The
annual Santa Claus Pairs is held at Manchester Bridge Club on a
Sunday in December. There is an excellent buffet at half
time and plenty of Christmas cheer.
This
deal features two of the pairs who finished high up in the
field.
Neil
Thomas bid a weak jump overcall of three clubs over Gillian
MacMullan's one diamond opening. Roger Hopton in the South
seat wanted to bid four hearts, but was worried that this might
be interpreted as a splinter in support of diamonds, so settled
for three hearts forcing. In competitive situations any
jump to game in a new suit should be treated as a natural bid,
so four hearts was the correct bid. It didn't really
matter on this deal, West was bidding six clubs anyway and when
that came back to Roger he had a clear sacrifice in six hearts
which went two down for -500 and a goodish score for East-West.
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