Social bridge at the clubs in Bangalore is almost vanishing except in one or two places. But duplicate bridge is routinely played in three clubs, which hold weekly sessions turn by turn. The same faces take part in the contest at the venue with very few changes, but the new blood in the game is conspicuous by its absence.

The secretary of Karnataka Bridge Association, Vasanth Koltaya, laments the dismal growth of interest for the game for the reason of computer craze among the young generation in the city. Some home he hopes to attract young blood by setting up coching centres in some posh localities in the city with ever- increasing population. "Consultations with the Bridge Federation of India are in progress in this regard," he said and hoped for the best.

Last Sunday a team event was organised at the Century Club, one of the leading clubs in the city, that was founded by late Sir. M. Visveswariya, for the recreational activities of natives without suppressing his resentment for not allowing entry to the Indians into the club of the city run by the British in the good old days when they reigned supreme. M. Visveswariya, an eminent engineer, played a pioneering role in industrial and technological development of erstwhile Mysore state.

The tournament was well participated by men and women teams in good number and it was a keenly contested event. One of the highlights of the game was a hand played by an experienced pair, which is reproduced below for its aggressive bidding style.

(1) Negative double

(2) Negative double

(3) Penalty double

South led Spade 7

As the dummy came down the declarer cast an inquiring look at his partner for raising the bid to Grand Slam with no winning trick in the dummy, except a dubious feature in it. Gupta got the cue from his partner's accusing looks and curtly said that when you did not correctly bid your hand to show me strength in the right places, I could sense your hand what it could be when you bid the club suit four times. I raised the bid to Grand Slam with confidence, that is all to it.

The North played the king on the lead. South ruffed with a small club in hand and led a small heart ruffed in the dummy. Then played a club from the dummy, the king of clubs dropped from the North like a dry leaf, the declarer won the trick with ace and gleefully claimed the contract after the third move. The contract depended on the king of clubs in the right place to trap.

All is well that ends well.

The bridge fans watching the proceedings were amazed at Gupta's violent bid of 7 clubs. But the veteran knew what he was doing.

THE BIDDING:

===================================

North      East     South      West

Master     Bhat     Bhola     Gupta

1 S        2 C       2 H       Pass

2 S        3 C       3 S       Pass

Pass       4 C       Dbl (1)   Pass

4 H        5 C       Dbl (2)    7 C

Dbl (3)    Pass      Pass      Rdbl

===================================

Dealer North

North-South vulnerable

NORTH

S AKJ 10863

H J 98

D Q 6

C K

WEST

S 542

H ---

D 985432

C 6532

EAST

S ---

H A 653

D AK

C AQJ10987

SOUTH

S Q 97

H KQ 10742

D J 107

C 4

GOLDEN TIPS: Assessment of card holding is hard to acquire.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2004