View from the top
Whenever No. 1 plays No. 2, you can expect a close, hard-fought
match. In that respect, the Netherlands and Germany, the top two
teams after five rounds of the women's series in the IOC Grand Prix,
did not disappoint. Beyond their standings in the Grand Prix, the
teams represented two of the top women's teams in the world. Germany
won the Venice Cup in Paris last fall, claiming the title won by
the Netherlands in 2000 in Bermuda.
Fittingly, at the end of the match, the two teams were tied with
USA atop the standings with three rounds to go.
Germany drew blood first when the Dutch defenders slipped and allowed
Elke Weber to take nine tricks in 3§ while her teammates at the
other table were minus 50 in 3ª.
The Netherlands got it back on the next deal, the third of the match.
Dealer South N/S vul
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|
ª Q 9 4
© J 10 9 7 4 3
¨ 9
§ J 3 2 |
ª J 6 5 2
© K Q 2
¨ 10 6 4
§ 7 6 5 |
|
ª K 8
© -
¨ A Q J 8 7 5 3
§ A K 10 8 |
|
ª A 10 7 3
© A 8 6 5
¨ K 2
§ Q 9 4 |
The bidding was the same at both tables. In the closed room, Marijke
van der Pas opened 1© with the South hand and was raised to game
by Bep Vriend. Pony Nehmert entered the auction with 5¨ and was
doubled by van der Pas. The ©A was led and declarer soon was claiming
plus 550 as declarer could not be prevented from getting to dummy
to discard two spade tricks. With clubs splitting 3-3, declarer
lost only a trump and a club.
In the open room, Weber also opened 1© and was raised to game by
Sabine Auken. Jet Pasman also bid 5¨, which was doubled by Weber,
who made the normal-looking lead of the ©A. Pasman ruffed and considered
her play carefully before playing the ¨7 from hand. Now put yourself
in Weber's place. Going up with the ¨K would be very embarrassing
if partner had the singleton ace, and it was certainly possible
to believe that Pasman would bid 5¨ with seven to the Q J 9.
Finally, Weber played low. Dummy's ¨10 won the trick, and declarer
later dropped the king to make 12 tricks and plus 650. The 3-IMP
gain put the Netherlands in the lead, and they added a much larger
swing on the next deal.
Dealer West E/W vul
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|
ª K 10 7 5 4 3
© J 4
¨ A Q 6
§ K 8 |
ª 6
© K Q 9
¨ 7 5 4
§ A J 7 6 3 2 |
|
ª A Q J 9 8 2
© A 3 2
¨ K 10 3
§ 5 |
|
ª
-
© 10 8 7 6 5
¨ J 9 8 2
§ Q 10 9 4 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Rauscheid |
Vriend |
Nehmert |
Van der Pas |
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
1NT |
Pass |
2ª |
All Pass |
|
Bidding with the South hand can work out when partner rebids in
a different suit, but it also runs the risk of simply increasing
the number of undertricks, as it did on this occasion. Perhaps Nehmert
was fearful that North-South might find a better place to play if
she doubled. Still, a penalty double by East looks like a normal
choice.
Saved from the hammer, Vriend posted a minus of 200 for down four.
In the open room, the Germans, in a sense, took a big spill on the
downhill course.
West |
North |
East |
South |
Simons |
Auken |
Pasman |
Weber |
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
Pass |
2§ |
2ª |
Dble |
All Pass |
Weber's pass seems more sensible, although her good judgment was
rendered moot when Auken, taken off the hook by Anneke Simons' balancing
bid, was right there with 2ª. Pasman knew what to do with that one,
and when the smoke cleared Auken was also down four for minus 800
and 12 IMPs to the Dutch.
Germany trailed 17-7 when this deal gave them the opportunity to
take the lead - and they didn't miss out.
Dealer South E/W vul
|
|
ª Q J 10 2
© 7 3
¨ K Q 8 7
§ J 10 5 |
ª K 8 6 4
© A K 10
¨ A 5 4
§ 8 6 3 |
|
ª A 3
© Q 6 5 2
¨ 10 9
§ K Q 9 7 4 |
|
ª 9 7 5
© J 9 8 4
¨ J 6 3 2
§ A 2 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Rauscheid |
Vriend |
Nehmert |
Van der Pas |
|
|
|
Pass |
1NT |
Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
2ª |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
Play records were not available, but Andrea Rauscheid managed nine
tricks after Vriend led the ªQ. That was plus 600 to Germany.
West |
North |
East |
South |
Simons |
Auken |
Pasman |
Weber |
|
|
|
Pass |
1§ |
Pass |
1© |
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
2¨ |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
3§ |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
|
|
Auken started with the ¨Q, Rusinow, versus the notrump game. Simons
ducked, and she played low again when Auken played a low diamond
to the 10 and Weber's jack. Weber thought things over carefully
before switching to the ª7 to the 8, 10 and ace. Simons played a
heart to her hand and a club to the king, ducked by Weber. Simons
went back to hand with another high heart and led a second club
toward dummy. Simons appeared to consider playing low on Auken's
§10, but she finally went up with the queen, and there was no hope
from there. The best declarer could do was to cash out for down
two and minus 200. It was a 13-IMP swing to Germany, now in the
lead.
The Netherlands got it back on the next deal when the Dutch bid
a paper-thin vulnerable 3NT which came home on the favorable lie
of a king (it was going to be down several had the finesse failed)
while Auken and Weber played in a diamond partial. That was 10 IMPs
to the Netherlands, who had forged yet another lead change.
The final swing of the evening was the most dramatic, as Auken
brought home a very difficult 4© with a bit of help from the defenders.
An expanded report of that deal can be found elsewhere in this bulletin.
In the end, Germany prevailed 30-27.
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