| 9th World Youth Team Championship | Page 5 | Bulletin 2 - Wednesday 20 August 2003 |
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Round One – Norway vs Denmark The battle of Scandinavia! This prestigious meeting between Norway, collecting the bronze medal in the European Youth Championship last year, and Denmark, runners up last year behind the solid Italian team, can be repeated next week in the semifinals. There’s no doubt we saw two strong teams in this battle of Scandinavia. The match opening by Denmark was furious. After seven boards the Danish where ahead by 46 to 2 imps! The Danes are the most successful team in the World Bridge Team Youth Championship, winning 1987 and three impressing bronze medals in a row 1997-1999-2001. But in this match, there were not enough Danish dynamite available for the whole set of 20 boards… This was the first big swing.
Both Souths where trying to make life hard for E/W, bidding 3ª. Someone could also sympathise with a 4ª bid, really putting it on the edge. Boje Henriksen found his way when he bid 5§ with a good portion of self-confidence. West easily corrected to 5© and North made a bad decision going for punishment without no more than one trick. 11 tricks (as expected) and –850 for Denmark. That auction was worth 13 imps, when 4ª went one down in the closed room. On the next board, Kvanggraven/Hakkebo tried the penalties again. This time they had to write down –380 when 1 NT Dbl was played with one overtrick. In the Closed Room the lead helped Denmark count 8 tricks in 2ª; 10 more imps to Denmark.
In the Closed Room, Jonas Houmuller found the splendid 4ª-bid and his elder sister, Bjorg, didn’t have any problems reaching 7§, even though she had A-K-9 in spades. After a heart lead, Bjorg easily raised the dummies hearts – just enough for pitching two diamonds on the hand. Just made. Jorstad’s 2©, showing either spades or a hand with two suites, didn’t have any effect. Andreas Marquardsen’s preemtive 3ª in the Open Room was more successful – or perhaps it was Kvangraven’s decision introducing hearts that kept the Norwegians away from the big bugs… At this stage, Denmark was way beyond Norway, ahead by 46 to 2 imps. But now the Norwegians put their “lusekofter” (a traditional Norwegian pullover) on, making a giant effort to win the match. A matter of a fact, Denmark gained only 11 more imps. Sitting North, E/W Vul, what do you open with these cards:
3¨ is too cowardly, and my guess is that 4¨ would be the majorities choice. 4¨ was Kvangrave’s choise as well, giving Hakkebo the possibility to bid 4ª - 11 tricks. Jonas Houmoller pushed the hand even further, opening 5¨. After two passes Ronn Jorstad doubled. Ellestad had to find the killing heart lead, but when he tried ª9 instead the lead and the bare ¨K helped Denmark gaining 3 imps. On board 10 Norway won 11 imps, playing safe 3 NT in the Open
Room and 2© down
one in the Closed Room. Board 13 was flat; 5§ Dble and just made at both tables… Juniors! Board 15 was a huge swing for Norway.
In Non Vul. Marquardsen tried his luck with 4©. I prefer a double by Kvangraven, instead of 5¨, so N/S either could punish E/W in 4© or reach 4ª. 5¨ could have been the right move, but not this time. 2§ by Henriksen could be weak. Just facing the cards of N/S 6ª seems to be a decent contract. Even though Ellestad refused to lead a diamond after the Lightner double, the bad distribution made this a mission impossible for the Declarer and the contract went two off. The Norwegians now had the engine working. They followed this 15 imps gain up with another 12 imps here.
2¨ was Multi and 4¨ showed 5-5 in spades and diamonds. Declarer pitched clubs on spades, loosing only three trump tricks; +200 for Norway. Jonas Houmoller showed us how to preemt the junior style. East with 20 hcp doubled and West didn’t find a more comfortable spot to be at than 3© doubled, so he passed. East started with ªA and ªK, finding out that West had only two spades. He therefore continued with another spade and West over-ruffed the ©J with the queen. West played a diamond to partner’s ace and got his second spade-ruff. The defence took their two aces and scored –500. 12 imps for Norway.
Henriksen made 10 tricks in 3 NT after a helping club lead. Ellestad’s 2ª showed four spades and at least five cards in a minor. West’s 3© was natural and invitational. North thought Santa came early this year, and produced a double with a smile. Remembering Jan Wohlin’s wise advice – never make a lead – North anyhow had to produce a card. He led ¨10 to J, Q and A. Declarer continued won another diamond with ¨9 and exited with a club. North took the ace and tried a small spade to South’s 10 and Wests A. Declarer now played another spade to the K, cashed §K pitching a spade. He now ruffed a club and played a diamond. Now North wanted to be in the game again, ruffing with ©7. North exited with ªQ ruffed by Declarer but was thrown in again when he ruffed the next diamond. Now North had only hearts left – had to give Declarer two more heart tricks. Contract just made. 3 imps filled with a lots of action to Norway. Norway 74 imps and Denmark 57 imps gave Norway a perfect start, winning by 19-11 VP. |
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