Two rounds to go in the Open qualifying
series and the battle for a spot in the top four of Group A
is really hotting up. In Round 16, the third- and fourth-placed
teams, Austria and Denmark met on vugraph.
Board 2. Dealer East. N/S
Vul. |
|
ª
-
© J 6 5
2
¨ 10 9 7
3 2
§ K Q 5
3 |
ª
A Q 10 9 8 7 5 3
© K 10
¨ Q 8
§ A |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
J 6
© Q 9 7 4
3
¨ J 5
§ J 10 6 4 |
|
ª
K 4 2
© A 8
¨ A K 6 4
§ 9 8 7
2 |
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Barnay |
Raulund |
Terraneo |
Pedersen |
|
|
Pass |
1NT |
4ª |
All Pass |
|
|
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Auken |
Simon |
Koch-P |
Strafner |
|
|
Pass |
1¨ |
4ª |
All Pass |
|
|
Denmark
picked up a game swing when Karsten Pedersen out-defended Michael
Strafner. Both Ole Raulund and Josef Simon led a club honour
against 4ª.
Pedersen prevented Michael Barnay from reaching the dummy to
take the trump finesse, by ducking the first round of hearts,
cashing his winners and exiting passively with a club.
Jens Auken played a low diamondat trick
two and Strafner won the king and could surely have simply cashed
the other diamond winner before playing a club back. However,
after some thought, he cashed the ace of hearts instead, allowing
Auken to unblock his king and create the necessary dummy entry.
Now Strafner cashed the ace of diamonds before playing a club,
but Auken could ruff and cross to the ©Q and lead the jack of
spades off the dummy. When Strafner played low, Auken sat and
considered the position for a while. Had Strafner created the
dummy entry for him because the spade finesse was about to lose
to the bare king, or had he simply misjudged the position? Eventually,
Auken got it right, running the spade and picking up 10 IMPs
for his side.
Board 3. Dealer South. E/W
Vul. |
|
ª
A J 5 4
© A Q 10
8 6 2
¨ A 2
§ Q |
ª
6
© K 9
¨ K 10 9 8
§ A J 7 6
5 2 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
Q 10 8 3
© J 4 3
¨ 7 5 3
§ 10 4 3 |
|
ª
K 9 7 2
© 7 5
¨ Q J 6 4
§ K 9 8 |
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Barnay |
Raulund |
Terraneo |
Pedersen |
|
|
|
Pass |
2§ |
2© |
All Pass |
|
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Auken |
Simon |
Koch-P |
Strafner |
|
|
|
Pass |
1§ |
Dble |
Pass |
1ª |
2§ |
4ª |
All Pass |
|
The natural 2§ opening in the Closed Room
made it normal for North to overcall in hearts and the spade
fit was missed. After a low club lead, Raulund made ten tricks
for +170.
In the other room, Simon doubled the one-level
opening. Strafner's 1ª response showed values, usually 7-10
or so, and Simon raised him directly to game. Auken led an attacking
king of hearts. Strafner won the ace and played the ace of spades,
a spade to the king, then a heart to the queen. After ruffing
a heart, declarer played a low club from hand and Auken allowed
the queen to score - not that it mattered. Strafner could run
winning hearts until Dennis Koch-Palmund ruffed in, and lost
two spades and a diamond for +420 and 6 IMPs to Austria.
Board 5. Dealer North. N/S
Vul. |
|
ª
K 7 4
© 10 4 2
¨ K 8 7 5
3
§ K 5 |
ª
8 6 3 2
© J 3
¨ A J 6 2
§ Q 10 7 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
A J 10
© A Q 9 6
5
¨ -
§ A J 9 8
4 |
|
ª
Q 9 5
© K 8 7
¨ Q 10 9
4
§ 6 3 2 |
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Barnay |
Raulund |
Terraneo |
Pedersen |
|
Pass |
1© |
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
3§ |
Pass |
3© |
Pass |
3ª |
Pass |
4§ |
Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Auken |
Simon |
Koch-P |
Strafner |
|
Pass |
1© |
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
2ª |
All Pass |
In the Closed Room, Christian Terraneo,
playing a strong club system, had a super-maximum 1© opening
bid, particularly after the 1ª response. He made a jump rebid
and after exploring various possible trump suits, played 4©.
After a diamond lead to dummy's ace, he could pitch a spade
and take the club finesse. When North covered the club, he gave
up a heart and had 11 tricks; +450.
Playing natural methods, Koch-Palmund
rebid a simple 2§. When he was given preference to hearts, he
had a close decision as to what to do next and again took the
slightly cautious route, bidding only 2ª. That sequence was
consistent with a 3-5-1-4 15-count, and Auken was not confident
that there would be an adequate trump suit for game purposes
so, after some consideration, passed out 2ª. He played carefully
to make exactly eight tricks; +110 but 8 IMPs to Austria.
Board 6. Dealer East. E/W
Vul. |
|
ª
A Q 7
© A 10 6
¨ Q 6 5 4
§ K J 7 |
ª
J 6 3
© 7 4
¨ K 3 2
§ A 10 8 4
2 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
10 5 4 2
© 9 2
¨ A J 8 7
§ Q 6 5 |
|
ª
K 9 8
© K Q J
8 5 3
¨ 10 9
§ 9 3 |
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Barnay |
Raulund |
Terraneo |
Pedersen |
|
|
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
2NT |
Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
|
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Auken |
Simon |
Koch-P |
Strafner |
|
|
Pass |
2¨ |
Pass |
2NT |
Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
|
Both Norths discovered that they were
facing maximum weak two bids and chose to play 3NT. Koch-Palmund
selected the passive lead of a heart, perhaps thinking that
declarer would not have a heart fit. Simon had nine running
tricks and he also came to a club in the endgame for +430.
In the other room, Terraneo found the
killing lead of a low diamond. Barnay won the king and returned
a diamond to the jack, and Terraneo promptly switched to a club
to get another diamond through; one down for -50 and 10 IMPs
to Austria, who led 27-10.
Board 9. Dealer North. E/W
Vul. |
|
ª
K 10 7 6 5
© J 10 6
¨ 10 4
§ K 9 6 |
ª
A 8
© Q 8 7 5
¨ Q 7 5
§ A Q 7 5 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
Q 9 4 3
© A 9 4 3
2
¨ A J
§ 10 4 |
|
ª
J 2
© K
¨ K 9 8 6
3 2
§ J 8 3
2 |
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Barnay |
Raulund |
Terraneo |
Pedersen |
|
Pass |
1© |
3¨ |
4© |
All Pass |
|
|
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Auken |
Simon |
Koch-P |
Strafner |
|
Pass |
1© |
Pass |
2NT |
Pass |
3NT |
Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
|
|
Life was very easy for Koch-Palmund in
the Open Room. Strafner led a low diamond into the ace-jack
and declarer just lost one trick in each of the other three
suits; +620.
In the Closed Room, Pedersen led a low
club. Running this to the ten would have brought the contract
home because now there would have been a pitch on the §Q for
the diamond loser. However, Terraneo did not know that he could
afford a club loser. If he had two trumps to lose, he would
need to find a different line and losing a club at the start
would almost certainly mean no recovery. Terraneo put in dummy's
queen and there was no longer any way to avoid the loss of one
trick in each suit; down one for -100 and 12 IMPs to Denmark.
Board 11. Dealer South. None
Vul. |
|
ª
A Q 10 8 2
© 10 8 4
¨ J 8
§ A Q 2 |
ª
J 6 3
© A J 5 3
¨ A 6 5 3
§ K 7 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
-
© Q 7 6 2
¨ K 10 9 7
4 2
§ 10 6 4 |
|
ª
K 9 7 5 4
© K 9
¨ Q
§ J 9 8
5 3 |
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Barnay |
Raulund |
Terraneo |
Pedersen |
|
|
|
Pass |
1¨ |
1ª |
3¨ |
4ª |
5¨ |
Pass |
Pass |
5ª |
All Pass |
|
|
|
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Auken |
Simon |
Koch-P |
Strafner |
|
|
|
2ª |
Pass |
4ª |
All Pass |
|
A
great hand for the Austrian methods in the Open Room. Two Spades
was weak with spades and a minor, and it was routine for Simon
to raise to game, shutting East/West out completely. Auken led
the king of clubs and Strafner had 11 tricks for +450.
In the Closed Room, Pedersen did not have
an opening on the South cards, so the Austrians found the diamond
fit and bid up to game. The favourable heart position meant
that 5¨ was going to make, so Pedersen did the right thing when
he went on to 5ª. Now it was important that the defence take
their three winners immediately, as otherwise the clubs would
provide all the discards Raulund needed. A low diamond lead
would have been fatal to the defence, but Terraneo found the
perfect solution, leading the ¨K to retain the lead. He duly
switched to a heart at trick two and that was one down; -50
and 11 IMPs to Austria. The lead was back up to 40-23.
Board 12. Dealer West. N/S
Vul. |
|
ª
7 6 5
© Q J 5
¨ 10 5 4
§ 7 6 4
3 |
ª
10
© A K 10 9
7 4 2
¨ Q 7 3 2
§ K |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
K Q 9 8 3 2
© 6
¨ J 9 6
§ A Q 10 |
|
ª
A J 4
© 8 3
¨ A K 8
§ J 9 8
5 2 |
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Barnay |
Raulund |
Terraneo |
Pedersen |
4© |
Pass |
Pass |
Dble |
All Pass |
|
|
|
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Auken |
Simon |
Koch-P |
Strafner |
1© |
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
|
|
In the Closed Room, Raulund found a spade
lead and Pedersen had an easy time, winning the ace and cashing
two diamond winners; one down for -100. It was more difficult
for Strafner in the Open Room, where Simon led the four of diamonds.
Strafner won the king and cashed the diamond ace, getting the
five from partner. There seems to be no way that South can know
the position of the queen of diamonds here, and if declarer
holds that card a third diamond could let the contract through.
Equally, attempting to cash the ace of spades could be wrong
if declarer is void and that gives him two pitches for losing
diamonds. Strafner got it right, cashing the ace of spades next
before playing the third diamond, so the contract was one down;
-50 but 2 IMPs to Denmark.
Board 14. Dealer East. None
Vul. |
|
ª
K 4
© A J
¨ K J 8 6
5 4 2
§ 7 3 |
ª
J 8 3
© K 10 6 5
4
¨ 7 3
§ 9 6 5 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
Q 10 7 6 5 2
© 3 2
¨ A Q
§ K Q 2 |
|
ª
A 9
© Q 9 8
7
¨ 10 9
§ A J 10
8 4 |
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Barnay |
Raulund |
Terraneo |
Pedersen |
|
|
1ª |
2§ |
Pass |
2¨ |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
2NT |
All Pass |
|
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Auken |
Simon |
Koch-P |
Strafner |
|
|
1ª |
Dble |
2ª |
3NT |
All Pass |
|
In both rooms, a spade lead and continuation
when in with the queen of diamonds held declarer to seven tricks;
2 IMPs to Denmark.
Roman Smolski, representing Bermuda against
La Reunion, also played 3NT after West had been silent in the
auction. Like our other declarers, Smolski won the spade lead
in dummy and passed the ten of diamonds. The East player for
La Reunion now found a very good play of the queen of spades.
Think about it for a moment and you will see that a low spade
continuation is not good enough if West has jack doubleton,
as declarer can simply duck, and East can not get the spades
going. How many defenders found this play?
Alas, West was not alive to the situation
and failed to throw the jack under the queen. Smolski won the
second spade and played on diamonds and the spade blockage meant
that the contract made. A sad reward for East's enterprise.
Board 17. Dealer North. None
Vul. |
|
ª
J 8 2
© 9 5 3
¨ A 8 6 5
§ A 5 2 |
ª
-
© K Q J 10
8 7 6
¨ J 3
§ K 7 6 3 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
K 9 7 6 5
© A
¨ Q 10 9 4
§ J 10 4 |
|
ª
A Q 10 4 3
© 4 2
¨ K 7 2
§ Q 9 8 |
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Barnay |
Raulund |
Terraneo |
Pedersen |
|
Pass |
Pass |
1ª |
2© |
Pass |
2ª |
Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
|
|
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Auken |
Simon |
Koch-P |
Strafner |
|
Pass |
Pass |
1ª |
4© |
Dble |
All Pass |
|
In the Open Room, Simon led a low spade
to the queen, ruffed. Auken crossed to the ace of hearts and
played the ¨10. Simon thought for a while but then won his ace
and returneda diamond to the king. Strafner exited with a trump
and there was no way to avoid two club losers; one down for
-50.
In the Closed Room, Raulund tried the
effect of a low diamond lead away from the ace. This was not
the time for such imagination. The effect was that Barnay put
in dummy's ten and Pedersen ducked - as who would not? Barnay
had only one diamond and two clubs to lose now; +420 and 11
IMPs to Austria.
Board 18. Dealer East. N/S
Vul. |
|
ª
10 5
© 9 4
¨ A 9 6 5
2
§ 10 6 5
4 |
ª
K J 8 7 3
© J 7 5 2
¨ K 10 3
§ 9 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
Q 6 4
© K Q 10 8
6 3
¨ Q 7
§ 8 2 |
|
ª
A 9 2
© A
¨ J 8 4
§ A K Q
J 7 3 |
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Barnay |
Raulund |
Terraneo |
Pedersen |
|
|
2¨ |
Dble |
4¨ |
Dble |
4© |
5§ |
5© |
Pass |
Pass |
6§ |
All Pass |
|
|
|
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Auken |
Simon |
Koch-P |
Strafner |
|
|
2© |
Dble |
4© |
Pass |
Pass |
5§ |
Pass |
6§ |
All Pass |
|
Even 5§ is beatable if the defence establishes
a spade winner before the diamonds are set up. In the Closed
Room, Barnay led a heart and Pedersen won, played ace and another
club, then tried a diamond to the seven, eight and ten. Back
came another heart. Pedersen ruffed and ran the jack of diamonds.
He was one down for -100.
The play was identical in the open room
up to the point at which declarer led the jack of diamonds.
A low-flying cow going by must have distracted Jens Auken because
he covered the jack with the king - an error he would not repeat
if he had the problem a thousand times - and the slam was home
for +1370 and 16 IMPs to Austria.
Board 19. Dealer South. E/W
Vul. |
|
ª
J 9 2
© 9 6 5
¨ Q 2
§ A 9 7
6 2 |
ª
A 10 3
© Q 10 7 4
¨ A J 8 5
§ K 5 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
K Q 8 7 6 4
© 8
¨ K 9 3
§ 8 4 3 |
|
ª
5
© A K J
3 2
¨ 10 7 6
4
§ Q J 10 |
Barnay/Terraneo stopped in 3ª in the Closed
Room, making exactly for +140. Koch-Palmund was playing for
higher stakes in the Open Room as he was in game. Strafner led
a top heart and switched to the queen of clubs. Declarer covered
with the king and Simon won the ace and returned a club to the
ten. Strafner played his last club for dummy to ruff. Koch-Palmund
ruffed a heart then played a spade to dummys ace and ruffed
another heart. He ran the trumps and South was caught in a show-up
squeeze so that there was no diamond guess. Koch-Palmund duly
dropped the diamond offside and had ten tricks for +620; 10
IMPs to Denmark.
No doubt there will be many stories on
Board 20, but in Austria v Denmark both East/West pairs played
in game - how dull!
Austria won the match by 72-38 IMPs, 22-8
VPs. They had assured themselves of a place in the knock-out
stages, while Denmark were down to sixth and would need a good
win in the final round if they were to qualify.
|