This is (unbelievably) my last column of 2022 and I thought I’d give you my team’s highs and lows for the year. Highs would be winning England’s Premier League, closely followed by coming second in the World Bridge Tour’s final in Copenhagen; and you don’t get much lower than being beaten in the first round of the Gold Cup when you are the holders and seeded number one. Or being 36 up with eight to play and losing by one IMP. Here’s how it’s done:

West led the ◆King, covered in dummy and ruffed by East, who cashed a top Club and switched to a Heart. I needed to dispose of the two losing Diamonds and maybe that would be possible if I could organise to throw East in. With this in mind, I eliminated Hearts with two ruffs in hand and then played my last Club, discarding a Diamond from dummy. East had only Clubs left and had to give a ruff & sluff, and I got rid of the last Diamond from dummy.

It felt great; the opponents had not only misdefended – two rounds of Clubs from East and I’d have had no chance – they also had a cheap sacrifice in 5♣. Must be a good board, I thought.

The auction was the same at the other table, as was the lead. But here, my team mate figured – not unreasonably – that he needed to get partner (West) in asap to take some Diamonds, so he casually underled in Clubs at trick two, and South scored his ♣7.

The very same elimination and throw-in followed, but here it was for the overtrick. And that’s how you can lose by one IMP!

HAPPY EVERYTHING – back in 2023!

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