| 1st World Bridge Games | Page 2 | Bulletin 8 - Sunday 12 October 2008 |
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Tough at the Top by Mark Horton Denmark recognized the People's Republic of China on January 9, 1950, and the two countries established diplomatic relations on May 11, 1950. Denmark was the second Western country after Sweden to establish diplomatic ties with China. Both teams faced a potentially difficult final day with matches against other contenders, but China enjoyed a healthy lead at the top of the table.
Open Room
2♣ 18-19NT or 22-23 or 26-27 or strong ♥. 2♦ Relay or 5+ ♥. 2♥ Relay. 2♠ Relay. 2NT 18-19. 3♦ Transfer. The Danish auction started well, but it’s not clear what was going on after that, as the spade fit was not located. North led the three of spades and declarer won with dummy’s ace and cashed the top hearts, claiming when the suit divided, +1430. Closed Room
It’s clear that Three Clubs agreed spades and was followed by a couple of cue bids then some key card asks that confirmed West had the missing aces, the queen of spades and the king of clubs. Declarer won the club lead with dummy’s ace, drew trumps and played three rounds of hearts, claiming +2210 (the grand slam was missed at many tables) and deservedly gave China 13 IMPs.
Open Room
2♣= Majors I guess East wanted to bid around two and a half hearts, but with only a non vulnerable game at stake she settled for a mildly conservative Two Hearts. South led the queen of hearts and declarer won and cashed dummy’s top spades. When the queen appeared she ruffed a spade high and drew trumps, +170. Closed Room
I don’t believe for a moment that was the auction, but the BBO operator must have missed a bid or two along the way – maybe North opened 1NT and West showed the majors and East jumped to Three Hearts raised to game. Whatever, the contract could not be defeated, although South did well to lead a diamond, which might have been enough on another day. +420 gave China 6 IMPs.
Open Room
North cashed the ace of spades, South playing the three, and switched to her singleton diamond. Declarer put up dummy’s ace and went after the trump suit. North held up the queen to see some discards from South – they were the nine and five of diamonds – and North decided to underlead in spades, giving declarer an eleventh trick, +450. Closed Room
East’s silence allowed North/South to steal the pot. East led her heart and West won and cashed the ace of clubs. The defenders continued with two more rounds of clubs and then played a diamond to the ace and a diamond, West ruffing in front of declarer with the jack. That ensured two down, +100, but Denmark picked up 8 IMPs.
Open Room
Declarer won the spade lead with dummy’s ace and played a club to the jack, South winning with the king and playing another spade. Declarer won in hand, unblocked the ace of clubs and played a diamond to the king. When that held she cashed her clubs, discarding a spade, a heart and a diamond. North won the heart exit and played the jack of diamonds, +430. Closed Room
If I read the convention card correctly, Three Hearts promised a 4-1-4-4 distribution. South led the four of hearts and North won and slightly woodenly decided to return a heart – a club is better as the cards lie. Declarer won, discarding a diamond, and crossed to the ace of spades to play a club to the jack – the natural, but fatal line. South won and had to come to a trump and the ace of diamonds for one down, +50 and 10 IMPs. In a low scoring match China just had the better of things, winning 29-24 IMPs, 16-14 VP. That kept Denmark in touch with a qualification spot. |
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