Uphill Start

by Christer Andersson

One of my personal favourites to reach the semi-final stage at this Championship is Poland. However, they had a very tough first day and scored well below average. In the last match Monday afternoon they played Thailand and the result more reminded one of a basketball match, 72-64, than a bridge match. This was the first score above average for the Poles ª16-14), and I am sure, not the last.

On this board the Thai declarer played the cards competently in the Open Room. North/South for Poland were the Kotorowicz brothers Jakub and Krzysztof, and East/West for Thailand Amornpong Vichayapaibunnag/Terasak Chitngamkusol.

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

West	North	East	South
Terasak	Jakub	Amornpong	Krzysztof
1¨	2¨	Pass	2©
3¨	Pass	3NT	All Pass

Jakub’s overcall showed a two-suiter in the majors, weak or strong, either less than 11 HCP or stronger than 15 HCP. Instead of choosing one of North’s suits as opening lead, Krzysztof picked the §K. Reading North to be short in clubs, declarer won with the ace in dummy immediately, North discarding a heart. When the king of diamonds was allowed to win the next trick, declarer continued with a finesse in spades, a heart to the ace and a second spade finesse. Amornpong now played a club from hand and Krzysztof won with the nine. North had to discard another card. If South continues clubs that would establish declarer’s ninth trick. Had he played a heart, declarer could then have taken his two heart winners and put North on lead with his last heart. Krzysztof, therefore, continued with a diamond, North capturing the queen with the ace. Declarer discarded a club. When North cashed his last diamond, East got rid of his last club. Having a full picture of the hand, Amornpong won the heart continuation with the queen, cashed the king and put North on lead with his last heart to get the spade finesse at the end. Competent played indeed.