Irish Luck
by Peter Fordham


Prior to embracing multi-culturism, and substantially altering the mix of migration, Australia was very much an Anglo-Irish country so "The luck of the Irish" was a widely used and understood term.

Playing in the third round of the qualifying series of the Open Pairs, my partner John Roberts and I, towards the end of the round, were struggling through a nightmare session when we sat down against two very pleasant Irishmen. Noticing their nationality, I commented to those present, "We'll need the luck of the Irish from here on in to escape this debacle.'' This is what transpired at their table.

Board 1. Dealer North. Love All
ª A Q 9 8 5
© Q J
¨ 9 4
§ 10 8 5 4
ª 6 2 ª 7
© A K 10 7 6 5 © 8 4 3
¨ K 10 7 2 ¨ A Q 5 3
§ A § K Q J 6 2
ª K J 10 4 3
© 9 2
¨ J 8 6
§ 9 7 3

West North East South

2ª Pass 4ª
5© Pass 6© All Pass

North cashed the ªA and switched to the ¨9. I buoyantly commented to the others when the ¨A held, "Well the slam's now makable but will I make it?" Giving up on the idea of 4-0 trumps on side, I crossed to the ©A, noting the fall of the honour with North, ruffed a spade on the dummy and finessed to North's other bare honour for one down.

Muttering some obscenities about restricted choice and Irish luck, I ventured forth to Board 2.

Board 2. Dealer East. NS Game
ª 3
© A 2
¨ K 6 3 2
§ A K Q 8 6 3
ª K Q 9 8 ª A J 7 6
© K Q 10 8 6 4 © J 9 5
¨ J 4 ¨ 10 8 7
§ 5 § J 9 4
ª 10 5 4 2
© 7 3
¨ A Q 9 5
§ 10 7 2

West North East South

Pass Pass
1© 2§ 2© 3§
3© 4§ Pass Pass
4© All Pass

Not wishing to sell out to 4§ at pairs and hoping for a little Irish Luck, I ventured a fourth heart to confirm that I still held 13 cards and hoped that the bidding would die as it did. North led his spade and won the trump ace at trick two. After a little thought, presumably (from my perspective ) to think about South's entry, he led a low club. Since the spade lead was pretty obviously a singleton from my view, I played the J§, simply to maybe confuse South. Somewhat surprisingly the J§ held, making 4© and the Irish were left to ponder the vagaries of Irish Luck with boomerang attached.


Results Contents
Open Pairs F1, F2
Ladies Pairs F1, F2
Senior Pairs F1, F2
IMP Pairs F1, F2
Société Générale Open Pairs Final
The IBPA Annual Awards
Turbo Charged
When a Negative can be Positive
Squeeze Time in the Zonal Pairs
Irish Luck


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