England’s ladies bridge has a grand past, with many international titles and gold medals to its name, but obviously the same players can’t go on forever. It would appear that the future may also be looking bright as many girls and young women discover how fascinating and obsessing bridge can be. We have, without doubt, a very strong pair coming through the ranks. When Dido Coley and Lily Kearney won the Lady Milne trials last year, not many had heard of them. Last week they repeated the feat and I watched them on BBO whenever they were shown. I was very impressed. They have a well worked out, modern bidding system which they both know backwards and forwards; an active and aggressive attitude to competitive auctions; and an enthusiastic partnership chemistry. Add to that a large dollop of natural ability and you have a pair who may well be climbing towards world-class status in years to come.
On this hand, Lily outplayed the whole field of wannabe Internationals and past Champions:
The lead was the Jack of Spades at all tables except one. How would you proceed?
Lily let the lead run to her King and proceeded to draw trumps in three rounds.
Then, as a matter of good technique, she played three rounds of Diamonds ruffing in hand, before leading a Spade up and covering West’s card. East could take two Spades but then had to play Clubs or give a ruff & sluff.
Easy when you know how!
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