Quack, Quack

Knowing when to duck and when to rise with one's high card is often not easy. Heather Dhondy of the English team of that name in the Round of 16 in the McConnell got it just right on this deal from their match against TERRANEO of Austria, the holders of the title from four years ago.

Board 14. Dealer East. None Vul.
	ª A 10 8 6 5 3 © 8 ¨ A K 7 4 § 9 3
ª 2 © 9 4 2 ¨ Q 10 6 3 2 § K Q 6 4		ª Q J 9 7 4 © 10 3 ¨ 8 § A J 8 7 5
	ª K © A K Q J 7 6 5 ¨ J 9 5 § 10 2

West	North	East	South
Erhart	Dhondy	Smederevac	Smith
		2ª	4©
4NT	Dble	5§	Pass
Pass	Dble	All Pass

In the other room the Austrian N/S pair were allowed to play 4© for a simple +450. There was more action at our table.

Two Spades was weak with spades and a minor and 4NT asked for the minor. Dhondy doubled 4NT and doubled again when 5§ came around to her. Nicola Smith cashed two top hearts then switched to a trump. Jovanka Smederevac won in dummy and led the singleton spade. Dhondy found her first smooth duck on this trick and the queen lost to the bare king. Smith returned a second trump and again declarer won in dummy. This time she tried leading a low diamond but, once again, Dhondy followed low. From here there was no way to establish either side-suit and Smederevac made just seven trump tricks; down four for -800 and 8 IMPs to DHONDY.
Two ducks - quack, quack.

A Rare Opportunity

By Vishy Viswanathan

It is indeed rare for a Director to witness a full hand in play and when it happened it was to witness a fine piece of declarer play.

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

The Russian pairing of Alexander and Irina Ladizhenski had the simple auction 1§ - 1© - 2© - 4©, where 1§ would often be 12-14 balanced, and the ten of diamonds was led.

Irina won dummy's jack and played a low heart to her ace, noting the fall of the queen on her left. She cashed the ¨K then played a club to the jack followed by a second club for queen and ace. North continued with another diamond so Irina won the ace and pitched a spade from hand. She continued with the ªK then a spade to the ace and cashed the §K, pitching dummy's last spade. A spade was ruffed low and now declarer had ©864 opposite ©K10 and ¨6. Playing the ¨6 forced South to ruff in with the nine to prevent a cheap ruff in hand, but now South had to lead into dummy's heart tenace at trick twelve to give an overtrick. Well played indeed!

A Fredin Bid

By Ralf Bystroem

Peter Fredin, the Swedish star, is famous for his unusual bids. My partner Hans-Olof Hallen found a Fredin bid in the Regional.

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

East opened One Spade, South passed, West raised to Two Spades and it went Pass - Pass. Now Mr Hallen as South bid 3NT, passed out.

West led the four of spades to the jack and queen. The contract looked promising if the club queen behaved, but on the jack of clubs West discarded a heart. Disaster?!

East let the jack win. Then came king, queen of diamonds, followed by a heart. East won with the ace and returned a spade to the ace and West unblocked the king! West forgot that East could not have the spade ten. The rest was easy. Ace of diamonds and a diamond followed and West had to give Mr Hallen nine tricks.
Thank you Peter Fredin!