Looking for Points
When Great Britain faced Austria in Round 8, both teams were running
out of time. There were some big swings, but neither team could
establish any real ascendancy, Austria eventually winning 31-25
IMPs, 16-14 VP.
Here are the highlights:
Dealer: East. North/South Vul
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|
ª Q 5 4
© A K Q 9 8 3 2
¨ Q 2
§ 8 |
ª 10 9 7 3 2
© 4
¨ J 7 6 5 3
§ K 9 |
|
ª K J
© 7 5
¨ A 8 4
§ A J 7 5 4 3 |
|
ª A 8 6
© J 10 6
¨ K 10 9
§ Q 10 6 2 |
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Weigkricht |
Goldenfield |
Fischer |
Brunner |
|
|
1¨* |
Pass |
3¨* |
4© |
5§ |
Dble |
Pass |
Pass |
5¨ |
Dble |
All Pass |
|
|
|
Some typically aggressive bidding from the Austrian pair saw them
land in some very hot water (we refuse to say they were skating
on thin ice!). In a sense it was a pity as it would have been interesting
to see if Goldenfield would have made her contract - our guess is
yes, as she would probably have picked the spade position.
Five Diamonds cost -800.
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Smith |
Erhart |
Dhondy |
Terraneo |
|
|
1§ |
Pass |
1ª |
3© |
All Pass |
|
Missing game was very expensive, as East might well have led the
king of spades. More to the point, South might have bid 3NT, a contract
that would have been unlikely to be defeated.
Dealer West. All Vul
|
|
ª 9 6 5 3
© A
¨ J 9 7 6
§ 8 4 3 2 |
ª K 7
© K 10 7 6 4 3
¨ A 4
§ A Q J |
|
ª 10
© Q J 9 5
¨ Q 10 5 3 2
§ K 10 5 |
|
ª A Q J 8 4 2
© 8 2
¨ K 8
§ 9 7 6 |
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Weigkricht |
Goldenfield |
Fischer |
Brunner |
1§* |
Pass |
1©* |
1ª |
2© |
3ª |
Pass |
Pass |
4© |
Pass |
4ª* |
Pass |
5© |
All Pass |
|
|
Five Hearts can be defeated, but it is far from easy. After cashing
the ace of spades, South must switch to a heart. Do you see why?
Well, at the table, South switched to a club. Declarer won with
dummy's jack, cashed the king of spades to pitch a club, and played
two more clubs, ruffing the third one high. Now she exited with
a heart. North had to win and play a diamond and Doris had not come
this far to go wrong. She played the ten of diamonds and scored
up +650.
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Smith |
Erhart |
Dhondy |
Terraneo |
1© |
Pass |
3© |
3ª |
4© |
4ª |
Pass |
Pass |
5© |
All Pass |
|
|
This time West was declarer, but North led a spade to South's ace,
and without apparent thought Sylvia switched to the two of hearts!
She said afterwards that it didn't seem to be so difficult! Well
done indeed, and +100 for a huge swing to Austria.
|
ª
Q 10 5 4
© K Q 9 2
¨ -
§ Q J 7 5 3 |
ª
A 9 6
© A 8 7
¨ 10 6 4
§ K 9 8 2 |
|
ª
K
© 10 6
¨ A K Q J 8 5 3
2
§ A 4 |
|
ª
J 8 7 3 2
© J 5 4 3
¨ 9 7
§ 10 6 |
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Weigkricht |
Goldenfield |
Fischer |
Brunner |
1¨* |
Dble |
Redble |
1ª |
Pass |
Pass |
2ª* |
Pass |
2NT |
Pass |
4¨ |
Pass |
4© |
Pass |
4NT |
Pass |
5© |
Pass |
5ª |
Pass |
5NT |
Pass |
7¨ |
All Pass |
Doris Fischer must have been reasonably confident that One Diamond
redoubled would prove to be a making contract. In some systems Four
Diamonds would not only agree the suit, but also be RKCB. It was
a fine effort to get to the Grand Slam after the intervention.
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Smith |
Erhart |
Dhondy |
Terraneo |
Pass |
1© |
3©* |
Pass |
6¨ |
All Pass |
|
|
Three Hearts asked West to bid 3NT with a heart
stopper. Despite the fact that she was a little heavy for her bid,
Dhondy was facing a passed partner, so it was very long odds against
a slam being available, let alone a grand. However, this time she
caught her partner with some very good cards. Nicola Smith had quite
a problem. She considered Four Hearts and 4NT, but rejected them
both in favour of a direct Six Diamonds. There is a strong case
for East adding the seventh, but it is always easier to do that
from the comfort of your seat in the VuGraph theatre.
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