At the Peek Freans 14th Asia & Middle East Bridge Championships, played two months ago in Karachi, Pakistan, the women's teams looked like an easy victory for India, who led Jordan after 40 of the 60 boards by 135 international match points to 87. But Jordan staged a remarkable comeback, winning the final session by 94 imps to 17 to take the title by 29 imps.
This set was highlighted by slam swings. India played in seven hearts with a trump suit of A-K-9-4-2 opposite 10-8-6. There were no miracles and down one was the result. To make matters worse, Jordan had stopped in three no-trump when six hearts and six no-trump only required hearts to play for one loser. It was 11 imps to Jordan instead of 11 to India if the Indian pair had used Roman Key Card Blackwood to learn that the trump queen was missing.
On another board, Jordan made six clubs to gain 12 imps when India stopped in three no-trump after a bidding misunderstanding.
And there was this deal, the final one.
Jordan's North played in five clubs, making six when she guessed the trump suit.
At this table, South's one-club opening was Precision, showing 16 points or more. Azza Qashou (East) did well to pass in tempo with her seven-card heart suit. Pre-emptors often forget how their bids help an opposing declarer to place the cards. So, when it came to the trump suit, declarer Sheelu Thadani went with the odds and played for a 2-2 break. That was down one, Jordan scoring another 12 imps.
This set was highlighted by slam swings. India played in seven hearts with a trump suit of A-K-9-4-2 opposite 10-8-6. There were no miracles and down one was the result. To make matters worse, Jordan had stopped in three no-trump when six hearts and six no-trump only required hearts to play for one loser. It was 11 imps to Jordan instead of 11 to India if the Indian pair had used Roman Key Card Blackwood to learn that the trump queen was missing.
On another board, Jordan made six clubs to gain 12 imps when India stopped in three no-trump after a bidding misunderstanding.
And there was this deal, the final one.
Jordan's North played in five clubs, making six when she guessed the trump suit.
At this table, South's one-club opening was Precision, showing 16 points or more. Azza Qashou (East) did well to pass in tempo with her seven-card heart suit. Pre-emptors often forget how their bids help an opposing declarer to place the cards. So, when it came to the trump suit, declarer Sheelu Thadani went with the odds and played for a 2-2 break. That was down one, Jordan scoring another 12 imps.