Germany v Austria

by Tony Gordon (GBR)

Having led virtually throughout the match, Austria took a healthy-looking lead of 42 IMPs into the final session. They then proceeded to open the door to Germany, but Germany were ultimately unable to take advantage of the situation.

2-IMP gains to Germany on each of the first two boards reduced the margin to 38 IMPs, then:

Board 3. Dealer South. EW Game ª Q 10 5 2 © Q 10 ¨ A 10 9 4 § Q 8 5 ª 6 4 3 ª A J 9 7 © A J 8 7 5 4 3 © 9 ¨ 8 ¨ J 7 3 § K 9 § J 7 6 4 2 ª K 8 © K 6 2 ¨ K Q 6 5 2 § A 10 3

In the Closed Room Sabine Auken and Daniela von Arnim played in 3NT on the North/South cards and made an overtrick after a heart lead; +430 to Germany.

West North East South Rauscheid Erhart Nehmert Smedeverac 1NT Dble Rdble 2§ Pass Pass Dble Pass Pass 2© Pass Pass Dble All Pass

Andrea Rauscheid's double of 1NT showed a one-suited hand and Pony Nehmert's 2§ over Maria Erhart's redouble should have delivered a somewhat better suit. Austria doubled this and Rauscheid's retreat to 2©, but after a spade lead to the nine and King the contract could not be defeated; +670 and a massive 15 IMPs to Germany.

A part-score swing on the next board brought Germany another 6 IMPs, then:

Board 7. Dealer South. Game All ª J 10 9 7 © J 3 2 ¨ J 4 § 8 6 3 2 ª Q 8 6 5 4 ª A 2 © 10 9 7 5 4 © — ¨ 8 2 ¨ A Q 10 9 7 6 5 § 4 § A K Q J ª K 3 © A K Q 8 6 ¨ K 3 § 10 9 7 5

West North East South Rauscheid Erhart Nehmert Smedeverac     1NT Pass Pass 5¨ All Pass

Nehmert took the direct route to 5¨ over Jovanka Smederevac's opening 1NT and made eleven tricks for +600 to Germany.

West North East South Weigkricht Auken Fischer von Arnim     1© Pass Pass 2© Dble 2ª Pass 3¨ All Pass

Doris Fischer's 3¨ was 100% forcing, but Terry Weigkricht viewed to pass; +150 to Austria but 10 IMPs to Germany now only 6 IMPs behind.

Board 9. Dealer North. EW Game ª J 6 5 © 9 4 3 ¨ J 4 3 § K J 10 8 ª 10 8 7 ª A 9 3 © Q J 5 © A K 10 7 ¨ Q 10 8 6 ¨ K 9 7 2 § A Q 3 § 7 6 ª K Q 4 2 © 8 6 2 ¨ A 5 § 9 5 4 2

In the Closed Room Fischer opened 1© as East (1NT would have shown 15-17) and passed Weigkricht's rather heavy 1NT response. Auken led the ªJ (!) and Weigkricht ducked the first two rounds of the suit. Von Arnim now found the club switch that would have ensured the defeat of 3NT, but 1NT was impregnable. Weigkricht rose with the §A and played a diamond to the King and Ace. She made seven tricks for +90 to Austria.

In the Open Room Nehmert's 1NT range was 14-16 so she opened 1NT and was raised to game. Spades were led and continued and Smederevac cleared the suit. If Nehmert could guess who held the ¨J, Germany would take the lead; however, she immediately ran the ¨9 and was one down. 5 IMPs to Austria, who now had a little breathing space.

Board 12. Dealer West. NS Game ª 10 9 8 © A K 10 7 ¨ Q 10 6 2 § J 5 ª 5 3 ª J 6 © Q J 8 © 9 6 2 ¨ A K J 8 7 5 ¨ 9 4 3 § Q 4 § 10 9 6 3 2 ª A K Q 7 4 2 © 5 4 3 ¨ — § A K 8 7

In both rooms, West's 1¨ opening bid was passed round to South. In the Open Room, Smederevac started with 2¨ and then jumped to 4ª over Erhart's 2©. That ended the auction and she made all thirteen tricks for +710 to Austria. In the Closed Room, von Arnim, possibly disillusioned by seeing Weigkricht mistime the play on the previous board and still make 6ª, simply jumped to 4ª. She also made all thirteen tricks.

Austria led by 10 IMPs at this point, but Germany had another chance to take the lead on board 13 when Austria missed a vulnerable 4ª. However, Germany also stayed out of game, which was perhaps just as well considering that they made two tricks less than Austria. One last chance remained:

Board 14. Dealer East. Love All ª 10 6 © Q J 9 8 5 ¨ A 9 3 2 § J 5 ª A J 7 5 4 ª 8 3 © 6 4 3 2 © K 10 ¨ 8 ¨ K Q J 4 § 7 4 2 § A K Q 8 6 ª K Q 9 2 © A 7 ¨ 10 7 6 5 § 10 9 3

West North East South Weigkricht Auken Fischer von Arnim   1§ Pass 1¨ 1© 2§ Pass 2ª Pass 3§ All Pass

After the strong 1§ opening and 1¨ negative, the Austrians came to rest in 3§. Von Arnim led the §9 and Fischer won and played the ¨K. Auken took her Ace and continued trumps and Fischer won and ruffed her losing diamond in dummy. The ªA followed by the ªJ would have worked well at this point as it keeps North out of the lead, but declarer not unnaturally played a heart to her King. However, the third round of hearts from North now promoted South's §10 to the setting trick; +50 to Germany.

West North East South Rauscheid Erhart Nehmert Smedeverac   1§ Pass 1ª Pass 2¨ Pass 2ª Pass 3NT All Pass

Germany were more aggressive in the other room and reached 3NT and Smederevac led the ª2. Double dummy Nehmert can make her contract by inserting the ªJ at trick one and not covering North's eventual ©Q switch. However, that was an unlikely scenario, and in practice she went one down after rising with the ªA at trick one.

Time had run out for Germany; although they had won the final session by 38-7 IMPs, Austria had won the match by 176-166 IMPs and would face the Netherlands in the semifinal.