The second day of Stage 2 of the Open Butler Pairs Championship. 5 more 12 board matches with the top 5 pairs in each field to qualify for Stage 3. Tania and I start the day running second NS. We have a tough morning playing the two pairs who are running first and second in the EW field.

Match 6 against Paul Dalley and Tony Nunn. A strong pair from Sydney who are undefeated so far in Stage 2.

Paul bid well on Board 8. Tony opened 1C which could be as short as 1. I overcalled 1H, Paul bid 1S which denied 4 cards in spades. Tania bid 2D an artificial bid showing a constructive raise in hearts. Tony passed and I bid 3H showing a non-minimum overcall. Paul bid 4C and Tania bid 4H. When this was passed back to Paul he tried 4S intending this as a choice between spades, clubs or diamonds. Tony chose 5C. We had bid 4H to make so I doubled. 11 tricks were cold so we scored up -550 and lost 10 IMPs.

Board 10 was a hand on the margin between game and slam with 15 opposite 15 and 2 fits. As it turned out even the 5 level was too high with 2 spades and an ace to lose. Half of the field got too high. 8 IMPs for us.

The last hand of the match was Board 6. We bid to a slightly enthusiastic 6H contract after Paul had made a lead directing double showing clubs. Tania had to guess who had the HQ. When she guessed wrongly we were one down for -50 and -10 IMPs. If she had guessed correctly we would have gained about 10 IMPs.

A 10 IMP loss. Not great but not tragic at this point of the event.

Match 7 we play Pauline Gumby and Warren Lazer. Pauline is the only Diamond Grand Master in Australia with almost 16,000 masterpoints. Warren is second on the list with only a little under 14,400 points. They were running second in the EW field having won all their matches.

Board 15 was a system triumph for us. Tania opened 1C, either balanced minimum or unbalanced with clubs. Warren overcalled 1H and I doubled showing 4 or more spades. Tania bid 2S to show a minimum hand with 4 spades and I raised to game. Played from south the HK was protected so 4S made easily. Most pairs played 4S by north which failed on a heart lead through the K. 12 IMPs.

Board 22 was very interesting. 6 EW pairs bid 6H. All of them went one down. The contract could make on a very pretty squeeze. Declarer wins the opening lead and draws three rounds of trumps. A club to the K loses to north's A. Now declarer plays 2 rounds of spades. Whichever minor suit north discards can now be established for the 12th trick.

At our table Warren and Pauline bid to 6H but were not clear on their fit. I doubled 6H and Warren removed to 6NT which I was happier to double. This had no chance and went one down for +200 and 5 IMPs.

A 20 IMP win was a great result for us.

Match 8 was against Donald Cartwright and George Fleischer an experienced pair from Sydney.

Board 1 we bid a poor slam which went one down. Fortunately 7 out of 10 NS pairs bid this slam so it was only -4 IMPs.

Board 2 was another problematic 'slam' hand. We bid 6S after east opened 3D. George led partner's suit and Tania had an easy 12 tricks. The HA and continuation would have resulted in one down. 4 pairs bid slam and all made. One pair bid 7S got doubled and went two down! 10 somewhat undeserved IMPs.

Donald and George had slightly the better of the rest and won the match by 1 IMP.

Match 9 against Bill Powell and Marjorie Askew. An experienced pair from Ballina who we have often played mainly online but also at the table.

A small win by 9 IMPs.

The last round was Match 10 against Kate McCallum and Axel Johansson. They were the winners of Stage 3 last year. Kate is a many time World Champion in Womens bridge representing the USA. They play a complicated strong club relay system.

Board 27 saw a pragmatic auction to 7NT. Axel played nicely to combine all his chances (the SJ coming down in 3 rounds, doubleton HJ in either hand, a red suit squeeze or as finally transpired the hearts dividing 3-3). -11 IMPs. One pair managed to stop in 3NT with their combined 35 points.

A loss by 14 IMPs.

We finished second NS. The prize is another 2 days of bridge in Stage 3! The final scorecard.

As is always the case a couple of fancied pairs missed out. This year it was Phil Markey and David Appleton in the EW field and Jessica Brake and Shane Harrison in the NS field.

Jacques Cherbuin and Adam Robinson hung on to finish 5th EW. A great effort. Also NS Carmel Martin and Abby Wanigaratne were in the top half of the NS field throughout and finished fifth.

Stage 3 starts tomorrow. A round robin amongst the remaining 10 pairs. Time for some much needed sleep!