NSWBA

A rare beer

Australians, unlike players from other countries, count the beer card - even when diamonds are trumps. It may be easier to get - but any excuse for a beer...

In our State Youth Championships - NSW faced Victoria in a 40 board final. With 12 boards to go this board appeared (with Victoria NS):

Game NS Dealer North Contract 5DX (S) WEST Joshua Wyner	NORTH Hakan Lyngsjo   AQJ   106   AJ87(!)43   83	EAST Kylie Robb
K432   42   5   QJ10762	SOUTH Leigh Gold	86   AKQJ5   6   AK954
	10975   9873   KQ1092   -

West	North	East	South
	1D	2NT	3D
4C	4D	4NT	5D
Pass	Pass	X	Pass
Pass	Pass

East had a pretty good hand for their double. But it wasn't enough. The two hearts were lost early and from there the play was simple for any beer card player. A couple of clubs were ruffed high and that was that. With three tricks to go Hakan tabled the cards pointed to the diamond 7 and said "beer me baby"...and doubled too.

This was worth a cool 16 imps when the NSW NS tried an injudicious 3NT. Down 6 - could have been 7 if West hadn't signalled with a winner. Victoria went on to win the final.

So why is this article called "a rare beer". You'll have to ask Leigh Gold...but it was actually paid!

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