Italy
v Netherlands - Final Session 3
by Mark Horton
Delicately poised before the start of the third session, the match
exploded into life as more than 70 IMPs changed hands in the first
eight boards.
It was Italy who struck first, and as is so often the case it was
the opening lead which effectively decided the outcome.
Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul.
|
|
ª 10 7 5 3
© A 6
¨ J 5
§ K 6 5 4 2 |
ª Q 9 2
© 7 5 3 2
¨ K 10 7 3
§ A 7 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª A K 8 6
© K J 10
¨ Q 8 6
§ Q J 3 |
|
ª J 4
© Q 9 8 4
¨ A 9 4 2
§ 10 9 8 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Schollaardt |
Bocchi |
Drijver |
Duboin |
|
Pass |
1NT |
Pass |
2§* |
Pass |
2ª |
Pass |
3¨* |
Pass |
3© |
Pass |
3ª |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
South led the nine of hearts and North won with the ace and returned
the suit. Declarer finessed and South won and played back the four
of hearts, North matching that with the four of clubs. Declarer
played a diamond to the ten and jack and North switched to the five
of spades for the six, jack and queen. A diamond to the queen saw
South take the ace and cash the fourth heart. That was one down
and in due course North took a trick with the king of clubs, two
down, -100.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Nunes |
Verhees |
Fantoni |
Jansma |
|
Pass |
1§ |
Pass |
1¨ |
Pass |
1NT |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
|
|
This time South led the four of diamonds, a very good start for
declarer, who took North’s jack with the queen and played
back the six of diamonds to dummy’s ten. He played a heart
and North made the good play of rising with the ace and returning
the suit. Declarer finessed and South won and played back a heart.
Declarer won and ran the queen of clubs to North’s king. North
switched to the five of spades for the jack and queen and declarer
played the nine of spades to his ace, a club to the ace and a spade
to the eight. +400 and 11 IMPs.
Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
|
|
ª 10 8 7
© A 4
¨ 9 5
§ K J 6 5 4 2 |
ª Q
© Q 7 6 3 2
¨ K Q J 6 3
§ A 9 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª J 5 2
© J 10 8 5
¨ A 10 7 4
§ 10 3 |
|
ª A K 9 6 4 3
© K 9
¨ 8 2
§ Q 8 7 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Schollaardt |
Bocchi |
Drijver |
Duboin |
|
|
Pass |
1ª |
2ª* |
3© |
4© |
4ª |
All Pass |
|
|
|
West led the king of diamonds and continued with a diamond to East’s
ace. The commentators were speculating on how declarer might tackle
the spade suit, but they had missed an obvious inference. Suppose
West had ªQJ. In that case he would have at most one club. He would
have led or cashed a singleton ace at some point, or have led/switched
to a singleton. When East switched to a heart declarer won in hand,
cashed a top spade, crossed to dummy with a heart and finessed in
spades. +620.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Nunes |
Verhees |
Fantoni |
Jansma |
|
|
Pass |
1ª |
3§* |
3ª |
4© |
4ª |
Pass |
Pass |
5¨ |
Pass |
Pass |
5ª |
All Pass |
|
East was better placed at this table as he knew both his partner’s
suits. Five Diamonds would have been a good save, but things got
even better when North went on to Five Spades. That had to go one
down, -100 and 12 IMPs for Italy.
Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
|
|
ª K J 4
© 9
¨ K 9 6 5 4
§ A K 10 3 |
ª 8 6 5
© K 10 7 4
¨ 2
§ J 8 6 5 4 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª Q 10 9 2
© A 6 3
¨ A 8 3
§ Q 7 2 |
|
ª A 7 3
© Q J 8 5 2
¨ Q J 10 7
§ 9 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Schollaardt |
Bocchi |
Drijver |
Duboin |
|
|
|
Pass |
Pass |
1¨ |
Pass |
1© |
Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
2ª |
Pass |
2NT |
Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
|
East led the ten of spades and declarer won with the jack and forced
out the ace of diamonds to ensure nine tricks, +400.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
NunesVerhees |
Fantoni |
Jansma
|
Pass |
Pass |
1¨ |
Pass |
1© |
Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
3ª* |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
|
|
|
With South as declarer the contract was much less secure. The opening
lead of the four of clubs went to East’s queen and he found
a switch that ensured the defeat of the contract when he returned
the three of hearts. Declarer put in the jack which was allowed
to hold and played the queen of diamonds. East won and played ace
of hearts, heart, one down, -50 and yet another double figure swing
to the Italians, this time 10 IMPs.
Things were beginning to look bleak for the Orangemen, but they
kept calm and hit back, first with a 7 IMP pick up and then with
something more substancial:
Board 6. Dealer East. E/W Vul.
|
|
ª 8 7
© A 9 5 4
¨ K Q 8 6 2
§ A 8 |
ª 6 4
© 6 2
¨ A 10 9 4 3
§ Q 9 3 2 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª A K Q 10
© Q J
¨ 7 5
§ J 7 6 5 4 |
|
ª J 9 5 3 2
© K 10 8 7 3
¨ J
§ K 10 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Schollaardt |
Bocchi |
Drijver |
Duboin |
|
|
1§ |
2¨* |
Pass |
2NT* |
Pass |
3§* |
Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
|
East led the queen of hearts and declarer won in dummy and played
back a heart to the nine. That meant one down, -50.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
NunesVerhees |
Fantoni |
Jansma
|
1NT 2§* |
2¨ |
Pass |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
|
West led a club and declarer won and played a spade. His plan was
to ruff spades in dummy, and there was nothing the defenders could
do about it. More to the point, there was no chance of a misguess
in hearts given East’s opening bid. +420 and 10 IMPs.
Board 7. Dealer South. All Vul.
|
|
ª Q 3
© K 6 3
¨ 9 4 3 2
§ 10 9 6 3 |
ª A K 9 6 4 2
© 9 8 4
¨ 8
§ K 8 4 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª J 10 7
© A J 7 2
¨ K Q 7 6
§ J 7 |
|
ª 8 5
© Q 10 5
¨ A J 10 5
§ A Q 5 2 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Schollaardt |
Bocchi |
Drijver |
Duboin |
|
|
|
1§ |
2©* |
Pass |
2ª |
All Pass |
South led the five of spades and declarer won in dummy and played
a diamond to the king and ace. South played back a spade and declarer
finessed. North won and switched to the three of hearts. South won
with the ten and played back a heart. Declarer won with the ace
and discarded a heart on the queen of diamonds. With ace of clubs
onside he had nine tricks, +140.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
NunesVerhees |
Fantoni |
Jansma |
1§ |
1ª |
Pass |
2§* |
Pass |
3ª |
Pass |
4ª |
All Pass |
To be sure of defeating Four Spades North has to lead a low heart
– virtually impossible. He went for the nine of clubs and
South took the ace and switched to the five of spades. Declarer
won, played a diamond to the king and ace, and when South played
a second spade he went up with the king and claimed, +620 and 12
IMPs.
Board 8. Dealer West. None Vul.
|
|
ª K 10 9 6 5 4 2
© K J
¨ 5
§ 10 9 6 |
ª J 3
© 8 6 2
¨ K 10 8 4
§ Q J 4 3 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª 8 7
© A 10
¨ A Q 9 6 3 2
§ A K 8 |
|
ª A Q
© Q 9 7 5 4 3
¨ J 7
§ 7 5 2 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Schollaardt |
Bocchi |
Drijver |
Duboin |
Pass |
3ª |
All Pass |
|
North’s preempt stole the pot, and the defence was imperfect,
East/West getting their wires crossed and allowing declarer to discard
a losing club on the hearts, +140.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Nunes |
Verhees |
Fantoni |
Jansma |
Pass |
3ª |
Dble |
Pass |
4§ |
Pass |
4¨ |
Pass |
5¨ |
All Pass |
|
|
This time East did not hesitate to enter the auction and the result
was that his side reached a laydown game, +400 and the Italian’s
were on another role, gaining 11 IMPs.
Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
|
|
ª 2
© 8 6 2
¨ A Q 10 5 4 2
§ J 7 5 |
ª K J 10 8 7
© J 9 5
¨ J 9 7
§ A 2 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª A Q 4 3
© A K Q 10 3
¨ K 3
§ K 10 |
|
ª 9 6 5
© 7 4
¨ 8 6
§ Q 9 8 6 4 3 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Schollaardt |
Bocchi |
Drijver |
Duboin |
|
Pass |
2¨* |
Pass |
2©* |
Dble |
3¨ |
Pass |
3ª |
Pass |
5¨ |
Pass |
5© |
Pass |
6§ |
Pass |
6¨ |
All Pass |
|
|
When South led the nine of clubs declarer’s goose was cooked,
-100.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
NunesVerhees |
Fantoni |
Jansma
|
Pass 1¨ Pass |
2ª |
Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
3NT |
Pass |
4§ |
Pass |
4© |
Pass |
4ª |
Pass |
5¨ |
All Pass |
|
|
When East/West stopped in game they collected 12 IMPs for Italy.
The situation was getting serious, but the Dutchmen collected 16
IMPs on the last three boards of the set to keep their opponents
in sight, albeit at a distance of 38 IMPs.
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