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The first week-end of the Camrose Trophy was played at Bewleys Dublin Airport Hotel. The England leads but Ireland is there, as forecasted by Liz McGowan in her presentation of the Trophy. But there is still hope for the Welsh teams, whereas Scotland and North Ireland are too far from the top.
Here is the VPs score after the first five matches (kindly by Mr. Diarmuid Reddan: http://bridge.silvertexter.eu/):
92 England
88 Ireland
80 Wales
76 Welsh Bridge Union
69 Scotland
45 North-Ireland
The second week-end matches will be on 4-6th of March in Wales, in the Metropole Hotel of LLandrindod, Powys.
Open Room. All Vuln. North Ireland in E-W | |||
West |
North |
East |
South |
Greenwood |
Witthaker |
Anderson |
Liggins |
|
|
|
Pass |
Pass |
1♦ |
2♣ |
Pass |
Pass |
Double |
3♣ |
Double |
All pass |
We have selected, for a comment, the deal 7th from the match England vs North Ireland . All vuln; both East have made 3♣ doubled +670.
David Bird, one of the most important author and theorist, has so commented in BBO the auction in Open Room: “No action by N/S seemed obviously wrong. If you are looking for a mistake, I suppose it must be South’s double that comes under the spotlight”.
Closed Room. All vuln. England in E-W | |||
West |
North |
East |
South |
Patterson |
I Hamilton |
Crouch |
W Hamilton |
|
|
|
Pass |
Pass |
1♦ | 3♣ |
Pass |
Pass |
Double |
All Pass |
It need first a note on the Easts’ overcalls. Both play weak jump, then the Rex Anderson’s 2♣ looks more appropriate than the 3♣ of Peter Crouch. However, in Patterson-Crouch’s Convention Card is written: “Weak, but tactical opposite passed partner”. This reservation allows his “weak” jump, with 2,5 defensive tricks and shape enough for a nice opening bid.
|
North ♠KJ72 ♥9543 ♦AKQ107 ♣— |
|
West ♠AQ53 ♥7 ♦J96542 ♣54 |
|
East ♠8 ♥AJ6 ♦83 ♣AQJ9632 |
|
South ♠10964 ♥KQ1082 ♦— ♣K1087 |
|
Let’s come back to the main question: did Glyn Liggins mistake by doubling? I think he didn’t, but a better help for him comes from Bryant McCampbell, the champion that in 1915 invented the Takeout Double who said: “If your doubles are never beaten, then you are not doubling often enough”.
***
by Paolo Enrico Garrisi