Canada - The Netherlands

The result of this important match was effectively decided over after just seven deals, by which stage the score was 45-0 to Canada.

Session 13. Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Vul.   ª A J 7 © A 9 5 2 ¨ J 10 8 3 § K 4 ª Q 5 3 2 © 10 8 ¨ A 9 6 5 § 10 7 3 ª K 9 8 6 4 © 6 3 ¨ K Q 4 § 9 6 5   ª 10 © K Q J 7 4 ¨ 7 2 § A Q J 8 2

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Drijver	Grainger	Brink	Wolpert
		Pass	1©
Pass	2NT	Pass	4§
Pass	4©	All Pass

After North had used the now popular way of showing a good hand for hearts South showed his second suit and with no diamond control North signed off. The defenders cashed two diamond tricks and declarer claimed the rest, +650.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Demuy	Lagas	Heller	Schollaardt
		Pass	1©
Pass	2NT	Pass	4§
Pass	4NT	Pass	5ª
Pass	6©	All Pass

North's dubious use of Blackwood saw his side go overboard - but West had to find the right lead. His choice of a low diamond found partner at home, so Canada was off to a flying start with 13 IMPs.

Session 13. Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Vul.   ª 10 7 6 4 © K J 10 5 4 ¨ K 4 § K 2 ª K Q 8 © 7 ¨ A Q 8 7 5 3 § A 7 6 ª A J 5 © A ¨ J 9 6 2 § Q J 8 5 4   ª 9 3 2 © Q 9 8 6 3 2 ¨ 10 § 10 9 3

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Drijver	Grainger	Brink	Wolpert
			Pass
1¨	1©	2©	5©
Pass	Pass	Dbl	All Pass

Bas Drijver, The Netherlands

There are various opinions as to the appropriate action for South to take in this type of situation. One is to ask yourself two questions? At what level would you like your opponents to play and are you afraid that you might drive them into a contract they might not reach under their own steam. Using that criteria Four Hearts must be the right bid on the South hand. Of course on this deal you want to push your opponents into a slam as both the important cards are well placed for the defence. However, East was not going to be pushed anywhere this time around. The defenders allowed declarer to get rid of one of his losing spades on the king of diamonds, so the penalty was only -500.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Demuy	Lagas	Heller	Schollaardt
			Pass
1¨	2¨	2ª	5©
Pass	Pass	Dbl	All Pass

Once again East took the money and this time the defence made no mistake, getting all their tricks for +800 and 7 IMPs - Canada by 20-0.

Session 13. Board 4. Dealer West. All Vul.   ª 6 © A 7 2 ¨ K 5 2 § K 10 7 6 5 4 ª Q 10 9 8 © Q 8 5 4 ¨ Q 7 6 4 § J ª A K 5 4 3 2 © J 6 ¨ 9 3 § 8 3 2   ª J 7 © K 10 9 3 ¨ A J 10 8 § A Q 9

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Drijver	Grainger	Brink	Wolpert
Pass	Pass	2ª	Dbl
4ª	5§	All Pass

The only advantage of bidding Four Spades is that it makes it impossible for North/South to play in either 3NT or Four Hearts. This time it did not matter, as North had a very easy Five Club bid.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Demuy	Lagas	Heller	Schollaardt
Pass	Pass	2ª	Dbl
3ª	4§	All Pass

For the second time in three boards North made a questionable bid. In some ways it was even worse that the dubious Blackwood, as it would not be difficult to construct a hand where North/South had an easy slam available. 10 more IMPs to Canada.

Session 13. Board 5. Dealer North. N/S Vul.   ª A Q 10 9 3 © A 10 7 4 ¨ A 6 § 8 6 ª K J 8 6 2 © K J ¨ 9 7 5 4 3 § 4 ª 7 4 © Q 9 8 3 2 ¨ - § Q 10 7 5 3 2   ª 5 © 6 5 ¨ K Q J 10 8 2 § A K J 9

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Drijver	Grainger	Brink	Wolpert
	1ª	Pass	2¨
Pass	2©	Pass	3§
Pass	3NT	All Pass

After the opening lead of the four of clubs was won by dummy's nine it was not difficult for declarer to collect all the tricks, +720.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Demuy	Lagas	Heller	Schollaardt
	1ª	2ª	3¨
Pass	3©	Pass	4§
Pass	4¨	Pass	5§
Pass	5NT	Pass	6¨
All Pass

Well bid by North/South, but the plays the thing. West led the king of hearts and declarer won and played the ace of clubs followed by the king. West ruffed and cashed the jack of hearts. Another huge swing to Canada, now ahead 43-0.

Session 13. Board 6. Dealer East. E/W Vul.   ª 10 6 © J 10 6 3 ¨ A J 9 3 § K 9 5 ª A K J 7 5 3 © A Q 8 ¨ 4 § 10 8 7 ª Q 8 4 © K 5 4 ¨ K 8 § A Q J 6 2   ª 9 2 © 9 7 2 ¨ Q 10 7 6 5 2 § 4 3

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Drijver	Grainger	Brink	Wolpert
		1NT	Pass
2©	Pass	2ª	Pass
4¨	Pass	4ª	Pass
5©	Pass	6ª	All Pass

West thought long and hard before bidding on with Five Hearts. It was a fine piece of judgement, as the slam needed no more than the club finesse. +1460 when South led the four of clubs.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Demuy	Lagas	Heller	Schollaardt
		1NT	Pass
4©	Pass	4ª	Pass
4NT	Pass	5§	Pass
5¨	Pass	5NT	Pass
6ª	All Pass

As you can see, no one is immune form the disease called Blackwood. This time the patient survived. Just image if Drijver had passed Four Spades - the score would now be 56-0! After this the boards were much quieter and The Netherlands made no impression in a generally dull second half. However this deal illustrates an important part of the technique a declarer needs to have in his armoury.

Gavin Wolpert, Canada

Session 13. Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul.   ª K J 4 © Q 10 7 4 3 2 ¨ K 6 § K 7 ª Q 8 6 © J 5 ¨ Q 7 5 3 § Q 10 8 6 ª A 9 7 2 © K 6 ¨ A 10 9 § 5 4 3 2   ª 10 5 3 © A 9 8 ¨ J 8 4 2 § A J 9

North played in Three Hearts at both tables after wildly differing auctions:

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Drijver	Grainger	Brink	Wolpert
Pass	1©	Dbl	2¨*
Pass	2©	Pass	Pass
Dbl	3©	All Pass

East led a club and declarer simply eliminated that suit and then played a heart to the ace and a heart. With the clubs out of the way the defenders might have to do something to declarer's advantage and when East continued with the ace of spades and a spade declarer was home, +140.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Demuy	Lagas	Heller	Schollaardt
Pass	1©	Pass	2§*
Pass	2¨*	Pass	3©
All Pass

At this table East led the seven of spades making life easy for declarer, +140.
Canada is looking good, but The Netherlands is struggling. Watch this space.