| 1st World Bridge Games | Page 2 | Bulletin 6 - Thursday 9 October 2008 |
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SENIOR TEAMS R11 - South Africa v France David & Goliath by Mark Horton France, with 106,087 registered members, the largest of all the European countries, took on South Africa – which, although geographically approximately twice the size, has only 3,762 members.
Open Room
South cashed the king of spades and switched to a club. Declarer won with the ace and played three rounds of diamonds, ruffing with the ten of hearts. When the suit divided he drew trumps and claimed ten tricks, +420. Not much chance of a swing there you might have thought…. Closed Room
When West could only summon up a modest Two Hearts, East had no reason to advance. The same ten tricks gave France 6 easily earned IMPs.
Open Room
South led the ten of clubs and declarer won in hand and played the ten of spades, covered by the king and ace. He unblocked the king of clubs, played the jack of diamonds, overtaking with the ace, cashed his club winners and played a spade to the nine. When that held he cashed the queen of spades and exited with a spade. South could win and cash two diamonds, but declarer had the rest, +430. Closed Room
Is it possible there was some misunderstanding as to the meaning of 2NT? North led the three of clubs and declarer won with the king and played a club to dummy. The right play now must be to set about the trump suit, but declarer tried to cash a third club. When South ruffed declarer discarded the jack of hearts. South exited with a heart and declarer won and was reduced to the forlorn hope of cashing the ace of spades followed by a low spade. When that brought no joy, the contract was two down, -200 adding 11 IMPs to the French total.
Open Room
The conservative French auction that started with a semi-forcing Two Clubs and a Two Diamond relay resulted in a contract that scored +660. In their defence it is not an easy hand unless someone takes a view and bids clubs at some point – perhaps East should go on with Four Clubs? Closed Room
A huge wheel came off in this room when East passed Five Diamonds. South led the six of clubs and declarer won in dummy, unblocked the king of diamonds, came to hand with the king of hearts, and fatally cashed the ace of diamonds. A third diamond went to South’s queen and declarer took the heart exit with the ace and tried the king of clubs. South ruffed and played a spade. Declarer had to lose a club at the end for one down, -100, another 13 IMPs for France. After coming to hand with a heart declarer can get home by abandoning trumps. After cashing three rounds of spades, declarer plays ace of hearts and then ruffs a heart. With eight tricks in the bag he exits with a club and cannot be prevented from scoring three more tricks.
Open Room
I have no idea why East passed over One Spade – if he was hoping to lay a trap he succeeded, but only to the extent of trapping himself. South led the two of spades and North won and started on the clubs. That led to a rapid four down, -400. Closed Room
Four Spades will only be one down, so West did well to go on to Five Hearts, which made easily enough when the hearts behaved kindly. +650 gave South Africa 14 badly needed IMPs.
Open Room
After the game forcing opening and ace denying response Four Clubs was natural. The singleton jack of clubs resolved declarer’s only problem, +920. Closed Room
It seems East, who implied at least some values by not making a negative response of Two Hearts, had no way of introducing his club suit. North led the six of diamonds, so declarer was held to eleven tricks, +460 for a loss of 10 IMPs.
Open Room
This look like one of those deals that appears in a ‘You be the jury’ article. +710 did not look promising. Closed Room
Five Diamonds, which is what South should have bid over Five Clubs in the other room, saw North/South quickly reach the lay down grand slam – a fine effort which was worth 17 IMPs. There was no joy for David this time, as Goliath had scored a decisive victory, 65-17 IMPs, 25-4 VP. |
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