Barry Crane Examples

Bridge World "Challenge the Champs" May, 1985

Deal 7
South dealer
Both sides vulnerable
 West               East
 S 7                A 5 4
 H 6 4 2            J T 8 3
 D A K Q J T        7 4 3
 C A K T 9          Q 7 6

 Sanders            Crane
 1 D                1 H
 2 C                2 D
 2 H                Pass

For the challengers, Sanders, West, showed a big hand with three-card heart support with his delayed raise. However, this landed him in the wrong suit, rather unluckily, when Crane, East, understandably settled for any port in the storm. West's sequence evaluated correctly for hearts, but not for other strains.

Awards: 3 NT-10; 3 D-6; 4 D-4; 2 H-3; 3 H-2.

Deal 8
West deals and North overcalls spades;
Neither side vulnerable
 West               East
 S 9 2              A 8 5 4
 H A 6              K Q 7 2
 D K Q J T          A 8 5
 C A K 9 7 2        Q 4

 Sanders            Crane
 1 C       (1 S)    D'ble
 2 D                2 S
 4 D                4 NT
 5 C                5 H
 6 C                7 D
 Pass

The challengers hit the bullseye: natural opening; negative double; natural rebid; game forcing cue-bid; well judged jump tp show extra strength and good diamonds; key-card Blackwood; three key-card response; further investigation; diamond queen plus club king; conclusion.

Awards: 7 D-11; 6 NT-8; 6 D-7; 6 C-6; 5 NT-4; 7 NT-4; 7 C-3.