england   v   china global times    -    vc  Round 19

by Brent Manley

There was only 1IMP separating England and China Global Times in the opening set of their Venice Cup quarter-final match. England had defeated the Chinese by 3 IMPs on opening day, but they finished lower in the standings than China, so the carryover for England was but a third of that total.

The margin held up through five boards, but the second deal of the set was a bit scary for England.

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

West	North	East	South
Brunner	W. Wang	Goldenfield	Liu
		2♣	2♥
Dble	All Pass

In the closed room, Yi Quan Liu boldly overcalled Rhona Goldenfield’s strong 2♣ opening despite the unfavourable vulnerability – and she nearly made it. Michelle Brunner started with the ♦10, overtaken by Goldenfield with the jack. Goldenfield tried to cash a couple of clubs, but Liu ruffed and, with no other choice, led a low spade from her hand. Goldenfield took dummy’s ♠9 with her 10 and continued with the ♦K. Liu ruffed that and played a second round of spades, won by Brunner, who switched to a trump. Liu won the ♥5 in hand, took her spade ruff, returning to hand with a club ruff. When Liu played the ♠K, Brunner ruffed her partner’s trick and exited with her club. Declarer lost two trumps, two spades and one trick in each minor for minus 200.

West	North	East	South
Sun	Teshome	H. Wang	Jagger
		1♣*	3♥
Pass	Pass	Dble	All Pass

Note that declarer can be held to six tricks with the lead of a high heart by West, but it goes against the grain to give up a trump trick on the go. At any rate, Catherine Jagger was one level higher in the open room and in danger of going minus 500, but Ming Sun started with a low spade. Hongli Wang won with the ♠A and, with no trump to lead, played two high clubs, the second one ruffed by declarer, who cashed the ♠K, took a spade ruff, then played a low diamond from dummy. Wang naturally went in with the ♦J and played another high diamond, ruffed by declarer. A fourth round of spades was ruffed in dummy – it would not have helped for Sun to ruff high in front of dummy – and Jagger escaped for minus 200 and a push.

Note that East-West can take 12 tricks in a club contract – and the slam was bid a couple of times at the 12 tables in play on Sunday.

China took the lead on board 5.

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

The auction was identical in both rooms.

West	North	East	South
Sun	Teshome	H. Wang	Jagger
Brunner	W. Wang	Goldenfield	Liu
	Pass	1♠	Pass
2♠	All Pass

In the closed room, Liu started with a low diamond. Wang took dummy’s ♦J with the ace and switched to a low heart. Liu won with the king and returned a heart to North’s ace, and a club switch completed the book with two tricks in that suit. South still had the trump king to come for one down.

In the open room, Jagger also started with a diamond – the 7. Sarah Teshome won with the ♦A and played a low heart to the 10 and king. Teshome won with the ♥A and continued with a diamond. Declarer overtook with dummy’s king, pitched a losing club on the ♦10, then took a spade finesse. The defenders still didn’t play on clubs, so declarer eventually threw her other club loser away after pulling trumps, ending in dummy. That was plus 140 and 5 IMPs to China.

There was more good news for China on this deal.

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

West	North	East	South
Sun	Teshome	H. Wang	Jagger
Pass	Pass	2♣	2♠
Pass	3♠	Pass	4♠
All Pass

Sun started with her singleton ♣K, switching to a heart at trick two. Wang won with the ♥K, cashed the ♣A and gave her partner a ruff. Another heart to East was the final trick for the defense, but it was still two down for minus 200.

West	North	East	South
Brunner	W. Wang	Goldenfield	Liu
Pass	Pass	1♣	1♠
Pass	2♣	2♥	2♠
4♥	All Pass

A cuebid with the North hand seems a bit much, but it gave Goldenfield the room to show her second suit, and that seemed to excite her partner. Liu started with the ♦K, continuing with the queen. A third round of diamonds was ruffed by declarer. Goldenfield played a club to dummy’s king, returned to hand with a trump to the ace, then played the ♣A and a third club, ruffing. When the suit proved to be 3-3, she was able to claim for one down, losing two diamonds, a heart and a spade. Minus 50 meant 6 IMPs to China.

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

West	North	East	South
Brunner	W. Wang	Goldenfield	Liu
			1♣*
Pass	1♦*	3♠	Pass
4♠	All Pass

Liu could have saved at 5♣ for minus 200 (assuming she was doubled), but you won’t get rich taking five-level saves at unfavourable vulnerability (imagine dummy with a singleton club, for example). Goldenfield was not taxed to take 10 tricks. That was plus 420 to England.

West	North	East	South
Sun	Teshome	H. Wang	Jagger
			1♣
Dble	Pass	4♠	4NT*
5♣	6♣	Pass	Pass
6♠	All Pass

Jagger’s 1♣ was natural, and her 4NT bid announced a hand with long clubs and a second suit. Teshome perhaps thought her partner was showing the minors and, considering the vulnerability, that Jagger had even better distribution than she actually possessed. It wasn’t clear whether Sun bid 6♠ to make or as a sacrifice, but Jagger was not tempted to bid again. Jagger quickly cashed her three tricks, for plus 100 and 11 IMPs to England.