Day 5: We Fell at the Final Hurdle

NZ National Congress – New Zealand Open Teams, final

Team Joel beat team Coutts by 119 IMPs to 75.5 over 56 boards and are the 2026 New Zealand Open Teams champions. Congratulations to Geeske Joel, Liam Milne, James Coutts, Shane Harrison and Andy Hung.

We finish second of 70 teams.

The final, set by set

The match was decided in the first set. We lost it 48 to 7, and after that we were always chasing. We won the third set and drew the fourth, but it was not enough to close a gap of more than 50 IMPs.

A family affair

The final had a family flavour. Our teammate Samuel Coutts was up against his brother James, who plays for Joel. Jessica Brake, also on our team, was up against her husband, Shane Harrison. In the last set George and I played against James Coutts and Shane Harrison.

Hand of the day: finding the right fit

Set 4, board 17. Dealer North, nobody vulnerable.

              ♠ Q 9 6 5
              ♥ 7
              ♦ K 9
              ♣ J 9 8 7 6 2
♠ 4                       ♠ A J 8
♥ A K Q 9 3               ♥ 8 6 4
♦ A Q 7 4 2               ♦ J 10 8 6 3
♣ K 10                    ♣ Q 4
              ♠ K 10 7 3 2
              ♥ J 10 5 2
              ♦ 5
              ♣ A 5 3

West     North    East     South
George            Hugh
–        Pass     Pass     1♠
2♠*      4♠       Pass     Pass
Dbl      Pass     4NT*     Pass
5♦       All pass

*2♠: five hearts and a five-card minor. 4NT: bid your minor.

George showed hearts and a minor, and North jumped to 4♠. When George doubled 4♠, I had three hearts and five diamonds. It was a close decision whether to bid on or pass. Having decided to bid on, rather than bidding 5♥, I bid 4NT to ask for his minor, and we found the diamond fit.

5♦ made: +400. At the other table West played in 4♥ and went one down, so the board was worth 10 IMPs to us.

The lesson: when partner has shown two suits, look for the fit that is safest, not just the first one you find. With a ten-card fit in diamonds and only an eight-card fit in hearts, the minor-suit game was the better spot.

Edler in the Congress Restricted Teams

Team Edler finished the Congress Restricted Teams 28th of 36, with two wins and four losses. After two narrow losses to start, they beat Imlach by 13 IMPs and edged Alexander by 1, but then ran into Koh, who finished third.

Thank you

It has been a great event. Nine wins from nine in the qualifying, wins over Pelkman and Fraser-Hoskin in the knockout, and second place in a field of 70 teams. Thank you to Samuel Coutts, Brad Johnston, Jessica Brake, Jack James and, of course, George.

What's next

Next up is the NZ Open Pairs, a six-session matchpoint event: two qualifying sessions on Thursday, two semi-final sessions on Friday and a two-session final on Saturday. George and I will be there; the Edlers are heading off touring. Clearly they have no stamina!

Hugh