Swiss Teams Round 10

by Marjo Chorus and Jos Jacobs

Japan-Czech v. Netherlands Orange

In the first match of the day, Japan-Czech had tied their match with the Netherlands Girls and thus dropped a spot in the rankings, so they may well have taken their seats in this second match with mixed feelings. Netherlands Orange, on the other hand, were fresh from an 11-19 defeat against their Red countrymen and were thus about to leave the top eight unless they could record a victory.

The scoreboard really started moving from board 3 onwards. On board 3, the Japanese and the Czechs both stole the contract:

Board: 3. Dlr: South/EW
	♠ A 5 2 ♥ 10 8 2 ♦ 3 2 ♣ Q 10 5 4 2
♠ K Q J 8 7 6 ♥ J ♦ J 9 8 5 ♣ K 3		♠ 10 3 ♥ 9 5 3 ♦ A Q 7 6 4 ♣ A 9 6
	♠ 9 4 ♥ A K Q 7 6 4 ♦ K 10 ♣ J 8 7

After South’s reopening double, East got another chance to speak but Nab clearly did not expect such a good hand with Wackwitz. When the latter leads a normal ♠K rather than a “brilliant” ♣K, Macura has nine easy tricks. Japan-Czech +140.

Closed Room

In the Closed Room, the Japanese have no trouble in reaching 4♠ for another +620 and 13 IMPs for their team. On the next board, Japan-Czech are again on the right side of the score but this time due to a major defensive error:

Board: 4. Dlr: West/All
	♠ K Q ♥ Q 7 5 3 ♦ Q 7 6 5 ♣ Q 9 2
♠ 10 5 3 2 ♥ 9 2 ♦ 10 2 ♣ A K J 4 3		♠ 9 7 6 ♥ K J 4 ♦ A J 8 ♣ 10 7 6 5
	♠ A J 8 4 ♥ A 10 8 6 ♦ K 9 4 3 ♣ 8

You might conceivably make game in hearts on the NS hands but the Czechs end up in a terrible contract, even more so after East finds a club lead. West wins his ♣AK and clears the suit. Declarer wins the Queen, unblocks his top spades and plays a diamond to the King. Two more spades follow on which East discards his last club…and now he is forced to play hearts after winning his diamond AJ. Nine tricks, Japan-Czech +600.

Game certainly has play but in 3♥, declarer played safely for nine tricks. NL Orange +140 but 10 IMPs to Japan-Czech.

Board: 5. Dlr: North/NS
	♠ 10 9 5 3 ♥ A Q ♦ A 5 ♣ A Q J 5 4
♠ A 8 ♥ J 9 5 2 ♦ Q J 6 4 ♣ 10 7 6		♠ Q ♥ K 10 8 6 4 ♦ 9 8 3 2 ♣ K 3 2
	♠ K J 7 6 4 2 ♥ 7 3 ♦ K 10 7 ♣ 9 8

2♥ was a weak jump overcall in spades and Kopecky had no trouble in becoming declarer in what was a straightforward contract if played by North. One overtrick, Japan-Czech +650.

Closed Room

The Japanese put on maximum pressure on their opponents by taking the save (down four on a diamond ruff) and were amply rewarded when North bid one more. Once West could lead a heart at trick 1, setting the contract was assured. Japan-Czech +100 and 13 IMPs more.

Board 6 also cost the Dutch 5 IMPs when they overbid to a game with almost no play and then it was slam time again:

Board: 7. Dlr: South/All
	♠ 8 7 6 ♥ J 4 3 2 ♦ 8 6 ♣ Q 8 5 2
♠ K Q 9 5 4 ♥ 8 ♦ A 4 3 2 ♣ A K 7		♠ A J 3 ♥ A 9 ♦ K J 9 7 5 ♣ J 9 6
	♠ 10 2 ♥ K Q 10 7 6 5 ♦ Q 10 ♣ 10 4 3

No problems for Koike-Miura: +1430.

Open Room

2♦ showed hearts. Here, East did not cuebid over partner’s overcall but he simply raised to game. Thus, the good slam was quickly missed. All 13 tricks were duly made on a good diamond guess but 12 more IMPs went Japan-Czech’s way to make the score 55-0 at this point.

The last three boards were not suitable at all for a (partial) Dutch recovery. They manage to reach the scoreboard by an overtrick on board 9 but another 5-imp loss on board 10 makes the final score look very nice for our transnationals: a mega-victory by 61-1 which equals to 25-0 in V.P. They are well on their way to the quarterfinals!