4th IOC Grand Prix Page 3 Bulletin 6 - Wednesday, 6 February  2002


France Power Past The Netherlands

The French Women's team had performed heroics in the Round Robin stage of the competition, moving from last to first over the nine rounds. After two sessions of their semi-final they enjoyed a 12 IMP lead over The Netherlands. The third session proved to be decisive.

Dealer South. East/West Vul
  ª Q J 3
© 2
¨ J 10 7 6 2
§ A J 9 5
ª 10 9 5
© 10 4
¨ A 9 8 5
§ 8 6 4 3
Bridge deal ª K 4
© A Q 8 5 3
¨ K 4 3
§ K 10 7
  ª A 8 7 6 2
© K J 9 7 6
¨ Q
§ Q 2

Closed Room
West North East South
Willard Pasman Cronier Simons
      1ª
Pass 2NT* Pass 3©
Pass 4ª All Pass  

West led the five of spades and declarer put up the queen, covered by the king and ace. The queen of diamonds lost to the king and East returned a spade. Declarer won in dummy and ran the jack of diamonds, discarding a heart from hand. She still had to lose a trump, a heart and a club, two down, -100.

Open Room
West North East South
Van der Pas D'Ovideo Vriend Bessis
      1ª
Pass 1NT* 2© Pass
Pass 3ª Pass 4ª
All Pass      

North/South can collect an easy 500 from Two Hearts, but in the present era it is very difficult to make a low level double that is penalty orientated. West led the ten of hearts and East took the ace. A red suit continuation will defeat the game, but the cunning switch to the four of spades put declarer in with a chance. She won the trick with dummy's jack and played a diamond (playing a low spade first and then the queen of diamonds leaves the defenders without recourse). East could have saved the day by going up with the king of diamonds and playing the king of spades, but that was a difficult play to find and when she played low the queen forced out the ace. Declarer had to lose a club, but that was all, as their was no trump loser and the ruffing diamond finesse was a winner. +420 and a big swing to France.

Dealer North. North/South Vul
  ª J 9 7 5 3
© K Q 9
¨ Q J 8 6 3
§ -
ª Q 4
© A 6 5
¨ K 5
§ K 9 8 4 3 2
Bridge deal ª 8 2
© 8 7 3
¨ A 10 7
§ A 10 7 6 5
  ª A K 10 6
© J 10 4 2
¨ 9 4 2
§ Q J

Closed Room
West North East South
Willard Pasman Cronier Simons
  Pass Pass 1©
2§ Dble 2© 2ª
Pass 4ª 5§ Dble
Pass 5ª All Pass  

Was North wrong to pull the double? It was certainly wrong in practice, as Five Spades had no play at all. West led the four of clubs and declarer finished one down, -100.

Open Room
West North East South
Van der Pas D'Ovideo Vriend Bessis
  Pass Pass Pass
1§ 1ª 3§ 3ª
4§ 4¨ Pass 4ª
All Pass      

East led the seven of hearts, and when West put up the ace, North dropped the queen, which may have been a mistake. After some thought Van der Pas switched to the king of diamonds and had saved the day, as the defenders took the next three tricks. Well done!

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

Closed Room
West North East South
Willard Pasman Cronier Simons
    1ª Pass
2© Pass 3¨ Pass
3© Pass 4ª All Pass

You would obviously like to play the East/West cards in Four Hearts, but how should you get there?

South led the six of hearts and North won with the king and played a club. South took the ace and returned the suit. Eleven tricks are possible now, but declarer played safely for ten, ruffing one diamond in dummy and giving up a diamond at the end, +620.

Open Room
West North East South
Van der Pas D'Ovideo Vriend Bessis
    1ª Pass
2© Pass 3¨ Pass
4© Pass 4ª All Pass

For my money Four Hearts suggests that you are not interested in partner's suits, but the final contract was the same, as was the opening lead. North won with the ace and switched to the eight of spades. Declarer won in hand with the ten, ruffed a diamond and played the queen of hearts. (The king of clubs is a plausible alternative). When North declined to cover the obvious thing to do is discard the jack of clubs and declarer had almost detached that card from her hand when she changed her mind and preferred a diamond. South could ruff, and the defenders still had to come to a club and a diamond for one down. -100 and another double figure swing to France.

Dealer South. All Vul
  ª K J 9 4 3
© 8 5 3 2
¨ Q J 10 7
§ -
ª Q 6 5
© A K Q 9
¨ 9 4 3
§ A 4 2
Bridge deal ª 2
© 10 7 6 4
¨ K 5 2
§ Q J 10 8 3
  ª A 10 8 7
© J
¨ A 8 6
§ K 9 7 6 5

Closed Room
West North East South
Willard Pasman Cronier Simons
      1§
Dble 1ª 2© 2ª
All Pass      

Two Spades was a simple affair and declarer emerged with eleven tricks, +200.

Open Room
West North East South
Van der Pas D'Ovideo Vriend Bessis
      1§
Dble 1ª 2© 2ª
3© 4ª All Pass  

Joey Silver was at the commentators table when this deal came up and he pointed out that the Meckwell approach is to bid game when you have a nine card fit. It was certainly the right thing to do this time and declarer did not find it difficult to arrive at the same number of tricks as her counterpart at the other table. However, their was a significant difference in the score, +620 and the lead was up to 50 IMPs.

Dealer North. East/West Vul
  ª Q 7 4 3
© -
¨ K Q 8 6
§ 10 9 8 4 2

Suppose you held these North cards and saw the auction go like this:

West North East South
  Pass Pass Pass
1© ?    

You would double wouldn't you?
Take a look at the full deal:

  ª Q 7 4 3
© -
¨ K Q 8 6
§ 10 9 8 4 2
ª A K
© J 10 9 8 2
¨ A J 7 3
§ A 7
Bridge deal ª J 2
© K Q 7 6
¨ 5 4 2
§ Q J 6 3
  ª 10 9 8 6 5
© A 5 4 3
¨ 10 9
§ K 5

North/South have a paying save in spades, but you won't find it if North passes on the second round. It proved to be academic, as the board was fouled at the other table.

France had put the match out of reach.



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