France v Poland - Segment 1
Poland defeated France by 25-5 VPs in their round robin match and it was natural for the Poles, as winners of the round robin, to select France as their semi-final opponents as they would have both a psychological edge due to the earlier meeting and also a 16 IMP carry-over advantage not insubstantial in a 64-board match.
The first set was a quiet affair until near the end, but Poland managed a string of small- to medium-sized swings to put themselves in the driving set in the match.
| Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul. |
| | ♠ Q J 10 8 5 4
♥ K 6 2
♦
♣ Q 7 4 2 |
♠ 9
♥ J 9 4
♦ K Q 10 8 7 3 2
♣ A 8 |  |
♠ K 3
♥ A 10 8 7
♦ 9 6 5 4
♣ 10 6 5 | | | ♠ A 7 6 2
♥ Q 5 3
♦ A J
♣ K J 9 3 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| G. Grenthe | Buras | J. Grenthe | Araskiewicz
|
| | 2♦ | Pass | 4♦
|
| 5♦ | 5♠ | 6♦ | Dble
|
| All Pass
| | | |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Kotorowicz | O. Bessis | Kalita | De Tessieres
|
| | 2♠ | Pass | 2NT
|
| 3♦ | 3♥ | 3NT | 4♠
|
| All Pass
| | | |
Krzysztof Buras opened a multi and Konrad Araskiewicz decided to play game in his partner’s major, 4♦ masking for the suit below the one actually held. It was normal for Guillaume Grenthe to save in 5♦ and Buras, with a hand that had improved during the auction, bid 5♠. Jerome Grenthe could not be sure what was going to happen to 5♠ but his diamond length persuaded him to bid 6♦, where he was doubled, losing a trick in each suit for down three; 500.
Olivier Bessis opened a natural weak 2♠ and Godefroy De Tessieres enquired. That gave Krzysztof Kotorowicz an opportunity to show his diamonds at a more comfortable level. Bessis showed a good 2♠ opening and Jacek Kalita got his bidding done at a safe level so was not tempted to save over 4♠; +450 but 2 IMPs to Poland, who led 18-0 including the carry-over.
| Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Vul. |
| | ♠ Q 10 8
♥ J 9 7
♦ 8 6
♣ J 8 6 5 3 |
♠ J 9 7 5 2
♥ 3
♦ J 9 5 3
♣ A Q 7 | |
♠ A 6 4 3
♥ K Q 5
♦ A 4 2
♣ K 10 9 | | | ♠ K
♥ A 10 8 6 4 2
♦ K Q 10 7
♣ 4 2 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| G. Grenthe | Buras | J. Grenthe | Araskiewicz
|
| | | 1NT | Dble
|
| 2♥ | Pass | 2♠ | Pass
|
| 3♦ | Pass | 4♠ | All Pass
|
| West | North | East | South
|
| Kotorowicz | O. Bessis | Kalita | De Tessieres
|
| | | 1NT | Dble
|
| 2♥ | Pass | 2♠ | All Pass
|
Both Souths doubled to show a single-suiter and both Wests transferred. Kotorowicz settled for partscore, passing 2♠, while Grenthe bid 3♦ and his brother jumped to the poor spade game.
De Tessieres led the king of diamonds against 2♠ so Kalita lost just two trumps, a heart and a diamond for +140. Araskiewicz led a low club against Grenthe’s game. Declarer won in dummy and played two rounds of spades. Buras cashed the other spade winner and switched to a heart for the king and ace. On the spades, Araskiewicz had thrown a heart then the ten of diamonds. On winning the heart, he exited with a club, and declarer eliminated hearts and clubs then ran the ♦J for an endplay; down one for 50 and 5 IMPs to Poland, 23-0.
| Board 5. Dealer North. N/S Vul. |
| | ♠ K 7 5 4
♥ A K Q 9
♦ K 4
♣ Q 10 7 |
♠ A J 9
♥ 8 5 4
♦ Q J 7 5 2
♣ K 2 | |
♠ Q 6 2
♥ 2
♦ 10 9 8 3
♣ A 9 8 5 4 | | | ♠ 10 8 3
♥ J 10 7 6 3
♦ A 6
♣ J 6 3 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| G. Grenthe | Buras | J. Grenthe | Araskiewicz
|
| | 1NT | Pass | 2♦
|
| Pass | 2NT | Pass | 3♦
|
| Dble | Pass | Pass | 3♥
|
| All Pass
| | | |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Kotorowicz | O. Bessis | Kalita | De Tessieres
|
| | 1NT | Pass | 2♦
|
| Pass | 3♥ | Pass | 4♥
|
| All Pass
| | | |
Again France played game while Poland settled for a safe partscore, and again it was Poland who were proved to be correct in their judgement. There was nothing to the play with both declarers losing two tricks in each black suit; +140 for Araskiewicz and 100 for Bessis so 6 IMPs to Poland. That made it 32-0 to the Poles.
| Board 7. Dealer South. All Vul. |
| | ♠ K 9 3
♥ A Q J 6
♦ J 8 3
♣ 10 6 5 |
♠ Q J 7 2
♥ 9 2
♦ K 5 2
♣ A K 3 2 | |
♠ 10 8 6 5
♥ 10 8 7 4
♦ A 7 6
♣ Q 4 | | | ♠ A 4
♥ K 5 3
♦ Q 10 9 4
♣ J 9 8 7 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| G. Grenthe | Buras | J. Grenthe | Araskiewicz
|
| | | | Pass
|
| 1♣ | Pass | 1♥ | Pass
|
| 1♠ | Pass | 2♠ | All Pass
|
| West | North | East | South
|
| Kotorowicz | O. Bessis | Kalita | De Tessieres
|
| | | | Pass
|
| 1♣ | Pass | 1♥ | Pass
|
| 1♠ | Pass | Pass | Dble
|
| Pass | 1NT | All Pass
| |
France finally got on the board when they made partscores at both tables on this deal. Two Spades was a comfortable make even after a switch to three rounds of trumps; +110.
One No Trump can be beaten but it is not completely trivial to do so. Kalita led a spade to the queen and king and Bessis played a diamond to the king. Kotorowicz cleared the spades and Bessis in turn cleared the diamonds. The defence cashed two spade winners ending in the East hand and now it was not easy to switch to queen and another club. Kalita’s actual heart switch meant that declarer had seven tricks (he had thrown one heart on the spades); +90 and 5 IMPs to France, trailing 5-32.
| Board 10. Dealer East. All Vul. |
| | ♠ 9 7 5
♥ K J 6 5
♦ 8 2
♣ A Q J 6 |
♠ A J 6 2
♥ 10 8 7
♦ Q J 9 4
♣ 5 3 | |
♠ 10 3
♥ 9 4 3
♦ A K 10 3
♣ 10 7 4 2 | | | ♠ K Q 8 4
♥ A Q 2
♦ 7 6 5
♣ K 9 8 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| G. Grenthe | Buras | J. Grenthe | Araskiewicz
|
| | | Pass | 1♣
|
| Pass | 1♥ | Pass | 1♠
|
| Pass | 1NT | All Pass
| |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Kotorowicz | O. Bessis | Kalita | De Tessieres
|
| | | Pass | 1♣
|
| Pass | 1♥ | Pass | 1♠
|
| Pass | 2♣(F1) | Pass | 2♦
|
| Pass | 2♠ | Pass | 3♥
|
| Pass | 4♥ | All Pass
| |
Many pairs would bid this 25-count to game often 3NT and down they would go. At least the French pair avoided 3NT, but 4♥ was also a poor contract, requiring the ♠A onside plus an even trump split. The trumps split but the spade was not well placed; down one for 100.
Poland did well to stay low when Buras took a cautious view facing a weak no trump type and did not invite game. The defence took four diamonds then switched to a spade and Guillaume ducked dummy’s king; nine tricks for +150 and 6 IMPs to Poland, extending the lead to 47-5.
| Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul. |
| | ♠ K 10 4 2
♥ 10 9
♦ J 6
♣ J 6 5 3 2 |
♠ Q J 8 5
♥ K 8 7 6 4 3
♦ A 10 5
♣ | |
♠ 9 7 6 3
♥ A Q
♦ K Q 7
♣ 10 9 7 4 | | | ♠ A
♥ J 5 2
♦ 9 8 4 3 2
♣ A K Q 8 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| G. Grenthe | Buras | J. Grenthe | Araskiewicz
|
| 1♥ | Pass | 1♠ | Dble
|
| 2♠ | Pass | 2NT | Pass
|
| 3♦ | Pass | 4♠ | All Pass
|
| West | North | East | South
|
| Kotorowicz | O. Bessis | Kalita | De Tessieres
|
| 1♥ | Pass | 1♠ | Dble
|
| 2♠ | 3♣ | 3♦ | Pass
|
| 4♠ | All Pass
| | |
Both Easts declared 4♠ on the lead of a top club but the lines of play diverged early. Both declarers ruffed the club and led a heart to hand. Grenthe next played a spade up and Araskiewicz won the ace then forced dummy to ruff a second club. A heart to the queen was followed by a third club ruff then the ♥K, North throwing a diamond and declarer a club, then another heart, diamonds being thrown all around. Buras ruffed the next heart with the ten and forced Grenthe to ruff a club in hand. A diamond to the ace was ruffed and Buras had the ♠K to come for down one; 50.
Kalita ruffed a club at trick three, played a heart to hand and ruffed a third club, then a diamond to the king, a fourth club ruff, and ace and another diamond. This was Bessis’s chance to make his little spade, but he misjudged and discarded. Once the ♦Q had scored, Kalita was home. He had to make one trump trick in hand and that made ten tricks in all for +420 and 10 IMPs to Poland; 57-5.
| Board 13. Dealer North. All Vul. |
| | ♠ Q J 7 6
♥ 10 6
♦ K 10 9 8
♣ Q 7 3 |
♠ 10 8 3
♥ 8 7 5 3
♦ Q J 3
♣ K 6 2 | |
♠ K 4
♥ Q
♦ A 7 5 4
♣ A J 10 9 5 4 | | | ♠ A 9 5 2
♥ A K J 9 4 2
♦ 6 2
♣ 8 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| G. Grenthe | Buras | J. Grenthe | Araskiewicz
|
| | Pass | 1♣ | 1♥
|
| Pass | 1♠ | 2♣ | 4♠
|
| All Pass
| | | |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Kotorowicz | O. Bessis | Kalita | De Tessieres
|
| | Pass | 2♣ | 2♥
|
| Pass | Pass | Dble | Pass
|
| 3♣ | Pass | Pass | Dble
|
| Pass | 3♥ | All Pass
| |
The natural 1♣ opening left room for Araskiewicz to overcall 1♥ and Buras to show his spades, after which there was never any doubt that Araskiewicz would drive to the spade game. Jerome led his singleton heart so Buras won and played ace and another spade to the king. It needed a club underlead for a diamond through to defeat 4♠ and that was not easy to find. The simple line of ace of clubs followed by ace and another diamond required West to hold only one specific card and so that is what Jerome played for; +620.
Kalita’s Precision-style 2♣ opening effectively cut out the spade fit and De Tessiers declared 3♥. There were no discards coming for declarer here so there was no urgency for the defence to find the diamond winners; +140 but 10 IMPs to Poland, and the lead was up to 67-5.
| Board 14. Dealer East. None Vul. |
| | ♠ Q 7 6 3 2
♥ 2
♦ 7 6 5
♣ A Q 8 4 |
♠ 8
♥ K Q 9 5
♦ K 9 4 2
♣ J 7 6 3 | |
♠ J 10 9
♥ A J 8 7
♦ Q J 8
♣ K 9 5 | | | ♠ A K 5 4
♥ 10 6 4 3
♦ A 10 3
♣ 10 2 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| G. Grenthe | Buras | J. Grenthe | Araskiewicz
|
| | | 1♣ | Dble
|
| 1♥ | 2♠ | Pass | Pass
|
| 3♣ | Pass | 3♥ | 3♠
|
| All Pass
| | | |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Kotorowicz | O. Bessis | Kalita | De Tessieres
|
| | | 1♣ | Dble
|
| 1♦ | 3♠ | All Pass
| |
France pulled some badly-needed IMPs back as the set moved towards its close. On this deal both Norths declared 3♠ on a trump lead.
Bessis won the spade in dummy and played a club to the queen and king, won the spade return and gave up a heart, West rising with the king. Bessis ruffed the heart continuation, played ace then ruffed a club, ruffed a heart and played the last club. Kalita was powerless; +140.
Buras also won the spade in dummy but he led the ten of clubs at trick two jack, queen, king. When a spade was continued he won in dummy and tried a club to the eight, losing to the nine. Back came a third trump and Buras was restricted to only one club ruff in dummy so had only eight tricks; 50 and 5 IMPs to France, 10-67.
| Board 15. Dealer South. N/S Vul. |
| | ♠ A 8 4
♥ 8 5 3
♦ A K J 8 4 3
♣ J |
♠ 10 5 3
♥ Q 6
♦ Q 7 5 2
♣ Q 8 6 3 | |
♠ K Q 9 7 6 2
♥ J 9 4
♦ 10
♣ K 10 2 | | | ♠ J
♥ A K 10 7 2
♦ 9 6
♣ A 9 7 5 4 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| G. Grenthe | Buras | J. Grenthe | Araskiewicz
|
| | | | 1♥
|
| Pass | 2♦ | 2♠ | Pass
|
| Pass | 3♥ | Pass | 3♠
|
| Pass | 4♥ | All Pass
| |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Kotorowicz | O. Bessis | Kalita | De Tessieres
|
| | | | 1♥
|
| Pass | 2♦ | 2♠ | 3♣
|
| Pass | 3♥ | Pass | 3♠
|
| Pass | 4♣ | Pass | 4♥
|
| Pass | 4NT | Pass | 5♣
|
| Pass | 5♦ | Pass | 5♥
|
| Pass | 6♥ | All Pass
| |
Araskiewicz was not prepared to bid 3♣ freely over 2♠ on his minimum opening but made one slam try when Buras showed support at his second turn. However, Buras had weak hearts and was not willing to go on so the Poles stopped in game, where Araskiewicz made eleven tricks for +650.
De Tessieres was prepared to bid 3♣, perhaps fearing a pre-emptive spade raise on his left if he failed to take this opportunity to show the suit. Bessis agreed hearts and drove to slam once he discovered that he was facing three key cards. The lead was a spade to dummy’s ace and De Tessieres played a heart to the ten at trick two. He ruffed the spade continuation in dummy, cashed the top hearts and played the ♦9 to the jack. When the ♦10 fell, De Tessieres came to hand with the ace of clubs and finessed the ♦8; making twelve tricks for +1430 and 13 IMPs to France.
France picked up 2 IMPs to on the final board of the set but, after sixteen boards, trailed by a worrying 25-67 IMPs. |
