Shree Cement Final - The Clash of the Titans
As this article appears, the finals of the Shree Cement Teams tournament is just about to start. The contest is between two veritable titans in the arena of Indian Bridge viz Formidables and Aristos.
Formidables finished 9th in the Swiss League, a surprisingly low position by their standards. However, they were nothing short of awesome in the knock out stages. They first brushed off Team MJajoo without so much as a by your leave. Then in a brilliant quarter final match, they staged a miraculous recovery in the last of 3 session and overcame a carry over to emerge victors by 0.5 IMPs over the league winners Texan Ace. In the semi finals they were just too strong for their opponents Trifecta M who they overwhelmed in just 3 sessions out of the four required to be played.
Aristos finished second in the league and went about playing clinical bridge to dispose off their rivals viz. Spartans in the Pre Quarter Finals and R K Sinha in the quarters. They seemed to be cruising towards the finals after 3 sessions in the semis, but their opponents, Six Pack, had other ideas. In a veritable storm they not only wiped out a greater than 50 point deficit, but were also leading with 3 boards to go. However, Aristos dug in their heels and pulled out 26 imps from the last 3 boards to emerge eventual victors.
We wish the finalists all the best. Remind you that they are being broadcast with a 3o minute delay on the RealBridge kibitzing server
Stepping Stone
Priya Balasubramanian
That I overbid too much is my partner’s bone,
When the dummy comes down, I can’t hold back my groan
After the match, what I dread is my partner’s phone!
Stranded winners in the dummy, can I get a card on a loan?
Brainwave strikes, with glee, I use my opponent as my stepping stone
Teachers, parents, friends, bridge partners all have played the role of stepping stones helping us move closer to our goals. But when your opponent provides the stepping stone the success is that much sweeter.
The Shree Cement tourneys have been cementing their presence across the bridge world in India for the past week. The level of bridge has been sparkling and many interesting boards and plays were observed.
One such interesting hand as observed in the semi-final knock out is given below.
West disrupted the bidding by opening 2♥ alerted as 4-4 majors 3-8 points. North bid 2N and the contract of 3N reached. Other tables West stayed silent and a 4♥ contract was easily reached.
Declarer ducked the ♠Q lead and took the second spade with the ♠K. There are seven top tricks. If the ♥K is not cashed, two more can be developed in hearts by finessing through West who is likely to have the Queen.
Declarer cashed the ♣K and ♣A and finessed the hearts twice, winning the last heart in hand with the ♥A. He cashed the ♦A and ♦K. Now for the elusive ninth trick. The ♥K was stranded in the dummy with no entry. He now exited with the last spade.
If East won the spade, he would have to give up a diamond trick. If West won the spade, she would provide the stepping stone to the ♥K in the dummy. This end play resulted in cementing North’s contract.
As an aside, this contract makes 6♥, difficult to reach on current bidding. Assuming a spade lead, win the ♠K, ruff a spade. Finesse west twice with the ♥J and ♥10, and play the ♥Ace. Come to hand with a diamond ruff. When the ♥K is played there is a minor squeeze on East. The end position will be as below.
Hand viewer diagram and analysis courtesy Sandeep Thakral
PS: Thanks to Rajeev Khandelwal for bringing this hand to my notice.
PPS: Many thanks to Subhash Bhavnani for the technical edit.
PPPS: I don’t receive any compensation for these articles except reader’s feedback. So please don’t hold back.
Bridge in Hindi
Uttam Gupta
ब्रिज के खेल में अर्जियाँ नहीं चलतीं
दिलों के खेल में खुदगर्जियाँ नहीं चलतीं
चल ही पड़े हैं तो ये जान लीजिए हुजुर
ब्रिज की राह में मनमर्जियाँ नहीं चलतीं
This beautiful to a bridge partnership was composed by Uttam Gupta. While his exploits on the bridge table are well known, we thought we would present another facet of his character here.
He writes many such verses in various chat groups and we are happy that he permitted us to present this here.
Nice article and poem Priya. Keep them going.
Kista