Big points live on VuGraph

In the match between Australia and Israel both Israeli pairs brought in two huge results that accumulated to 29 IMPs. Here's their first effort:

Board 6. Dealer East. E/W Vul.   ª K Q J 10 © 9 6 ¨ A K Q J 3 § A 4 ª 8 © Q 3 2 ¨ 8 7 6 § Q 9 7 5 3 2 ª A 6 5 4 3 2 © J 5 ¨ 10 9 2 § 8 6   ª 9 7 © A K 10 8 7 4 ¨ 5 4 § K J 10

West	North	East	South
	Schneider		Roll
		Pass	1©
Pass	2¨	Pass	2©
Pass	2ª	Pass	3©
Pass	4NT	Pass	5©
All Pass

Going for a heart contract from North/South's point of view it was very wise to stop in five as you either lose ªA and a spade ruff or the original trump trick instead.
But there is more to come. When West led a small club at trick one, it seems that an atmosphere was created, in which South felt very safe and comfortable. Too safe actually, as he took the first trick with §10, crossed to dummy with §A and let the ©9 run!
Now West collected first his trump trick, then played a spade to partner's ace and scored a ruff additionally afterwards. - Israel: +100.
A nice result, even good enough to cover a 6© down one from the other table. Not that their compatriots had any intention of playing in hearts at all:

West	North	East	South
	Warszawski		Liran
		Pass	1©
Pass	2¨	Pass	2©
Pass	2ª	Pass	2NT
Pass	3¨	Pass	3NT
Pass	4¨	Pass	4©
Pass	4NT	Pass	5§
Pass	6NT	All Pass

Twelve tricks were there ready to take, so all the declarer had to do was drive out the ªA and claim - Israel: +990 and 14 IMPs in total.

A couple of boards later a redouble boomerang backfired. But let's have a look at the Open Room first:

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

West	North	East	South
Schneider		Roll
		2©	Dbl.
3©	Pass	Pass	3ª
All Pass

East opened a perfectly normal looking weak two and East preemptively raised to three preemptively. South decided not to give up, showed his longest suit and soon after had gone one down losing a spade, two hearts and two diamond - Israel: +100.
Now this is what happened in the Closed Room:

West	North	East	South
	Warszawski		Liran
		Pass	1ª
Pass	Pass	2©	Dbl.
Rdbl.	All Pass

Yes, West wanted his partner to play 2© redoubled, and yes, when North made a strong looking pass, South gave him a chance to do so. A couple of top tricks and black suit-ruffs later, East was two down and Israel had collected +1000 and another 15 IMPs on the way to win this match 62:30, or 22:8 in VPs respectively.

Number 9 again!

By Kees Tammens

Love potion number nine, who remembers this beautiful song (Only the editor I think)? In bridge board nine is becoming to be an all Dutch board, especially when Sjoert Brink is at your table. Against Chinese Taipeh he produced +1000 and against CAC there was a new adventure in sight:

Board 9. Dealer North. E/W Vul.   ª K 10 6 3 © 5 ¨ A Q J 10 9 7 2 § 10 ª A Q © A K 8 7 2 ¨ K § A 9 8 7 5 ª J 8 7 5 2 © Q 10 6 ¨ 6 4 § 6 3 2   ª 9 4 © J 9 4 3 ¨ 8 5 3 § K Q J 4

West	North	East	South
	1 ¨	Pass	1 ©
Pass	1 ª	Pass	1NT
Dbl.	2 ¨	Pass	Pass
Dbl.	3 ¨	Pass	Pass
Dbl.	Pass	Pass	Rdbl.
All Pass

By doubling West tried to give his partner the impression of a huge hand, although maybe a heart bid would have worked out better. After the double of 3 ¨ East either hoped that his hand would produce a defensive trick or that partner had five tricks in the bag. He also could have thought that a 3ª bid would cost a lot more than the possible 470 North/South were heading for.
But there still was Sjoert in the South seat. For some reason he seemed not satisfied with a great result so went into even higher areas. Or did he redouble hoping to make East/West escape to 4§? It is not easy to see through the mind of this Dutch junior!
As it was North managed to make ten tricks for 840 on that dreadful No.9!

Juniors Are Worth Fighting For

By Ib Lundby

As you may know Denmark didn't qualify for these championships directly. Our team came fifth at the Europeans with four teams qualifying, and Denmark only got the chance because a NBO from another zone cancelled its participation.
We received the happy news at a time where our budget was closed, so we had no money for the expenses for the travel and accommodation. Nevertheless we accepted the invitation and asked our clubs and members for help - and not in vain. We needed about 13.000 US $, but when we left Denmark the balance was about 26.000 $.
The money came from all kind of projects: Tournaments for silver points, an auction of two complete sets of bridge magazines etc. In our office the staff made a deal that everyone had to lose 8% in weight over a three months period. The result was about 120 $ to the fund, and you may guess who contributed most to this amount - I promise you that 8% of 115 kilos is a lot to lose in only three months. (But I am happy that the bet is over now - after these championships I would have had to pay a fortune!).
I have heard of similar projects in other NBO's - and that's how it should be. Juniors are worth fighting for!

In this hand from Denmark's match against France in round 5 the juniors had to "fight back" if possible:

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

In the Closed room France played 3NT, but this was the auction in the Open:

West	North	East	South
Schaltz		Marquardsen
			Pass
2§	Pass	2¨	Pass
2NT*	Pass	3§	Pass
3¨**	Dbl	4§***	Pass
4¨****	Pass	5§	All Pass
* (18)19-20
** No five spades, no four hearts
*** Mild slam try in clubs, single or void in diamonds (Manco)
**** Cuebid

A reasonable stop in game, although with the actual distribution given 6§ was cold.
Martin made 12 tricks after an endplay in trumps and a right guess in hearts, not observing that the ª8 in fact had become high, just to hear one of his team fellows pointing out afterwards that 6§ is o.k., but why not try 6NT, which is lay-down as well (play the ªQ which South has to cover and squeeze North in three suits)!