McConnell Cup Round of 16

Dhondy v Austria Second half

By Tony Gordon

Dhondy (England) trailed the Austrian holders by 15 IMPs at the halfway stage of their round of sixteen match, but they turned the match around in the second half and eventually won comfortably by 48 IMPs.

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

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Goldenfield	Weigkricht	Brunner	Terraneo
			Pass
1ª	2NT	Pass	5§
All Pass

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Erhart	Dhondy	Smederevac	Smith
			Pass
1ª	2NT	Pass	4§
4©	4ª	Pass	6§
All Pass

After the K© lead both declarers made thirteen tricks by ruffing four diamonds in hand, but that was 11 IMPs to Dhondy.

Thirteen tricks were also available, this time in hearts and on any lead, on board 7. Again it was Dhondy who bid the small slam while Austria languished in game. The 13-IMP gain put Dhondy ahead by 11 IMPs, but a misdefence cost them a game swing on board 8 and Austria regained the lead on the next board.

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

West	North	East	South
Goldenfield	Weigkricht	Brunner	Terraneo
	1©	2¨	2ª
Pass	2NT	Pass	3NT
All Pass

After a diamond lead, Terry Weigkricht made four heart tricks, three clubs and two diamonds for +400 to Austria.

West	North	East	South
Erhart	Dhondy	Smederevac	Smith
	1©	2¨	2ª
Pass	2NT	Pass	3©
Pass	4©	All Pass

Jovi Smederevac led her club against Heather Dhondy's 4© and declarer tried to cash a second round of the suit. Smederevac ruffed, and when declarer subsequently took a trump finesse she was one down for +50 and 10 IMPs to Austria.

However, an 8-IMP gain on the last board of the quarter saw Dhondy take a slim lead of 6 IMPs into the final set.

Board 20. Dealer West. Both Vul.
	ª 9 6 5 4 © J 8 ¨ 8 6 2 § J 9 8 5
ª A 8 3 © A K 6 5 ¨ A 5 § Q 10 7 4		ª K 7 2 © 10 9 4 ¨ 10 9 4 3 § A K 2
	ª Q J 10 © Q 7 3 2 ¨ K Q J 7 § 6 3

West	North	East	South
Dhondy	Erhart	Smith	Smederevac
1©	Pass	2¨	Pass
2NT	Pass	3NT	All Pass

Maria Erhart led a spade against Dhondy's 3NT and declarer won in hand and played three rounds of clubs. South threw a heart on the third club, so declarer was soon claiming nine tricks for +600 to Dhondy.

West	North	East	South
Weigkricht	Goldenfield	Terraneo	Brunner
1NT	Pass	3NT	All Pass

Rhona Goldenfield also led a spade against Weigkricht's 3NT and declarer won in hand and turned her attention to the heart suiit. The best line for three tricks with this combination is not obvious, but cashing the AK was not the winning approach on the actual layout and, in due course, Michelle Brunner took five tricks for the defence for +100 and 12 IMPs to Dhondy.

Board 21. Dealer North. N/S Vul.
	ª A 4 3 2 © K 10 8 7 ¨ A 6 § A 9 4
ª J © J 9 3 2 ¨ Q 7 5 3 § Q 5 3 2		ª K 10 9 8 6 5 © Q ¨ K 9 4 2 § 8 7
	ª Q 7 © A 6 5 4 ¨ J 10 8 § K J 10 6

West	North	East	South
Weigkricht	Goldenfield	Terraneo	Brunner
	1©	2ª	3©
Pass	3NT	All Pass

Sylvia Terraneo led the ¨4 against Goldenfield's 3NT and this was covered in turn by the jack, queen and ace. Declarer advanced the ª2 at trick two and East took her king and continued with a low diamond. Goldenfield rose with dummy's ten and eventually made three club tricks, three hearts, two diamonds and two spades for +630 to Dhondy.

West	North	East	South
Dhondy	Erhart	Smith	Smederevac
	1NT	2ª	Dbl
Pass	3©	Pass	4©
All Pass

Nicola Smith lead a club against Erhart's 4© and dummy's jack was allowed to win the first trick. Declarer continued with a heart to her king, and could no longer make the contract. She now played ace and another trump and Dhondy won her jack and switched to her spade. This was allowed to run to Smith's king and Dhondy ruffed the spade return. There was still a diamond trick to come for the defence so declarer was one down for +100 and another 12 IMPs to Dhondy.

That result left Dhondy leading by 29 IMPs and it was all downhill for the holders from there with Dhondy eventually winning the set 55-13 and the match 170-122.