Fading Challenge
McConnell Cup Semi-final
By Tony Gordon
The draw for the McConnell semi-finals pitted the two European
teams against the two American teams, and Europe were soon trailing
in both matches.
Bessis were only 16 IMPs behind Radin after the first quarter,
but Vriend had suffered an embarrassing 63-0 whitewash against Sanborn
in the first set and needed to stem the tide to stay in the match.
The second stanza began promisingly for Vriend:
Board 17. Dealer North. Love All.
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ª K Q
© 10 3
¨ A 8 2
§ K 9 6 5 4 3 |
ª J 9 6 5 3 2
© 2
¨ Q J 4
§ A Q J |
![Bridge deal](../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª A 4
© A Q J 8 7 6
¨ K 7 6
§ 10 7 |
|
ª J 10 7
© K 9 5 4
¨ 10 9 5 3
§ 8 2 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Palmer |
Vriend |
Deas |
van der Pas |
|
1§ |
1© |
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
3© |
All Pass |
Marijke van der Pas led the §8 against 3© and the jack lost to
North's king. A club was returned, so Lynn Deas played a third round
and threw her losing spade as South ruffed. Van der Pas exited with
a spade and Deas won her ace, perforce, and played a diamond to
the queen and North's ace. A further club from Bep Vriend now promoted
a second trump trick for South so declarer was one down for +50
to Vriend.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Simons |
Levitina |
Pasman |
Sanborn |
|
1§ |
1© |
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
2ª |
Pass |
4ª |
All Pass |
Irina Levitina made the unfortunate choice of a low club lead against
4ª and Anneke Simons won with the queen and played the ¨Q taken
by North's ace. Levitina exited with a second diamond and declarer
won the king and cashed the ªA. She now played the §A and ruffed
the §J with dummy's remaining trump. Kerri Sanborn over-ruffed,
but that was with her natural trump trick, so declarer lost only
one further trump trick and scored +420 for 10 IMPs to Vriend.
A missed slam gave those points back on the next board, but board
19 was another gain for Vriend.
Board 19. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
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ª A 9 8 4 2
© A 8 6 5
¨ 10
§ A Q 6 |
ª K Q 10 5 3
© J
¨ 8 7 4 3
§ K 8 7 |
![Bridge deal](../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª J 6
© K Q 10 7 4 2
¨ A K 6 5
§ 5 |
|
ª 7
© 9 3
¨ Q J 9 2
§ J 10 9 4 3 2 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Palmer |
Vriend |
Deas |
van der Pas |
|
|
|
Pass |
Pass |
1ª |
2© |
All Pass |
Van der Pas began with her singleton spade and Vriend played the
ace and switched to her diamond. Deas won with the ace and played
a trump to the jack and ace and Vriend gave her partner a spade
ruff. Declarer could not avoid losing two diamond tricks and a club,
so she was one down for +100 to Vriend.
West |
North |
East |
South |
Simons |
Levitina |
Pasman |
Sanborn |
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|
|
Pass |
2ª* |
Pass |
3© |
Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
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Five spades and a four-card minor, 6-10 HCP.
The systemic 2ª opening pushed the Dutch pair two levels higher
in the other room, but it was not as clear-cut for Sanborn to lead
her spade as it had been for van der Pas, and her actual choice
of the ¨Q was to have repercussions in the play. Jet Pasman won
her ¨A and played a heart to the jack, but Levitina ducked. A low
spade from the dummy came next and Levitina rose with the ace as
Pasman followed with the jack. Clearly a spade continuation will
defeat the contract, but, placing her partner with the missing spade
because of her failure to lead one originally, Levitina exited with
a low trump instead. Pasman naturally continued trumps and Levitina
tok her ace and returned her last heart, but the subsequent appearance
of the ª6 from declarer was not a welcome sight. 'Sorry partner,
my fault', said Sanborn, as Pasman scored +620 for 12 IMPs to Vriend.
Unfortunately, those points were also given back
a few boards later when the Americans were doubled into game, and
an eventual session score of 40-39 to Vriend left Sanborn firmly
in the driving seat.
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