| 1st World Bridge Games | Page 2 | Bulletin 11 - Wednesday 15 October 2008 |
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WOMEN TEAMS Q-FINAL - 4TH Germany v China Maximum Pressure by Mark Horton China started the set trailing by 22 IMPs, but they continued to employ their basic approach, which is to bid every hand to its limit, putting maximum pressure on the defenders.
Open Room
East/West had no obvious way to get into the auction, so North was left to play Two Spades. East led the jack of hearts for the king and ace and West switched to a spade, ducked to dummy’s jack. When declarer played a club off the dummy West went in with the ace and played another spade. East won and played a heart and declarer won with the nine, cashed the queen of hearts and tried the king of clubs. East ruffed, and had only to cash the ace of spades and then play hearts to ensure two down, but she played a heart and found herself endplayed after declarer ruffed and put her back in with a spade. One down, +50. Closed Room
2♠ 5+♠ plus a 5+ minor, 4-9 points The Chinese pair quickly announced themselves by bidding game with only just over half the pack. When South led the two of diamonds (it was impossible to find a top heart, which would have left declarer a trick short) declarer was allowed to win in hand with the ten. She cashed the top spades and ruffed a spade before playing a diamond. North took the ace and played a third round and South ruffed and switched to a club. Declarer took dummy’s ace, cashed the ace of hearts, ruffed a club and ruffed her last spade, +420 delivering 9 IMPs.
Open Room
When South could bid at the three level facing a passed partner North had enough to try 3NT. East led the two of hearts for the queen and ace and after some though declarer ran the jack of clubs. West won and had she found a spade switch declarer would still have had some work to do, but that would look very foolish if East had held the jack of hearts. She played the king of hearts, heart and declarer had nine tricks, +600. Closed Room
The more preemptive raise did its job, and although the contract drifted three down, -300 was worth another 7 IMPs to China.
Open Room
Pony Nehmert gave notice that it the Chinese did not have a monopoly when it came to the bidding of games. There were three tricks to lose, +620. Closed Room
When the Chinese pair missed the boat Germany had hit back with 10 IMPs.
Open Room
Another 21-point game was available to East/West, but it was difficult to reach. Declarer was not hard pressed to take ten tricks, +170. Closed Room
South’s canapé style opening gave West an easy opportunity and in a twinkle of an eye +620 and 10 IMPs had been recorded.
Open Room
North did not really have enough to go on over Two Hearts, so the double fit never came to light. With the club king onside ten tricks rolled home, +170. Closed Room
2♥ 5+♥ plus a 5+ minor, 4-9 points A systemic triumph for the German pair that earned them 6 IMPs.
Open Room
East led the six of spades for the queen and ace and declarer played ace of clubs, club. West won, cashed a spade and played a third round, ruffed and overruffed. East switched to a heart and declarer was +110. Closed Room
When North reopened with a double it was normal for South to take a shot at defeating the part score, although as the cards lie there is only a narrow path to victory. South led the two of clubs and North took the ace and switched to the four of hearts. (The only – very difficult – defence is for North to switch to a trump. South wins and must table the ten of hearts, a classic surrounding play in the style of another of the Mind Sports – Go.) Declarer took South’s king of hearts with dummy’s ace, cashed the king of clubs and played a top spade. North took the ace, cashed the queen of hearts (South playing the ten) and played a club, but declarer simply won with the queen, cashed the nine of hearts (South gains nothing by ruffing at any stage) and played a low diamond towards the nine. South could make two trump tricks, but declarer had the rest, +180 and 7 IMPs.
Open Room
South’s aggressive action worked well and East/West were pushed into an awkward corner. North led the queen of spades and declarer won in hand, South discarding a club, and started well by cashing the ace of diamonds and playing a diamond to the queen. When she played a club off the dummy, South eventually put up the ace and switched to the nine of hearts. That was a mistake (if South exits with the eight of diamonds the defenders should come to an extra trick) and when your opponent is a multiple World Champion you can expect them to take advantage. Declarer put up the ace of hearts, cashed the king of clubs, crossed to the king of spades, cashed the jack of clubs and exited with a spade. North could cash out for one down, but had to surrender a trick to the queen of hearts, -100. Closed Room
North’s double promised a major or minor two suiter and North must have been delighted to see her opponents end up in her five card suit. North led the queen of spades and declarer won in dummy and tried the heart finesse. North won and played the jack of spades, declarer winning, cashing the ace of hearts and ruffing a heart. A club was taken by South’s ace, the club continuation was ruffed by North and she cashed two spades before exiting with a diamond. When declarer guessed wrong she was three down, -150 and Germany had picked up 2 IMPs.
Open Room
East led the jack of hearts and West won and switched to the ten of clubs. Declarer tried the king and East won, cashed the ace of hearts and then continued clubs. When she played a fourth club West ruffed with the queen of spades and declarer could not avoid three down, -150. Closed Room
Not for the first time in the match the Chinese scored with some controlled aggression, and in today’s game the policy of bidding when it your turn has much to commend it. South led the ace of diamonds and declarer ruffed and was soon claiming eleven tricks and 7 IMPs. China still trailed by 6 IMPs, but Germany would have to be on their guard if they were to make it to the next round. |
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