Owain and Henry by Foxymoron

 

"Not many people know that" is wrongly attributed to Michael Caine, whereas it was a practical joke played by Peter Sellers, and Michael never said it. Not many people know that a penalty of 1400 in bridge is known as an Owain, after the rebellion by Owain Glyndwr in 1400. This lasted 15 years and was the last Welsh War of Independence. On the following hand, EW could have notched up an Owain, and could have gone for a Henry  Instead West eventually reached a cold 6NT. But only after an indiscretion by South!

North opened 4H which was a bit frisky, but can only be taken for 1400, as the declarer must make 5 tricks, and West had an awkward bid when it came round to him. He doubled and when East bid 4S he tried 5D and bid 6C when East bid 5S. East passed that, but South doubled, hoping to get a heart lead. Probably the double asks for an unusual lead, but West was taking no chances and corrected to 6NT which could not be beaten. The swing on this decision was from -1100  to +1440 so the double was particularly injudicious, especially as North would have led a heart anyway and the defence would have taken the first five tricks. 1100 for 4 off doubled would have been a Henry, of course, as Henry I seized the throne in 1100 after the death of William II. 

 

Quite rare that an opening 4H, which can be taken for an Owain, would score average as several pairs reached 6NT!

A good turnout at the AGM and nice to see 9½ tables remaining for the bridge. Also excellent to see Roly Harris, a loyal member of the club for many years, winning with Ian Macleay with a fine score of 66%.

Major Tom by Foxymoron

The heading here had an excellent crossword clue  "Bowie character, a doubter briefly following suit? (5,3)" The persona from Space Oddity and Black Star needs no introduction, but a word of explanation is in order. The suit is clearly a major and the doubter (briefly) is Tom, a reference to the biblical character Doubting Thomas as in this painting by Serodine.

What has all this to do with bridge, you may ask? Well, everyone uses Stayman, looking for a major, when they are in doubt as to whether a 4-4 fit will play better, but I don't think that this is a good strategy for several reasons. 

a) In match-points the two contracts often play for the same number of tricks

b) Even if you do find a 4-4 fit, the suit might break 4-1.

c) When you bid Stayman you risk it being doubled for the lead

d) Careless talk costs lives. The auction 1NT-3NT is much less informative.

So, if you are in doubt whether to use Stayman to look for a major, then don't be in doubt - just bid 3NT and follow the Hamman rule. "If 3NT is a possible contract then bid it". About the only exception should be when you have aces and kings, and a low doubleton somewhere. This hand from last night's SIMs showed the principle well.

In theory it is right to play 4H here, as the defence can take five rounds of spades against 3NT, but on the uninformative auction, East is not leading the king of spades. If you do bid Stayman, you will get to 4H, but East might well lead the king of spades against that, and you will only make 10 tricks. Indeed on four rounds of spades, you must ruff in the North hand, but then can pick up the trumps for no loser.

This is a good hand for Lucas twos, which my partner and I have switched to recently. If West opens 2S, then East will have no difficulty in finding the king of spades lead against 4H, for a near top. One player opened 1S, which I think is wrong, but it does remind me of the poser. "Why did the Sky football commentator open on an 8-count?" with the obvious answer, "Because he was Ferdinand".