COMING UP (CAM)ROSES

Although England eventually inflicted a severe defeat on the Contract Bridge Association of Ireland team in the first of the two Camrose Trophy weekends, it was their opponents who took the lead on the very first deal of the match when they delivered a perfect natural auction to a slam missed at every other table:

There were two key bids, the first being North’s jump to two spades, which established a game-forcing situation. The second came when, having given preference to clubs, Mark Moran appreciated the potential importance of his singleton diamond and took the opportunity to cue bid four diamonds. When he bid five clubs over North’s cue bid of four hearts, Peter Pigot realised that his partner’s trump support must be significant and went on to the laydown slam. If they go on to collect the IBPA award for the best bid hand of the year, those Irish eyes really will be smiling.