Marinus and Milos Hajsky.  

Board 33. Dealer North. None vulnerable. 

 

GUY   ♠ A  ♥ Q ♦ 10987532  ♣ AKJ10

Brian ♠ QJ10763 ♥ J93 ♦ AKQ ♣ 2

 

Brian and Guy had a good auction to the small diamond slam.

 

West	North	East	South
	1♦	Pass	1♠
Pass	2♦	Pass	4♣ *
Pass	4NT	Pass	5♠ ^
Pass	6♦	Pass	Pass
Pass

 * 4♣ splinter. ^5♠ 2 key cards with trump queen in diamonds.

These were the East-West hands.

 

Cary ♠ 9842  ♥ 108763 ♦ 64 ♣ Q3

Michael  ♠ K5  ♥ AK52  ♦ J  ♣ 987654

At the other table where Cary was west and I was east. This was the auction.

 

West	North	East	South
	1♦	1♥	1♠
3♥	Pass	4♥	4♠
Pass	Pass	Pass

Cary and I jammed their auction with our heart bids and they lost their way.

Both four spades and six diamonds contracts were cold after the ace of hearts lead. We won the battle of the auctions, with it 11 imps.

 

 

Congratulations to Brian and Guy for a terrific tournament. First in the Open Pairs and second in the Swiss Team!

Thanks guys for inviting me to play, it was a lot of fun. Now we know who carried the team last year 🙂