Junior Pairs - Session 1 (Boards 9 to 16)

by Peter Gill

With Bridgemate instant scoring machines in use, progress scores on the big screens in the playing area allowed everyone to see the scores updated every four boards.

On Board 9, the early leaders Thomas Bessis and Julien Gaviard from France moved to the table of two pleasant Danish girls. North opened 1NT, South Staymanned then bid 2♥ over 2♦. North confidently bid 3NT. Thomas Bessis wisely enquired about the auction. When North explained about 2♥: 'I don't know what that means', it became clear that the Danish girls were inexperienced at bridge. Bessis - Gaviard then followed the best technique to run rings around a weaker pair, taking no risks in the card play and allowing the opponents' inexperience to cost vital tricks. This produced two near tops for the Frenchmen, all done with Gallic charm. A sound sensible approach to extract the maximum from the less experienced players is a vital ingredient of success at Pairs. On Board 12, opposed by their compatriots Adrien Vinay and Paul Seguineau, the task was tougher.

Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
	♠ K 9 7 4 3 ♥ ♦ Q 10 2 ♣ Q J 9 7 4
♠ Q 6 5 ♥ K J 10 3 ♦ 6 4 3 ♣ 8 6 2		♠ A J 8 ♥ Q 9 8 7 ♦ K J 7 5 ♣ K 5
	♠ 10 2 ♥ A 6 5 4 2 ♦ A 9 8 ♣ A 10 3

West	North	East	South
Gaviard		T Bessis
Pass	2♠	Dble	Pass
3♥	Pass	Pass	Dble
All Pass

North's 2♠ opening bid struck gold when Bessis decided to make a take-out double with an imperfect hand type, but Pairs is usually a bidder's game.

Gaviard ducked the lead of the queen of clubs, in an attempt to keep the dangerous opponent (who might switch to trumps) out of the lead. A second club went to the king and ace, followed by the expected trump switch. Gaviard won ♥J and played a diamond to the jack. South won and played ace and another heart. Gaviard tried ♠Q, covered by the king and ace, and was doomed to go two down. Minus 300 was only 17 out of 140 for the early leaders. We return to the Poles for Board 16, because Kalita and Kotorowicz were opposed by Marion Michielsen and Vincent de Pagter. Marion has had a huge impact in the last year, after a good performance in the Tenerife Mixed Teams and winning the girls event in Riccione. She made the Finals of the Dutch Open Teams and played on the Dutch Women's team, while Vincent came 5th in Tata.

Board 16. Dealer West. E/W Vul.
	♠ J 6 5 ♥ J 10 8 7 6 2 ♦ 10 5 ♣ J 7
♠ Q 10 8 7 5 4 ♥ 5 ♦ J 6 3 ♣ 10 8 6		♠ A ♥ A K 4 ♦ 9 8 7 4 ♣ A 9 5 4 3
	♠ K 9 2 ♥ Q 9 3 ♦ A K Q 2 ♣ K Q 2

West	North	East	South
Kotorowicz	de Pagter	Kalita	Michielsen
Pass	Pass	1♣	Dble
Pass	3♥	Pass	4♥
Pass	Pass	Dble	All Pass

Is it possible to pass 3♥ with 19 points? Should North, who was a passed hand, have a little bit more for the 3♥ bid (indeed is this what a 3♥ bid should show)? These are difficult questions to answer, but Kalita's double ensured that the Poles scored most of the matchpoints.