BRIDGE NOTES: Pakistan and India bridge teams qualify for Bermuda Bowl

The 14th, Asia and Middle East Bridge Championships, staged in Karachi, was the most significant bridge event for years. The World Bridge Federation nominated Karachi for holding Zone 4, after a gap of 18 years.
Timing of the championships is, however, was not very ideal in the month of May in this region as the summer season sets in with partly shining sun causing discomfiture. But the choice of the venue of the tournament was most suited for the conduct of the proceedings at a local hotel along with quiet coastline of blue Arabian Sea.
All the teams from zone four took part in the championship that included India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Jordan, Palestine. The prestigious world qualifying contest for Bermuda Bowl got off to a fine start and the keenness of competition was witnessed at every stage of the game. All the teams played to the best of their abilities and opportunity presented to them.
The Indian team was represented by Aloka Sadhu, Ashok Goel, Dadasich Roy, Kamal Mukurjee, Kamal Roy and Pritish Kushari. And Pakistan open team was represented by the national champions A.R Allana, Jana-e-Alam Fazali, Jawed Meran, Tahir Masood, Rasheed Jaffar and Sarfraz Khan.
Having gone through gruelling rounds India won the Championship by a slender margin of two IMP. Thereby India and Pakistan having been placed first and second in the tournament secured the right to represent their country in Bermuda Bowl which would be played in Shanghai in September and October this year.
There were many swings either way during the play between India and Pakistan, which indicated fairly good standard of play. One of the hand is reproduced here for the interest of the followers of the game, which tilted the balance in favour of India.
In the open room, defence was merciless. East led the 10 of spades, west won with his spade K and immediately switched to his trumps. Declarer switched to his frumps. Declarer played the H6 from the dummy.
West Ducking the South winning his Queen. North led a diamond, East rising with his DK and playing another spade to his partner's CA. West continued with his CJ, covered and ruff, and a heart a went to dummy's king and west's ace. West chased the seven of spades. East discarding his last heart. Now the lead of the jack of hearts made sure East took two more trumps tricks. That was four down, Pak minus 1100. That adverse movement scaled down Pakistani score.
Golden tips: There is no room for emotionalism in a world-class bridge contest.
DEALER: NORTH BOTH-SIDES VULNERABLE:

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North          West          East             South

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S Q 642        S AKJ 75      S T 9             S 83

H QT           H AJ 4        H 532         H K 9876

D 7            D AT 85       D K 32        D QJ 964

C AJT 873      C 6           C Q 9542           C K

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THE BIDDING: CLOSED ROOM:

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West           North         East             South

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-              P             P                    P

1 C            P             P                  Db1

R. Db1         2 C           P                  2 D

Db1            P             P                  2 H

Db1            all pass      -                    -

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