poland seniors

by Mark Horton

At this level of play you can expect any error to be expensive, as witness this deal from the Senior Bowl quarterfinal between Poland and Indonesia:

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

Open Room

When North was unwilling to show his diamond support, West was allowed to play in the unbeatable 4♥, +420.

Closed Room

West led the ace of hearts for the two, ten and six.

Misreading his partner’s card, the ten of hearts (that was probably an attempt to get a spade switch), West continued with the jack of hearts, and that was all the help declarer needed.

He ruffed in dummy, discarding a spade from hand, and took the club finesse. West won and belatedly switched to a spade. Declarer won with the ace, crossed to dummy with a trump (carefully retaining the precious two of diamonds) and took another club finesse. When that held, he cashed the ace of clubs, went to dummy with a trump, ruffed a club high and finally used the two of diamonds to cross to dummy’s three and discard his losing spade on the established club.

That added another 400 and gave Poland 13 IMPs.