This Round 15 encounter featured two of
the teams contesting the four qualifying places.
Board 1. Dealer North. None
Vul. |
|
ª
7 6 5
© A K 6
¨ 9 4
§ A 7 4
3 2 |
ª
A K 10 9 3
© 8 7 5
¨ A 8 5 2
§ J |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
8
© J 10 9
¨ K Q 10 6
§ K Q 10 9
8 |
|
ª
Q J 4 2
© Q 4 3
2
¨ J 7 3
§ 6 5 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Campos |
Kriffner |
Villas-Boas |
Wernle |
|
1¨ |
Pass |
1© |
1ª |
Pass |
1NT |
All Pass |
South led the six of clubs, and when the
defenders did not cash their heart tricks, declarer emerged
with +180.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Simon |
Chagas |
Terraneo |
Branco |
|
Pass |
1§ |
Pass |
1© |
Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
2¨ |
Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
3© |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
Once North had passed and East opened
the bidding, it was unlikely that East-West would avoid game.
West's response to the opening bid promised a spade suit, and
in due course the Austrians arrived in 3NT. Branco led the two
of hearts, and Chagas took the ace and king, thought for around
a second, cashed the ace of clubs, and went back to hearts.
A fast one down, and 6 IMPs to Brazil.
Board 2. Dealer East. N/S
Vul |
|
ª
A 10 3
© K 9 8
7
¨ 10 6 5
4
§ A 3 |
ª
9 7 5 4
© J 5 4
¨ 3 2
§ Q J 9 6 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
2
© 10 2
¨ A K Q 9 8
7
§ K 5 4 2 |
|
ª
K Q J 8 6
© A Q 6
3
¨ J
§ 10 8 7 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Campos |
Kriffner |
Villas-Boas |
Wernle |
|
|
1¨ |
1ª |
Pass |
2¨ |
3¨ |
3© |
Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
|
There was nothing to the play, declarer
collecting eleven tricks for +650.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Simon |
Chagas |
Terraneo |
Branco |
|
|
1¨ |
1ª |
Pass |
2¨ |
3§ |
3© |
4§ |
4¨ |
5§ |
6§ |
Pass |
6© |
All Pass |
|
The excellent barrage put up by the Austrian
pair made life difficult for North-South.
If Branco had been 5-5 in the majors,
Six Hearts would have been perfectly playable, but as it was,
there was no way declarer could produce a twelfth trick on this
layout. 13 IMPs for Austria.
Their lead did not survive the next deal.
Board 3. Dealer South. E/W
Vul. |
|
ª
A 6
© K 10 5
¨ Q 9 8 7
§ K Q 7
5 |
ª
J 8 7 4 2
© J 2
¨ J 5 3 2
§ A 10 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
9 5 3
© 9 7 4 3
¨ 10 6 4
§ J 8 2 |
|
ª
K Q 10
© A Q 8
6
¨ A K
§ 9 6 4
3 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Campos |
Kriffner |
Villas-Boas |
Wernle |
|
|
|
1§ |
Pass |
1NT |
Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
2¨ |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
3§ |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
|
|
|
If the Austrians were using standard Blue
Club, the response to One Club promised four controls, and Two
Clubs was Stayman. On this layout there were twelve easy tricks,
+490.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Simon |
Chagas |
Terraneo |
Branco |
|
|
|
1§ |
Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
2¨ |
Pass |
2NT |
Pass |
4NT |
Pass |
6§ |
All Pass |
|
The slam depended on the location of the
ace of clubs and the division of that suit. It was inferior
to 6NT, as that contract might survive even if the clubs were
not behaving, but that did not matter here. 10 IMPs to Brazil
Board 5. Dealer North. N/S
Vul. |
|
ª
K 9 5 4 2
© 10 9 8
7 3
¨ 4
§ 7 2 |
ª
A 7 6 3
© 6
¨ K 10 7 6
5 3 2
§ 8 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
J 8
© A K Q 4
2
¨ A J 8
§ K 6 3 |
|
ª
Q 10
© J 5
¨ Q 9
§ A Q J
10 9 5 4 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Campos |
Kriffner |
Villas-Boas |
Wernle |
|
Pass |
1© |
2§ |
Dble |
Pass |
3NT |
Pass |
4¨ |
Pass |
4NT |
Pass |
5© |
Pass |
6NT |
All Pass |
This was very tough for East-West, as
presumably East's king of clubs could just as easily have been
the ace. Declarer won the opening lead of the ten of spades
with the ace, and ran the diamonds. North knew enough to hold
on to four hearts, so the contract was one down, -50.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Simon |
Chagas |
Terraneo |
Branco |
|
Pass |
1© |
3§ |
3¨ |
Pass |
4NT |
Pass |
5© |
Pass |
6NT |
All Pass |
Was East expecting his partner to deliver
more for his Three Diamond bid? This time South led the queen
of spades, and the play went along similar lines, except declarer
went for a very, very small and unlikely chance, and in the
ending did not cash out, but played a club towards his king,
going three down, and thereby losing 3 IMPs.
Board 7. Dealer South. All
Vul. |
|
ª
9
© Q 10 8
6
¨ J 5 4 2
§ Q 9 6
5 |
ª
A J 5
© A 7
¨ A 10 7
§ A J 8 7
2 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
Q 10 7 4 3
© K 9 4 2
¨ 9 8 3
§ 10 |
|
ª
K 8 6 2
© J 5 3
¨ K Q 6
§ K 4 3 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Campos |
Kriffner |
Villas-Boas |
Wernle |
|
|
|
1ª |
Dble |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
2NT |
Pass |
3ª |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
|
|
Once South had opened One Spade, East-West
were never going to play in that suit, preferring to attempt
the nine trick game. North led a club, for the ten, king and
ace. Declarer now played on spades, cashing the ace and continuing
with the jack. South ducked that, but took the next spade and
returned a club for the jack and queen. At this point, the play
record stops. Declarer made ten tricks, so one assumes that
North misread the club position, and cashed the nine of clubs.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Simon |
Chagas |
Terraneo |
Branco |
|
|
|
Pass |
1§ |
Pass |
1© |
Pass |
4ª |
All Pass |
|
|
One
Heart was a transfer to spades, so it was perfectly reasonable
for West to jump to game. North led the two of diamonds, and
West ducked the queen. He took the next diamond, played three
rounds of hearts ruffing in hand, (It looks slightly better
to start the cross ruff by playing ace of clubs, ruff a club,
which will leave no guess in the endgame.), cashed the ace of
clubs and ruffed a club. He played another heart, and ruffed
as South discarded the king of clubs. He played a club, and
when North produced the nine, he could have got home by ruffing
high in the dummy. However, he discarded the remaining diamond
and was one down. 12 IMPs to Brazil.
At this point, Brazil led 32-15, but from
here on, it was Austria who were in control.
Board 11. Dealer South. None
Vul. |
|
ª
Q J 10 9 5 4 3
© A 9 8
2
¨ A
§ 9 |
ª
A 2
© J 10 3
¨ K J 3 2
§ 8 7 5 4 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
-
© Q 7 5 4
¨ Q 8 7 6 4
§ A K Q 6 |
|
ª
K 8 7 6
© K 6
¨ 10 9 5
§ J 10 3
2 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Campos |
Kriffner |
Villas-Boas |
Wernle |
|
|
|
Pass |
Pass |
4ª |
Dble |
All Pass |
East has perfect distribution for a double,
but should he do it facing a passed partner? An alternative
that gives up on a possible penalty is to bid 4NT. For many
partnerships that would simply promise at least two places to
play.
Another reason why double may not turn
out well is that if partner passes, your clubs may be of little
worth in defence. That was the case here, and declarer had no
trouble making an overtrick, +690.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Simon |
Chagas |
Terraneo |
Branco |
|
|
|
Pass |
Pass |
4ª |
All Pass |
|
This time East went quietly, and who is
to say he was wrong? Notice by the way that perfect defence
will collect the first six tricks against Five Clubs doubled.
Whatever, Austria added another 6 IMPs to their total.
Board 12. Dealer West. N/S
Vul. |
|
ª
K Q 9 3
© 10 7 5
3 2
¨ 9 6 3
§ 10 |
ª
A 6 4
© A Q 9
¨ K J 7 5 2
§ Q 2 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
10
© K J 6 4
¨ Q 8
§ A J 9 7
4 3 |
|
ª
J 8 7 5 2
© 8
¨ A 10 4
§ K 8 6
5 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Campos |
Kriffner |
Villas-Boas |
Wernle |
1NT |
Pass |
2ª |
Pass |
3§ |
Pass |
3© |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
|
|
Although East managed to show his suits,
the first via a transfer, it proved impossible to avoid the
no-trump game. It was clear to lead a spade, and that meant
that the contract went two down, as declarer went for his only
real chance in the club suit.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Simon |
Chagas |
Terraneo |
Branco |
1NT |
Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
2¨ |
Pass |
3§ |
Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
4§ |
Pass |
4¨ |
Pass |
4© |
Pass |
4ª |
Dble |
5§ |
All Pass |
Two Clubs was Stayman, and Three Clubs
natural. When West showed his diamond suit, perhaps suggesting
he was weak in one major, East decided to emphasise his clubs,
thereby avoiding the doomed nine trick game. Well done, and
plus 400.
Board 13. Dealer North. All
Vul |
|
ª
K Q 10 5
© A J 2
¨ K Q 7
§ K 3 2 |
ª
A 7 3
© 10 4
¨ J 10 9 8
3 2
§ 10 7 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
J 6 2
© K 8 7 6
3
¨ A
§ Q 9 6 5 |
|
ª
9 8 4
© Q 9 5
¨ 6 5 4
§ A J 8
4 |
Both tables saw North declaring 3NT. East
led a heart, and the play diverged. In the Open Room, North
played dummy's nine and took West's ten with the jack. Although
the contract can always be made, it is not so easy for declarer
to find a winning line, and he drifted two down.
At the other table, Chagas put up dummy's
queen of hearts at trick one, and when it held, he played a
spade. West went in with the ace to play a second heart. Declarer
ducked to East's king, and won the heart return. If he now takes
a winning view in spades, East will be squeezed by the fourth
round of the suit, but Chagas played on clubs at once, and when
the suit failed to divide 3-3 he could no longer get home.
As an aside, in the Women's match between
Ireland and the USA, when this deal was played, dummy appeared
to look to declarer like this:
|
ª
K Q 10 5
© J 2
¨ A K Q 7
§ K 3 2 |
The opening lead of the ten of hearts
was covered by the jack and king, and declarer won the next
trick with the nine of hearts. She then played the four of diamonds
to dummy's ace, and East's ace! Only now did everyone realise
that North's red ace was round not pointed!
Board 14. Dealer East. None
Vul. |
|
ª
3
© A 7 3
¨ K 7
§ A Q J
10 8 5 4 |
ª
10 8 5
© K J 9 8
¨ 8 5 3 2
§ K 7 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
A K 9 6 2
© Q 6 5 2
¨ A J 6 4
§ - |
|
ª
Q J 7 4
© 10 4
¨ Q 10 9
§ 9 6 3
2 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Campos |
Kriffner |
Villas-Boas |
Wernle |
|
|
1ª |
Pass |
2ª |
3§ |
4ª |
All Pass |
|
|
|
|
Four Spades looks reasonable, but was
doomed by the bad breaks. A club went to the king and ace, and
declarer ruffed. He cashed the ace of spades, and then played
a heart. North took the ace, and played the king of diamonds.
When that held he continued with the seven of diamonds, taken
by the ace. Declarer now cashed the king of spades, and finished
three down, -150.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Simon |
Chagas |
Terraneo |
Branco |
|
|
1ª |
Pass |
2ª |
3§ |
4ª |
Pass |
Pass |
5§ |
Pass |
Pass |
Dble |
All Pass |
|
|
Chagas took some time before flying solo
with his bid of Five Clubs. He may have been thinking about
a double that would certainly have been a winner this time.
Five Clubs had to go one down, so 6 IMPs were added to the Austrian
total.
Board 15. Dealer South. N/S
Vul |
|
ª
6 4
© Q 8 6
5 2
¨ K
§ K J 10
5 4 |
ª
J 10 5 3
© K 10 9 3
¨ Q J 5 2
§ 2 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
K 8 2
© 7
¨ A 7 6 3
§ A Q 8 6
3 |
|
ª
A Q 9 7
© A J 4
¨ 10 9 8
4
§ 9 7 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Campos |
Kriffner |
Villas-Boas |
Wernle |
|
|
|
1ª |
Pass |
1NT |
2§ |
All Pass |
South led the ten of diamonds, covered
all around, and declarer played a heart, putting up the king
when South played low. He showed South the error of his ways
by ruffing a heart, and played a diamond to the queen, ruffed
by North. Back came a spade to South's queen, and it looks as
if he then cashed two diamonds, and played the ace of hearts,
that meant that declarer could escape for two down, -100.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Simon |
Chagas |
Terraneo |
Branco |
|
|
|
Pass |
Pass |
Pass |
1§ |
Dble |
1¨ |
Pass |
2§ |
All Pass |
The audience were very surprised that
Chagas did not mention his hearts, but all became clear when
it was revealed that West's One Diamond showed that suit!
Branco led a high diamond for the queen,
king and ace, and declarer played a heart. South went up with
the ace, and played another diamond, covered by the jack and
ruffed by North. He switched to a spade, and South won and cashed
his diamond winners, before continuing with spades, North ruffing
the third round. He could exit with a heart, forcing declarer,
who was down to just trumps, to ruff. He had to lose two more
trump tricks, down four. It cost 3 IMPs.
Austria picked up a few bits and pieces
in the remaining boards, to win 54-35 IMPs, 19-11 VPs, good
news for them, and for Denmark, who remained in fourth place
despite losing by a similar score to Spain.
|