Good show!
It may be difficult to be objective when
watching a VuGraph show, but even partisans can appreciate an
entertaining match, however it comes out. That was the case
in round 10 of the women's Olympiad series, as England defeated
Austria, 51-42.
Austria, a formidable squad, started the
day in second place in Group A. They scored first, taking 5
IMPs by stopping in a part score while Nicola Smith and Heather
Dhondy reached a game with very little play against a defense
that did not slip.
England retaliated with 13 IMPs on the
next board, however.
Board 3. Dealer South. E/W
Vul. |
|
ª
Q 5
© 8 7 3
¨ Q J 4
§ A Q 9
6 2 |
ª
--
© A K Q 10
6 4
¨ A K 10 6
§ K J 5 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
A J 9 6 2
© J 9 5
¨ 8 5 3
§ 7 4 |
|
ª
K 10 8 7 4 3
© 2
¨ 9 7 2
§ 10 8 3 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Bamberger |
Dhondy |
Fischer |
Smith |
|
|
|
2ª |
3§
(1) |
Pass |
3NT |
Pass |
4ª |
Pass |
4NT |
Pass |
5© |
All Pass |
|
|
(1) Strong takeout.
|
Dhondy led the ©7, taken in dummy with
the 9. Gabriele Bamberger played the top two diamonds, and exited
with a diamond to Dhondy's queen. Back came another trump and
Bamberger played a third round, ending in dummy. She cashed
the ªA, pitching a club, and played a club to the jack and queen.
The §A finished her off for down one and minus 100. Given the
information Bamberger had on the bidding, her line of play seems
way off the mark. It seems a simple matter, with South likely
to have six spades, to ruff out that suit and pull trumps before
throwing North in with a diamond. With no clues from the bidding,
Sandra Penfold got it right.
West |
North |
East |
South |
Penfold |
Erhart |
Senior |
Smederevac |
|
|
|
Pass |
2§ |
Dble |
2ª |
Pass |
3© |
Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
Maria Erhart led the ¨Q to Penfold's king.
She played a heart to the 9, pitched a club on the ªA, played
a diamond to her ace, a heart to the jack, followed by a spade
ruff. Now she exited with a diamond, and Erhart was endplayed,
down to nothing but clubs. Her line of play, in fact, would
have succeeded even if North had started with four diamonds
to the Q-J. That was 13 IMPs to England.
On this deal, Dhondy took advantage of
a favorable opening lead, and a slip by the defense to land
a shaky contract.
Board 7. Dealer South. Both
Vul. |
|
ª
J 8 7 6 5 4
© Q 8 6
¨ J 10
§ 4 3 |
ª
10 9
© K 10 7 4
3
¨ 5 4 2
§ K 8 7 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
A K
© A 5
¨ Q 9 8 7 6
§ A J 10 9 |
|
ª
Q 3 2
© J 9 2
¨ A K 3
§ Q 6 5
2 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Bamberger |
Dhondy |
Fischer |
Smith |
|
|
|
1§ |
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
1NT |
Pass |
2ª |
All Pass |
|
Doris
Fischer's pass with so many high-card points seems conservative,
but with two bidding opponents her partner could have been completely
broke. In any event, the defense had six top tricks but got
only five.
Fischer started with the ¨9. Dhondy eyed
the card suspiciously, but with little to rely on for her contract
except hope, she played low. Two more diamonds provided a discard
for one of Dhondy's losing clubs. Dhondy gave the defense one
more chance to defeat her when, upon leading a low spade from
dummy, she covered Bamberger's ª9 with the jack. Fischer won
the king and could have defeated the contract by cashing the
§A and continuing with a diamond, promoting her partner's ª10.
Instead, Fischer cashed the ªA, followed by the §A and the §J.
Dhondy ruffed and turned her attention to hearts. As the cards
lay, she could not go wrong. If she played a low heart from
her hand to dummy's 9, West could win but would have to play
another heart (she had only the king left in clubs). East, in
with the ace, would have to give declarer and ruff-sluff with
a diamond or play a club, whereupon the king would be ruffed
out.
Ín practice, Dhondy played to the ©J and
ducked the return to East's ace. A hard-earned but well-deserved
plus 110.
At the other table, Nevena Senior overcalled
a natural 1NT when South opened 1§ and North responded 1ª. Penfold
transferred to hearts and Senior brought home nine tricks by
playing three rounds of hearts. The defenders took three diamonds
tricks from there, but that was it. Plus 140 was good for a
6-IMP gain.
Another game swing extended England's
lead to 26-7.
Board 8. Dealer West. None
Vul. |
|
ª
K 8 3 2
© A K
¨ K 9 5 3
2
§ K 9 |
ª
7 5 4
© 2
¨ Q 7 6 4
§ A J 8 6
2 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
A J
© J 8 6 5
3
¨ J
§ Q 10 7 5
4 |
|
ª
Q 10 9 6
© Q 10 9
7 4
¨ A 10 8
§ 3 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Penfold |
Erhart |
Senior |
Smederevac |
Pass |
1NT |
2§
(1) |
Pass |
2¨ |
Pass |
2© |
Dble |
3§ |
Pass |
Pass |
3ª |
All Pass |
|
|
|
(1) Two suiter.
|
Penfold led the ©2 to the king, and Jovanka
Smederevac played the §K from dummy. Penfold won and played
a diamond to the jack and ace. Smederevac rode the ª10 to Senior's
jack, and Penfold ruffed the heart return. The trump ace was
still outstanding, so declarer finished with nine tricks and
plus 140.
West |
North |
East |
South |
Bamberger |
Dhondy |
Fischer |
Smith |
Pass |
1¨ |
1© |
Dble |
Pass |
2ª |
Pass |
4ª |
All Pass |
|
|
|
Fischer led the §4 to her partner's ace.
Bamberger switched to her singleton heart, and when Fischer
got in with the trump ace, she gave her partner a heart ruff.
That was all for the defense, however, as Dhondy had the §K
to take care of dummy's third diamond, so she didn't have to
try to figure out that suit.
On the next deal, the auction had a significant
influence on the outcome.
Board 9. Dealer North. E/W
Vul. |
|
ª
10 2
© A 8 4
3
¨ K 5 3
§ K Q 8
3 |
ª
9 8 7 6
© K 9 2
¨ J 8 6 2
§ 10 6 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
A K Q 5 3
© Q 6 5
¨ 10
§ A J 4 2 |
|
ª
J 4
© J 10 7
¨ A Q 9 7
4
§ 9 7 5 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Bamberger |
Dhondy |
Fischer |
Smith |
|
1§ |
1ª |
Pass |
Pass |
Pass |
|
|
Smith led the ©J, and it was not long
before Fischer was claiming 10 tricks for the loss of one heart,
one club and one diamond.
West |
North |
East |
South |
Penfold |
Erhart |
Senior |
Smederevac |
|
1© |
Dble |
2¨ |
Pass |
3¨ |
Dble |
Pass |
3ª |
Pass |
4ª |
All Pass |
Erhart led a low diamond to Smederevac's
ace. Next on the table was the ©J. Penfold made the reasonable
play of the ©K, which would freeze the suit if South had led
from a doubleton ©J. Erhart did open 1©, after all. Unfortunately
for her, the ©10 was with South, so when Erhart won the ©A and
played another one, Penfold ducked. Down one England 7 IMPs.
Dhondy made a good decision on this deal
to save her team from a loss.
Board 11. Dealer South. None
Vul. |
|
ª
Q 10 8 7 6 3
© A J
¨ A 8 4 3
§ 6 |
ª
A K J 5
© K 9 8 6
5 3
¨ J 7
§ 10 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
9 4
© Q 10 4 2
¨ --
§ Q J 9 8
7 5 2 |
|
ª
2
© 7
¨ K Q 10
9 6 5 2
§ A K 4
3 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Penfold |
Erhart |
Senior |
Smederevac |
|
|
|
1¨ |
1© |
1ª |
4© |
5¨ |
Dble |
All Pass |
|
|
Perhaps Smederevac sounded like she was
saving against the heart game. It is difficult otherwise to
understand the double of 5¨. Indeed, six was no problem at all,
and Smederevac chalked up plus 650.
West North East South |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Bamberger |
Dhondy |
Fischer |
Smith |
|
|
|
1¨ |
1© |
1ª |
4© |
5¨ |
Pass |
6¨ |
All Pass |
|
Dhondy, looking at four trumps, including
the ace of the suit her partner had bid all on her own, plus
controls in two outside suits, considered her bid carefully
before raising to the slam. Plus 920 was good for 7 IMPs to
England.
Super-aggressive bidding by Erhart and
Smederevac produced a 10-IMP gain for the Austrians on this
deal.
Board 13. Dealer North. Both
Vul. |
|
ª
A K 5 3
© J 9 4
¨ K Q J 10
8
§ Q |
ª
10 9 4 2
© 6 2
¨ A 9 2
§ K 10 9 7 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
Q 7
© K 7 5 3
¨ 7 4
§ A J 8 5
3 |
|
ª
J 8 6
© A Q 10
8
¨ 6 5 3
§ 6 4 2 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Penfold |
Erhart |
Senior |
Smederevac |
|
1ª
(1) |
Pass |
1NT |
Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
3© |
Pass |
4© |
Pass |
5¨ |
All Pass |
|
|
|
(1) Canape.
|
Erhart could not have fancied her chances
of landing 11 tricks with that dummy in view, but the contract
passed the ultimate test - it was a maker. With the doubleton
ªQ falling, Erhart had no problem scoring plus 600, a 10-IMP
gain since Smith and Dhondy played a more reasonable 2©, making
three for plus 140.
Austria pulled to within 1 IMP when Bamberger
and Fischer judged well in staying low in their heart contract
while Penfold and Senior got to high and went off one.
Austria went ahead when the defense slipped
on this deal to let a game through.
Board 16. Dealer West. E/W
Vul. |
|
ª
K Q J 8 7 4 2
© A K
¨ 10
§ 10 7 2 |
ª
A 10 3
© Q 8 7
¨ K 8 5 2
§ K 8 4 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
6
© 10 5 2
¨ Q 7 4 3
§ A J 9 5
3 |
|
ª
9 5
© J 9 6
4 3
¨ A J 9 6
§ Q 6 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Bamberger |
Dhondy |
Fischer |
Smith |
1¨ |
4ª |
Pass |
Pass |
Pass |
|
|
|
Fischer led the ¨7, taken in dummy with
the ace, and she switched accurately to a trump when Dhondy
played a club from dummy, hoping for a ruff. Dhondy had no chance
after that and finished down one for minus 50.
West |
North |
East |
South |
Penfold |
Erhart |
Senior |
Smederevac |
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
1NT |
Pass |
4ª |
All Pass |
|
Senior led the ©5 and Erhart inserted
the 9 from dummy. Penfold had a difficult decision. Ducking
would have worked out grandly on this occasion but what if partner
had led from ©K 10 5? In that case, ducking would let declarer
off with no heart losers. In practice, Penfold played the ©Q,
taken by declarer with the ace.
Erhart nearly gave the contract back by
playing the ªQ at trick two. Had Penfold won that trick and
switched to a diamond, Erhart would have seen the ©J, her 10th
trick, stranded in dummy. Penfold ducked, however, and Erhart
quickly recovered, unblocking the other high heart from her
hand, entering dummy with the ¨A and taking a club pitch on
the ©J. That was plus 420 for Austria, now in the lead, 42-33.
The next deal was a push, but a diabolical
opening lead by Bamberger nearly earned a huge gain for Austria.
Board 17. Dealer North. None
Vul. |
|
ª
A 9 8 7 6
© Q 8 6
¨ 8 6 5
§ K 3 |
ª
10 3 2
© 10 9 7 5
4 2
¨ K 2
§ 10 8 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
--
© K J 3
¨ Q 10 7
§ Q J 7 6
5 4 2 |
|
ª
K Q J 5 4
© A
¨ A J 9 4
3
§ A 9 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Penfold |
Erhart |
Senior |
Smederevac |
|
Pass |
Pass |
1§
(1) |
Pass |
1ª |
3§ |
4§ |
Pass |
5ª |
Pass |
6ª |
All Pass |
|
|
|
(1) Strong and artificial.
|
Senior led the §Q to dummy's ace. Erhart
cashed the ©A and played a club to the king. She ruffed a heart
and cashed the ªK and played a spade to the 8 in her hand. Next
came a diamond, and Senior made the expert play of the ¨Q. Erhart
won the ¨A, overtook the ªQ with the ace and played another
diamond, inserting the 9 when Senior played low. That was just
what the contract needed and she scored up plus 980. Smith had
a much more difficult problem to work out.
West North East South |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Bamberger |
Dhondy |
Fischer |
Smith |
|
Pass |
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
3ª |
Pass |
4§ |
Pass |
4ª |
Pass |
4NT |
Pass |
5¨ |
Pass |
6ª |
All Pass |
|
|
|
Bamberger's opening shot was the ¨2! Fischer
put up the queen. Smith won, played the top three spades from
her hand, the played §A and a club to dummy's king. The moment
of truth had arrived, and when Smith played a low diamond from
dummy Fischer followed smoothly with the 7. Smith considered
her play for a long time, and as the VuGraph camera focused
on the cards in her hand, Smith finally pulled out the ¨9 and
put it on the table. When the ¨K appeared, she had her slam.
England regained the lead on the next
board when Fischer mishandled a game contract.
Board 18. Dealer East. N/S
Vul. |
|
ª
K Q 3
© 10 9 8
6
¨ A Q 2
§ K 8 3 |
ª
A 10 8 7 5 2
© A 5 4
¨ K J 10
§ 7 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
4
© K Q J 7
3
¨ 9 5 4 3
§ A 4 2 |
|
ª
J 9 6
© 2
¨ 8 7 6
§ Q J 10
9 6 5 |
West North East South |
Penfold |
Erhart |
Senior |
Smederevac |
|
|
1© |
Pass |
2¨
(1) |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
2ª |
Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
3© |
Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
(1) Canape.
|
South led the §Q to Senior's ace and she
immediately attacked diamonds, playing low to the 10. Erhart
won the ¨Q, cashed the ace and exited with the ¨2, not exactly
taxing defense. Senior played the ªA, ruffed a spade, ruffed
a club and cashed the ©A, continuing with a heart to her hand.
She was home with five hearts, two diamonds, two black aces
and a club ruff.
West North East South |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Bamberger |
Dhondy |
Fischer |
Smith |
|
|
1© |
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
2¨ |
Pass |
3§ |
Pass |
3© |
Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
|
|
Fischer also got the §Q lead. She won
and played a diamond to the 10 and queen. Dhondy returned the
©10, and Fischer erred by winning the ©K in hand. Her diamonds
were not established and the deal was threatening to become
awkward. Fischer played a club and ruffed with the ace, establishing
a trump trick for the defense, then played a diamond to dummy's
king. Dhondy cashed the §K and exited with a diamond to the
king. She still had a trump trick coming for plus 50 and 10
IMPs to England, who added 8 more IMPs on the last two boards
for an impressive victory over a strong team.
|