AUSTRALIA v FRANCE
Before this round France were a close second and Australia sixth. France had the better of the first deal:
Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul. |
| ♠ J 7 ♥ A K 7 6 5 3 ♦ A K 2 ♣ 6 5 | ♠ 8 5 ♥ J 2 ♦ Q | ![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) | ♠ A K 9 6 ♥ 10 ♦ J 9 7 5 4 | | ♠ Q 10 4 3 2 ♥ Q 9 8 4 ♦ 10 6 3 ♣ A |
Datum: N/S +340
West | North | East | South
|
Gaviard | Geromboux | T.Bessis | Ware
|
| 1♥ | 2♦ | 2NT(i)
|
5♣ | Pass | Pass | Dble
|
All Pass
| | | |
(i) Good heart raise
Lead: ♥A
North shifted to the ♣5 to the ace and South returned the ♦6, queen, ace, to allow North to play another club and prevent the heart ruff. Declarer ran his clubs, but thedefence kept the right cards and so declarer was two light for 300.
West | North | East | South
|
Williams | O.Bessis | Krochmalik | De Tessieres
|
| 1♥ | Pass | 4♣
|
5♣ | 5♥ | All Pass
| |
Lead: ♠A
East cashed the top spades, but declarer had the rest for +650 and 8 IMPs to France. After two 5 IMP swings to Australia, O.Bessis/De Tessieres bid neatly to the grand slam here:
Board 6. Dealer East. E/W Vul. |
| ♠ A J 8 7 2 ♥ A Q 9 6 5 3 ♦ ♣ 7 4 | ♠ K Q 9 6 4 3 ♥ 10 ♦ A K 5 2 ♣ A 10 9 8 7 4 | ![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) | ♠ 5 ♥ 7 2 ♦ Q 10 9 7 6 4 3 ♣ 9 6 5 | | ♠ 10 ♥ K J 8 4 ♦ J 8 ♣ A K Q 10 8 2 |
Datum: N/S +1080
West | North | East | South
|
Williams | O.Bessis | Krochmalik | De Tessieres
|
| | Pass | 1♣
|
1♠ | 2♥ | Pass | 3♥
|
3♠ | Pass | Pass | 4♣
|
Pass | 5♦(i) | Pass | 5NT
|
Pass | 6♦(ii) | Pass | 7♣
|
Pass | 7♥ | All Pass
| |
Lead: ♣8
(i) Voidwood (ii) Grand slam invitation, all key cards held There was nothing to the play; +1510 to France.
West | North | East | South
|
Gaviard | Geromboux | T.Bessis | Ware
|
| Pass | 1♦ | 3♥
|
4♥ | 5♥ | Pass | Pass
|
6♦ | All Pass
| | |
Lead: ♥5
West | North | East | South
|
Williams | O.Bessis | Krochmalik | De Tessieres
|
| | Pass | 1♣
|
1♠ | Pass | Pass | Dble
|
Pass | Pass | 2♦ | Pass
|
Pass | 2♥ | Pass | 4♥
|
Pass | 5♦ | Pass | 6♥
|
All Pass
| | | |
That was +1010 and 11 IMPs to France. In other matches two pairs played in 4♥, eight were in 6♥, one in 6♣, one E/W pair in 2♠ doubled 500, while 7♥ was reached by Brazil, Israel, Norway and USA1.
After two flat boards, France extended their lead:
Board 9. Dealer North. E/W Vul. |
| ♠ A 10 9 8 5 ♥ K ♦ K 10 9 ♣ 10 6 5 3 | ♠ J 4 3 2 ♥ A 8 ♦ A Q 4 ♣ J 7 4 2 | ![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) | ♠ 7 ♥ J 6 5 4 3 2 ♦ 6 ♣ A K Q 9 8 | | ♠ K Q 6 ♥ Q 10 9 7 ♦ J 8 7 5 3 2 ♣ |
Datum: N/S +140
West | North | East | South
|
Gaviard | Geromboux | T.Bessis | Ware
|
| Pass | 1♥ | Pass
|
1♠ | Pass | 2♣ | Pass
|
3NT | All Pass
| | |
Lead: ♠5
N/S took their five spade tricks and came to a trick in the end for +200.
West | North | East | South
|
Williams | O.Bessis | Krochmalik | De Tessieres
|
| Pass | 1♥ | 2♦
|
Dble | 2♥ | 3♣ | 3♦
|
3NT | Pass | Pass | 4♦
|
Dble | All Pass
| | |
Lead: ♥A
West switched to a club, ruffed, and South ran the ♦J. West could not take more than the ♦A and so the contract made with an overtrick for +610 and 9 IMPs to France, who led 29-10 at the half-way mark. Australia clawed back 12 IMPs to trail 22-30 when this deal came along:
Board 16. Dealer West. E/W Vul. |
| ♠ 9 8 3 2 ♥ 7 5 ♦ 10 5 3 ♣ A 7 5 4 | ♠ J 6 5 4 ♥ A Q J 8 ♦ A 6 ♣ K 8 6 | ![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) | ♠ A K Q ♥ K 10 3 ♦ K 9 2 ♣ Q 10 9 3 | | ♠ 10 7 ♥ 9 6 4 2 ♦ Q J 8 7 4 ♣ J 2 |
Datum: N/S 950
West | North | East | South
|
Gaviard | Geromboux | T.Bessis | Ware
|
1♣ | Pass | 1♦ | Pass
|
1♥ | Pass | 1♠* | Pass
|
2♠ | Pass | 3♣ | Pass
|
3♦ | Pass | 3NT
|
All Pass
| | | |
Lead: ♥6
Declarer made twelve tricks for +690.
West | North | East | South
|
Williams | O.Bessis | Krochmalik | De Tessieres
|
1♥ | Pass | 2♣ | Pass
|
2NT | Pass | 3♥ | Pass
|
3NT | Pass | 6NT | All Pass
|
Lead:♠8
Declarer unblocked the spades, cashed the hearts and played a club to the queen. When the ♣J appeared on the next club, he had twelve tricks for +1440 and 13 IMPs to Australia. In other matches, eight pairs played in 3NT, six made 6NT, one failed in 6♣ and one failed in 6NT. France regained the lead two boards later:
Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul. |
| ♠ 8 7 3 ♥ A K ♦ A K 9 7 3 2 ♣ A 2 | ♠ Q J ♥ Q J 10 5 4 ♦ J ♣ K J 9 6 4 | ![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) | ♠ 10 9 2 ♥ 7 6 3 ♦ Q 4 ♣ Q 10 7 5 3 | | ♠ A K 6 5 4 ♥ 9 8 2 ♦ 10 8 6 5 ♣ 8 |
Datum: N/S +680
West | North | East | South
|
Gaviard | Geromboux | T.Bessis | Ware
|
| | Pass | Pass
|
1♥ | 2♦ | Pass | 2♠
|
3♣ | 3NT | 5♣ | Pass
|
Pass | Dble | All Pass
| |
Lead: ♦A
North continued with the ♦K, ruffed. When West led the ♣J and North played low, declarer escaped for 800. North can collect 1100 by unblocking the hearts early (trick two, perhaps), putting South in with a spade and receiving a heart ruff.
West | North | East | South
|
Williams | O.Bessis | Krochmalik | De Tessieres
|
| | Pass | Pass
|
1♣ | 2♦ | Pass | 3♠(i)
|
Pass | 4♣ | Pass | 4♦
|
Pass | 6♦ | All Pass
| |
(i) Nice fit-showing bid
There was no problem in the play. +1370 was worth11 IMPs to France.
Game making versus game failing meant 10 more IMPs to France, who won the match by 52-36 or 18-12 in VPs, and hit the front after Round 11 with 215 VPs to Poland’s 214, followed by Canada on 200. |