CONTRACT BRIDGE Freak Deals In Allard Cup

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31111, 14 July 1966, Page 18

CONTRACT BRIDGE Freak Deals In Allard Cup

(Contribated t>v JR WJ In the 19305, as part of his drive to publicise contract bridge, Ely Culbertson sent one of his lieutenants to carry out missionary work in New Zealand. P. Gordon Allard, on his own admission a terrible bridge player, was however, a first-class teacher, who visited the four main centres lecturing in the larger stores. When he left he gave a cup for national competition. In view of the slowness of travel in those days, it was decided to have hands dealt in Wellington, copies being sent to the other cities. When the participants bad played the same hands on the same night, either as North-South or as East-West, all the scores were compared in Wellington. and after four rounds a national winner was declared. This competition still goes on each year, though the number of clubs participating has increased considerably. The pre-dealing of the hands has given rise to a widespread belief that they are “fixed” in one way or another. Although this is strongly denied by the organisers, over the years the competition has been so marked by perverse distributions of the cards that the phrase “Allard Cup hands” has become a by-word. A deal from this year's event will illustrate the point N. S.—K 8 7 2 H.—A K Q 6 D.—lo C. K 8 7 5 W. E. S.—s S.—3 H.—J 8 7 4 2 H.—9 5 D.—AQB763 D.—K J 9 5 4 2 C.—J C.—Q 10 6 3 S. S.—A Q J 10 9 6 4 H.—lo 3 D. ■ C.— A 9 4 2 South can easily make six spades, with seven spade tricks, three hearts and two clubs. When this hand was played in a local heat at Crockfords Club, several pairs called the slam but others were sidetracked into doubling East-West contracts of six diamonds. Since neither side was vulnerable, a small slam in spades scored 980, including the 300 points awarded in duplicate for a non-vulnerable game. EastWest could afford to go down five doubled and still show a profit, so when six diamonds was defeated by only three tricks for a 500 penalty, it was a splendid save. At one table there was a most interesting auction: W N E S No. IS 2D 3D 5D 6S 7D Dble All pass. After a pass from the dealer, R. Davey as South opened one spade and West overcalled two diamonds. Mrs R. R. BelL sitting North,

made the excellent call of three diamonds. Originally this immediate overcall in the opponents* suit showed first-round control, either the ace or a void, but most good players have extended the idea to include a singleton. It also showed a fit in spades, was forcing at least to game, and tended to deny a suit good enough or strong enough to force in.

East, R. B. Vincent, made the good barrage bid of five diamonds, but South with values to spare, countered with a full-blooded jump to six spades. West had no real problem in calling seven diamonds, although in these situations the average player often shuts his eyes and guesses. West’s only possible defensive trick, the ace of diamonds was unlikely to make after his partner’s vigorous support and it was most improbable that East had two defensive tricks for with such values he would have been inclined to go more slowly. Six spades was almost certainly on while in view of the distribution, there need be few fears of pushing the opponents into seven. A sacrifice in diamonds thus had all to gain and very little chance of losing. Without first-round control in the enemy suit. North's double of seven diamonds was automatic, since a pass would clearly indicate a willingness to have partner bid on. South, with the void tn diamonds, was tempted to bid seven, but in time he remembered his partner was unlikely to have a good side suit, and be passed. What was, on this distribution of the cards, the par contract, had been reached.