Thailand - Norway

When these two teams met in Round 7 Thailand were looking to consolidate their position in the top four whilst Norway were hoping to continue their steady climb up the table.
There was plenty of action to keep the audience entertained.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Chitngamkusol	Kvangraven	Trimankha	Harr
		1©	1ª
Dbl	4ª	5§	Pass5© All Pass

Thaweesith Trimank, Thailand

Having to start the West hand with a negative double is not my idea of fun and if West had been able to bid Two Diamonds he would almost certainly have been given the opportunity to double Four Spades. As it was his partner felt constrained to bid again and it was Norway who collected a plus score, proving once again that the five level belongs to the opponents.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Ellestad	Sasibut	Charlsen	Limsinsopon
		1©	2ª!
2¨	3ª!	4§	Pass
4©	All Pass

South certainly deserves a bravery award for his Two Spade bid, but why North did not put the pressure on is a mystery. However he was probably right in the sense that East would surely have passed and left the next move to his partner. Four Hearts was straightforward, +420 and ten IMPs for Norway.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Chitngamkusol	Kvangraven	Trimankha	Harr
			1NT
All Pass

West led the jack of clubs, ducked to declarer's king and he promptly returned a club, ducking the trick to East's ace. The spade return ran to dummy's queen and declarer was in good shape now, emerging with nine tricks, +150.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Ellestad	Sasibut	Charlsen	Limsinsopon
			1NT
Pass	2NT	Pass	3§
Pass	3NT	All Pass

This time West led a diamond and the defenders played three rounds of the suit. Declarer needed to find East with the ace of clubs, and he found the winning play, leading a club to his king and then ducking on the way back. He came to the same number of tricks, but this time the score was +400, 6 IMPs to Thailand, now ahead by one.
Notice that there is a way to defeat 3NT. On the third round of diamonds East must jettison his ace of clubs!

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Chitngamkusol	Kvangraven	Trimankha	Harr
	Pass	1¨	1©
1ª	Pass	1NT	Pass
3NT	All Pass

South's overcall has little to commend it, but his luck was in as West had been dealt five spades so the chance of a big penalty was immediately bypassed. 3NT was an easy contract and declarer emerged with eleven tricks, +460.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Ellestad	Sasibut	Charlsen	Limsinsopon
	Pass	1¨	Dbl
Redbl	Pass	Pass	1©
Pass	Pass	Dbl	Pass
Pass	1ª	Pass	Pass
Dbl	All Pass

South's double was on a par with the overcall made at the other table but this time it really did lead to trouble as West's redouble set up a situation in which his side were sure to take a penalty. North ought to have passed One Heart doubled, but West must have been amazed that the bidding stopped in the suit in which he had 100 honours.
East led the four of spades and the defenders held declarer to three tricksy so the penalty was 1100, 12 IMPs for Norway.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Chitngamkusol	Kvangraven	Trimankha	Harr
		Pass	Pass
1§	1ª	Pass	1NT
Pass	2NT	Pass	3ª
Pass	4ª	All Pass

Three Spades looks strange and it led to a contract that had little practical chance of success. East led the tem of clubs and declarer correctly played low from dummy and so did West. As the cards lie, declarer, who needs entries to dummy to lead towards his red suit holdings, can get home by taking two rounds of spades ending in dummy but with a club ruff obviously being threatened declarer drew trumps and then played a club to the jack and ace. West calmly exited with a club and declarer had to win in dummy and he now played the jack of diamonds, putting up the king when West played the eight. East took the ace and returned a diamond to West's queen. West could now exit with a club forcing declarer to lead away from his king of hearts. That was two down, +200. There are always nine tricks in no-trumps so it was an opportunity for Thailand.

Thomas Charlsen, Norway

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Ellestad	Sasibut	Charlsen	Limsinsopon
		Pass	Pass
1§	1ª	All Pass

Once again East led the ten of clubs. With a lot less riding on the result the defenders allowed declarer to make ten tricks, +170 for Thailand who picked up nine IMPs to get right back into the match.

Session 7. Board 11. Dealer South. None Vul.   ª 5 © - ¨ Q 9 § A Q J 10986543 ª A 8 6 4 © K 7 2 ¨ A 10 8 3 § 7 2 ª K Q 10 9 3 2 © A Q 4 3 ¨ 5 4 § K   ª J 7 © J 10 9 8 6 5 ¨ K J 7 6 2 § -

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Chitngamkusol	Kvangraven	Trimankha	Harr
			Pass
1¨	5§	Dbl	All Pass

Should East have bid Five Spades? Well, there are no easy answers when the auction is crowded so quickly. East led the king of spades and continued with the queen, ruffed by declarer. When the ace of clubs brought forth good news declarer claimed his contract and +550.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Ellestad	Sasibut	Charlsen	Limsinsopon
			Pass
Pass	5§	Pass	Pass
Dbl	Pass	5ª	All Pass

This time it was much easier for East to bid Five Spades. Only a heart lead will defeat the contract and as South had no club he selected the fourth best of his longest and strongest, the eight of hearts. That was one down and 11 IMPs to Norway.
Perhaps North should have made sure of an unusual lead by doubling Five Spades?

Session 7. Board 16. Dealer West. E/W Vul.   ª 9 6 4 © 10 3 2 ¨ K J 9 8 3 § Q 4 ª 3 2 © 8 5 ¨ 10 6 4 2 § K J 8 7 2 ª A Q J 10 7 5 © A K Q ¨ 7 § A 6 3   ª K 8 © J 9 7 6 4 ¨ A Q 5 § 10 9 5

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Chitngamkusol	Kvangraven	Trimankha	Harr
Pass	Pass	2§	Pass
2¨	Dbl	2ª	3¨
Pass	Pass	3ª	Pass
4§	Pass	4¨	Pass
4ª	Pass	5©	Pass
6§	Pass	6ª	All Pass

A dire auction led to a contract that needed a number of miracles. South led the ace of diamonds and continued with the queen. Declarer ruffed and played a club to the jack. North produced the queen for one down and the king of spades represented the second undertrick, -200.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Ellestad	Sasibut	Charlsen	Limsinsopon
Pass	Pass	2§	Pass
2¨	Dbl	2ª	3¨
Pass	Pass	4ª	All Pass

The Norwegian pair made no mistake and stopped in the cold game, +620 and 13 IMPs to Norway, who were heading for 20 odd VPs.

Session 7. Board 19. Dealer South. E/W Vul.   ª 7 5 © K J 2 ¨ A K 10 5 2 § J 9 2 ª Q 10 8 3 © 5 ¨ 8 6 § A K Q 6 4 3 ª 6 4 © Q 10 9 8 6 3 ¨ Q 4 3 § 10 5   ª A K J 9 2 © A 7 4 ¨ J 9 7 § 8 7

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Chitngamkusol	Kvangraven	Trimankha	Harr
			1ª
2§	2¨	Pass	2ª
Pass	3ª	Pass	4ª
All Pass

Declarer needed to find the cards lying well, but they were not and he was soon two down, -200.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Ellestad	Sasibut	Charlsen	Limsinsopon
			1ª
2§	Dbl	All Pass

The late Terence Reese used to advocate making low level penalty doubles with the type of hand North held here. North led the ace of diamonds and although it looks as if declarer must come to seven tricks, the defenders simply take three red suit tricks, a top spade and then exit with a trump. Declarer has no way to avoid the loss of three more spades for two down, -500 and 12 very useful IMPs for Thailand who reduced the margin to 41-61 IMPs.