June 03, 2015 Courier-Mail Bridge Column by Tony Jackman

The Asia Pacific Bridge Federation Championships concluded last weekend in Bangkok. Australia had teams in all three divisions. Results were mixed. The Open Championship was won by Japan, with Australia fading to sixth towards the end. The very strong China Women’s team won their title chased hard by Australia, who finished a clear second. We had two teams in the Seniors and here Australia 1 did the better, finishing fourth. Our Open (P. Lavings npc, M. Wilkinson, G. Ware, L. Milne, N. Griffith, M. Courtney, P. Wyer) and Women (D. Appleton npc, B. Travis, C. Ginsberg, M. Bourke, S. Lusk, V. Biltoft, L. Fuller) then won their playoffs against New Zealand to secure Australia’s places in the coming Bermuda Bowl and Venice Cup (world championships) later this year in Chennai.

S Dealer, N/S Vul NORTH ♠ 432 ♥ 106 ♦ 9872 ♣ AQ53 WEST EAST ♠ KQ1097 ♠ 65 ♥ KQ73 ♥ J9842 ♦ 104 ♦ J653 ♣ 42 ♣ K7 SOUTH ♠ AJ8 ♥ A5 ♦ AKQ ♣ J10986

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH 1C 1S 2C Pass 3NT(end)

Today’s hand is another Brian Senior special from the APBF Daily Bulletin. What’s your best shot to make 3NT after West leads SK? In indifferent company you hold up and. if West continues the suit, he falls victim to the ‘Bath Coup’ – you now have two spade stops - and make 10 tricks even though CK is offside. But you are in better company – and East plays a discouraging S5 at trick one specifically denying SJ. So West switches to HK and – you’re doomed.

Possible answer? Try the ‘Pigpen Coup’ (no bath). Drop SJ at trick one. It would take master defenders, playing count signals, not attitude, to switch now. You win SA at trick two and try the CK finesse. It loses – but it’s to the ‘safe hand’ - you know East has no more spades - and your 3NT rolls home.