ireland   v   norway    -    bb  Round 12

by Brian Senior

The Irish Open team came to Shanghai fresh from their best-ever finish in a European Championship, taking the silver medal in Warsaw last year, and looking forward to their first Bermuda Bowl. A Day One draw that saw them face Netherlands, USA1 and USA2, all favourites to make the knock-outs, did them no favours and they started slowly. Ireland has gained some momentum in recent rounds, however, and had an excellent 45-10 IMP, 23-7 VP win over the powerful Norwegian team in Round 12.

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

West	North	East	South
Helgemo	Hanlon	Helness	McGann
Carroll	Tundal	Garvey	Groetheim
		Pass	1♣
3♠	4♥	4♠	6♦
Pass	Pass	6♠	Dble
All Pass

This was an excellent effort to flatten the board at -800 for four down in 6♠ doubled., both declarers losing three hearts and one trick in each minor. In the Bermuda Bowl, 14 pairs were allowed to play in 6♦ and, apart from this match, only twice did East/West find the save. The other four tables played in either 3NT or 5♦. For the record, the Norwegian 1♣ opening was strong and the Irish two-way, either 11-13 balanced or 17+ artificial.

Board 8. Dealer West. None Vul.
	♠ Q 6 4 3 ♥ 10 4 ♦ K Q J 4 ♣ A J 9
♠ K 10 9 8 2 ♥ A Q 7 5 ♦ 7 6 ♣ K 2		♠ J 5 ♥ K 9 ♦ 9 3 2 ♣ 8 7 6 5 4 3
	♠ A 7 ♥ J 8 6 3 2 ♦ A 10 8 5 ♣ Q 10

West	North	East	South
Helgemo	Hanlon	Helness	McGann
1♠	Pass	Pass	Dble
Pass	2♠	Pass	3♥
Pass	3NT	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Carroll	Tundal	Garvey	Groetheim
1♠	Pass	Pass	2♥
Pass	2♠	Pass	3♥
All Pass

With the black kings rating to be in the opening bidder’s hand, I guess you could say that Hanlon/McGann outbid Tundal/Groetheim on this one. I don’t feel very strongly about South’s choice of action in the balancing seat but have some preference for Hugh McGann’s double. But double is not, in itself, stronger than a two-level overcall, so Hanlon’s decision to force to game while Ulf Tundal merely invited also played an important part in the outcome.

Tor Helness led the jack of spades and Geir Helgemo let that run to Hanlon’s queen, helping to preserve communications in case Helness gained the lead before he did. Hanlon had nine tricks courtesy of the club finesse; +400.

Three hearts looks to be in more jeopardy than 3NT but, with West on lead and unable to attack spades, there is no way seriously to threaten the contract. John Carroll led the seven of diamonds, which Glenn Groetheim won in hand with the ten to play a heart to the ten and king. Tommy Garvey led the ♠J. Groetheim won with the ace, then played the queen of clubs to the king and ace, followed by two more rounds of clubs to ditch his spade loser. Carroll could ruff that, but the defence just had two more top trumps to come; +140 but 6 IMPs to Ireland.

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

West	North	East	South
Helgemo	Hanlon	Helness	McGann
Pass	Pass	2♣	Pass
2♦	Pass	3♣	Pass
3♦	Pass	3NT	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Carroll	Tundal	Garvey	Groetheim
Pass	Pass	1♣	Pass
1♦	Pass	2NT	Pass
3♣	Pass	3♦	Pass
3NT	All Pass

Helness treated the East hand as a game-force and opened 2♣, then showed his club suit. Against the eventual 3NT contract, McGann led the five of hearts. Helness won with the ace and played king of clubs, then a low club. McGann won with the ♣10 and played the ♥8 to the king, and Helness ducked another club to the jack. McGann cashed the ♥Q, Helness pitching a diamond, then exited with his remaining club. By the time that Helness cashed the ace of diamonds, it was clear for McGann to unblock the king to avoid the endplay; down one for -50.

Board 14. Dealer East. None Vul.
	♠ Q 6 ♥ 7 4 3 ♦ Q 10 8 6 ♣ K Q J 8
♠ 10 9 5 4 2 ♥ 8 ♦ K J 5 3 ♣ A 7 3		♠ A 8 7 3 ♥ A J 10 5 ♦ 9 7 4 2 ♣ 2
	♠ K J ♥ K Q 9 6 2 ♦ A ♣ 10 9 6 5 4

West	North	East	South
Helgemo	Hanlon	Helness	McGann
		Pass	1♥
Pass	2♥	Pass	Pass
2♠	2NT	Dble	3♣
Pass	Pass	3♠	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Carroll	Tundal	Garvey	Groetheim
		Pass	1♥
1♠	Dble	4♠	5♣
Pass	Pass	Dble	All Pass

Would you overcall that emaciated spade suit with minimum overcalling values and no pre-emptive effect? Clearly a matter of personal style, but here the overcall worked out very well as it added momentum to what was a quiet auction at the other table.

Garvey raised the overcall straight to game and caught Groetheim with sufficient distribution that he felt obliged to bid 5♣ as a two-way shot, hoping that one or other game was making. Though Carroll led a spade, he had to come to a heart ruff for down two; -300.

Where Helgemo did not overcall, he balanced at his next turn, but neither side had any reason to contemplate game and Helgemo was left to play in 3♠. Declarer won the club lead, ruffed a club and played a diamond to the bare ace. He ruffed the club return and played ace and another spade, eventually conceding two more tricks due to the bad diamond break; +140 but 4 IMPs to Ireland.

Board 15. Dealer South. N/S Vul.
	♠ Q 10 8 5 4 ♥ 8 3 ♦ Q J 10 6 5 ♣ Q
♠ 7 3 ♥ A K Q 10 6 2 ♦ 9 8 7 2 ♣ 5		♠ K 6 ♥ J 9 5 4 ♦ A 4 3 ♣ A J 8 3
	♠ A J 9 2 ♥ 7 ♦ K ♣ K 10 9 7 6 4 2

West	North	East	South
Helgemo	Hanlon	Helness	McGann
			2♣
2♥	Pass	3♣	Dble
3♥	3♠	4♥	4♠
5♥	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Carroll	Tundal	Garvey	Groetheim
			2♣
2♥	Pass	4♥	All Pass

Both Souths opened with a natural but limited 2♣, Precision-style, and both Wests overcalled. Now Garvey raised directly to game and that shut his opponents out of the auction.

Tundal led the queen of clubs. Carroll won with the ace of clubs and ruffed a club high while Tundal threw a low diamond. Carroll drew two rounds of trumps, then led the ♦8 from hand. When Tundal put in the queen, Carroll ducked, losing to the bare king and, as he had hoped, Groetheim was endplayed. Nicely done for +420.

Helness did not raise to game, preferring a 3♣ cuebid. That gave McGann an opportunity to double and, when Helgemo bid only 3♥, Hanlon introduced his spades. Of course, McGann now competed with 4♠ over 4♥ and Helgemo, with excellent hearts but no defence, took the push to 5♥

Again the lead was the queen of clubs to dummy’s ace. Preparing for a different endplay, Helgemo cashed the ace of diamonds at trick two, hoping that South would fail to unblock with king-doubleton. He then drew trumps and exited with a diamond, but that was won in the North hand and in the fullness of time had to concede two spade tricks as well as two diamonds; down two for -100 and 11 IMPs to Ireland.