The Semifinals, first half
by Marjo Chorus and Jos Jacobs
In this report, we will of course cover both our semifinal matches:
Netherlands Red v. Japan-Czech and USA Blue v. Italy Red.
The NL Reds definitely were not off to a good start:
Board: 1. Dlr: North/None |
| ♠ - ♥ Q J 10 9 6 3 ♦ K 9 8 7 ♣ K 10 7 | ♠ A Q 8 6 ♥ A 5 ♦ A Q 5 ♣ A Q J 3 | | ♠ K J 9 7 2 ♥ K 7 2 ♦ 10 6 ♣ 9 5 2 | | ♠ 10 5 4 3 ♥ 8 4 ♦ J 4 3 2 ♣ 8 6 4 |
Closed Room
West | North | East | South |
Molenaar | Miura | Verbeek | Koike
|
| 1♥ | Pass | Pass
|
Dble | Pass | 2♠ | Pass
|
4♠ | All pass
| | |
Two overtricks when South led a logical heart rather than a diamond; NL Red +480.
In the Open Room, we saw a mistimed and therefore costly double by North:
Open Room
West | North | East | South |
Macura | Drijver | Kopecky | Michielsen
|
| 3♥ | Pass | 4♥
|
Dble | Pass | 4♠ | Pass
|
Pass | Dble | All pass
| |
The opening 3♥ pre-empt and the raise to four effectively keep EW out of slam. However, Drijver decides to double in fourth seat and now, Michielsen can only pass and hope it’s not going to be too expensive. She too leads a heart (who would lead a diamond anyway?) and thus writes -790. Japan-Czech register 7 IMPs and must be feeling quite comfortable at this table now.
We all know Bob Drijver as a person who very much likes to bid. His approach was more successful two boards later:
Board: 3. Dlr: South/EW |
| ♠ J ♥ A 4 2 ♦ 10 8 5 4 ♣ A Q 10 5 4 | ♠ A Q 9 6 4 3 2 ♥ 7 6 5 ♦ 7 ♣ 9 7 | | ♠ K 10 ♥ K Q 10 8 3 ♦ A 9 3 2 ♣ K J | | ♠ 8 7 5 ♥ J 9 ♦ K Q J 6 ♣ 8 6 3 2 |
Closed Room
West | North | East | South |
Molenaar | Miura | Verbeek | Koike
|
| | | Pass
|
3♠ | Pass | 4♠ | All pass
|
In the Closed Room, the Dutch had bid and made an easy game for 11 tricks and +650.
Open Room
West | North | East | South |
Macura | Drijver | Kopecky | Michielsen
|
| | | Pass
|
2♥ | 3♣ | 4♠ | 5♣
|
Pass | Pass | Dble | All pass
|
2♥ showed spades. It took Michielsen some time but eventually she decides to raise to 5♣. West doubles and if East leads the ♦A and continues the suit, a lot of undertricks are looming: ♦A, ♦ ruff, ♠ underlead, ♦ ruff etc.
However, East tables the ♥K and now, declarer can win the Ace, cash the ♣A and exit in trumps. Only two down, 300 to Japan-Czech but 8 IMPs to NL Red.
The Dutchies take the lead on board 5:
Board: 5. Dlr: North/NS |
| ♠ 10 7 2 ♥ A J 8 6 ♦ 10 ♣ K Q J 7 4 | ♠ 9 3 ♥ K 10 ♦ 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 ♣ 9 | | ♠ K Q J 6 ♥ Q 7 2 ♦ A K ♣ A 10 6 5 | | ♠ A 8 5 4 ♥ 9 5 4 3 ♦ Q J ♣ 8 3 2 |
Open Room
West | North | East | South |
Macura | Drijver | Kopecky | Michielsen
|
| 1♣ | Dble | 1♥
|
5♦ | All pass
| | |
East’s double is either a weak NT or a strong hand. West did not care too much and made a sensible bid. No problems in the play; Japan-Czech +400.
In the Closed Room, there is another North who likes to bid:
Closed Room
West | North | East | South |
Molenaar | Miura | Verbeek | Koike
|
| 1♣ | Dble | 1♦
|
4♦ | 4♥ | Dble | All pass
|
Verbeek leads the ♠K to dummy’s Ace and a low heart is called from dummy. Molenaar goes up with the King, a fine defensive play. Declarer takes the Ace and reverts to clubs, East ducking his Ace twice. West, however, can ruff the second club so that is down three, NL Red +800 and 9 IMPs.
In the other match, Italy had taken a 1-0 lead over 4 boards but this was the moment for them too to strike:
Open Room
West | North | East | South |
Fournier | Franchi | Lall | Paparo
|
| 1♣ | Dble | Pass
|
3♦ | All pass
| | |
Surprisingly quiet bidding by Fournier, maybe…USA Blue +150.
Closed Room
West | North | East | South |
Di Franco | Chiu | Manno | Fay
|
| 1♣ | Dble | 1♥
|
3♦ | 3♥ | 5♦ | Dble
|
All pass
| | | |
When Di Franco could bid 3♦ freely, Manno thought he had something in reserve. Fay did not believe him but Manno proved right: Italy +550 and 9 IMPs.
Then came a cold 7NT missed by the Americans:
Board: 6. Dlr: East/EW |
| ♠ A J 8 7 ♥ A 10 8 3 ♦ 6 4 ♣ K 5 2 | ♠ 10 9 3 ♥ J 7 6 ♦ 9 8 7 ♣ J 6 4 3 | | ♠ 6 5 4 2 ♥ Q 9 5 4 2 ♦ 5 2 ♣ Q 8 | | ♠ K Q ♥ K ♦ A K Q J 10 3 ♣ A 10 9 7 |
Open Room
West | North | East | South |
Fournier | Franchi | Lall | Paparo
|
| | Pass | 1♦
|
Pass | 2♣ | Pass | 3♦
|
Pass | 3NT | Pass | 4♣
|
Pass | 4♥ | Pass | 4♠
|
Pass | 4NT | Pass | 5♣
|
Pass | 5♥ | Pass | 5♠
|
Pass | 6♣ | Pass | 7♦
|
All pass
| | | |
One overtrick, Italy +1440 (and no more…).
Closed Room
West | North | East | South |
Di Franco | Chiu | Manno | Fay
|
| | Pass | 1♦
|
Pass | 1♥ | Pass | 3♣
|
Pass | 3♠ | Pass | 4♦
|
Pass | 5NT | Pass | 6NT
|
All Pass
| | | |
One (more regular) overtrick as well but USA Blue only +1020 for a further 9-IMP loss and possibly some stuff for the next training session…
Another big swing goes the Netherlands’ way on board 7:
Board: 7. Dlr: South/All |
| ♠ K J 10 5 ♥ Q 5 ♦ 10 8 7 2 ♣ 8 6 2 | ♠ A 6 2 ♥ 6 4 ♦ K Q J 9 5 3 ♣ 9 5 | | ♠ 4 ♥ A 10 8 ♦ A 4 ♣ A Q J 10 7 4 3 | | ♠ Q 9 8 7 3 ♥ K J 9 7 3 2 ♦ 6 ♣ K |
Open Room
West | North | East | South |
Macura | Drijver | Kopecky | Michielsen
|
| | | Pass
|
1♦ | Pass | 2♣ | 2♦*
|
Pass | 2♠ | 4♣ | Pass
|
4♦ | Pass | 4NT | Pass
|
5♣ | Pass | 6♣ | All pass
|
* majors
In spite of North’s spade preference, Marion Michielsen elects to lead a low heart. Declarer wins in hand, crosses to the ♠A and runs the ♣9 to South’s blank King. ♥K and another now put the contract down two as North can overruff dummy. NL Red +200.
Closed Room
West | North | East | South |
Molenaar | Miura | Verbeek | Koike
|
| | | 1♥
|
2♦ | Dbl | Redbl | 2♠
|
Pass | Pass | 3♥!! | 3♠
|
3NT | All pass
| | |
3NT on a spade lead is easy. You simply cash your nine top tricks only to find out you’ve got 13. NL Red another +720 and 14 IMPs.
On the next board, Italy gained heavily because of a bad American defensive mistake:
Board: 8. Dlr: West/None |
| ♠ 7 5 4 ♥ 9 6 ♦ A 8 6 4 3 ♣ A 10 5 | ♠ A J 10 9 8 ♥ J 10 ♦ J 9 ♣ Q 6 4 2 | | ♠ 3 2 ♥ 8 7 4 ♦ K 10 7 2 ♣ K J 7 3 | | ♠ K Q 6 ♥ A K Q 5 3 2 ♦ Q 5 ♣ 9 8 |
Open Room
West | North | East | South |
Fournier | Franchi | Lall | Paparo
|
Pass | Pass | Pass | 1♥
|
1♠ | Dbl | Pass | 4♥
|
All pass
| | | |
West led a trump. Declarer won, drew four more rounds of trumps and exited with the ♠Q. He knew the Ace was behind him as West had discarded ♠J. West took his Ace and, rather than attacking clubs and thus preventing any trouble, persisted with spades. Now, Paparo won and cashed the last trump on which a club from dummy went. East had come down to ♣KJ and when he forgot to unblock the King under the Ace, he got endplayed to bring a diamond trick and the contract. Italy +420.
Closed Room
West | North | East | South |
Di Franco | Chiu | Manno | Fay
|
Pass | Pass | Pass | 1♥
|
1♠ | Dbl | Pass | 3♥
|
Pass | 4♥ | All pass
| |
West led a club and that was it. Italy another +50 and 10 IMPs.
Two boards later, USA Blue gained heavily because of a bad Italian defensive mistake:
Board: 10. Dlr: East/All |
| ♠ K 9 6 3 ♥ A 9 ♦ 9 8 ♣ A Q 7 6 4 | ♠ A 8 2 ♥ 8 4 ♦ A K Q 10 2 ♣ K J 8 | | ♠ Q J 5 4 ♥ K Q J 10 6 2 ♦ 7 ♣ 9 3 | | ♠ 10 7 ♥ 7 5 3 ♦ J 6 5 4 3 ♣ 10 5 2 |
Open Room
West | North | East | South |
Fournier | Franchi | Lall | Paparo
|
| | 1♥ | Pass
|
2♦ | Pass | 2♥ | Pass
|
3NT | Pass | 4♥ | All pass
|
South led the ♠10 to North’s King. Now North cashed the ♣A and continued clubs, rather than spades to prepare the defensive ruff. Dummy won and led a trump. North jumped in with the Ace to continue yet another club but declarer ruffed high, drew trumps and had the rest. USA Blue +620.
Closed Room
West | North | East | South |
Di Franco | Chiu | Manno | Fay
|
| | 2♥ | Pass
|
4♥ | All pass
| | |
South led the same ♠10 as his counterpart but here, North won the King and continued the suit. South thus got his ruff and North his two club tricks for down two, USA Blue -200 and 13 IMPs back.
Halftime in the match came with the score on 32-20 to Italy. Everything to play for.
In the meantime, nothing very much was happening in the other match but on the dreaded board 13, the Czech defence suddenly went astray, which proved to be expensive:
Board: 13. Dlr: North/All |
| ♠ Q 9 2 ♥ 10 5 4 ♦ A K J 8 ♣ 10 9 4 | ♠ K ♥ K Q 6 ♦ Q 10 4 3 2 ♣ K Q 7 5 | | ♠ 7 4 ♥ A 9 8 7 ♦ 9 7 6 ♣ A J 8 3 | | ♠ A J 10 8 6 5 3 ♥ J 3 2 ♦ 5 ♣ 6 2 |
Open Room
West | North | East | South |
Macura | Drijver | Kopecky | Michielsen
|
| Pass | Pass | 3♠
|
Pass | 4♠ | All pass
| |
NS had reached a stratospherical contract against which West led the ♣K. He continues a low club to partner’s Ace and Kopecky ‘s next move is to cash the ♥A on which Macura contributes the King. What does this mean? East thinks it’s asking not for a heart continuation but rather for a club, so he next plays the ♣J. South ruffs, cashes the ♠A (thank you) and finishes off the good work with a flying diamond finesse. Just made, NL Red a tremendous +620.
Tremendous, we wrote and rightly so. In their match v. USA Blue, Italy managed to declare 3♠ from the North position (transfer preempts are in use) and got a friendly diamond lead after which they made the contract for a very good 140. However: +620 is much, much better, we feel…
Closed Room
West | North | East | South |
Molenaar | Miura | Verbeek | Koike
|
| Pass | Pass | 2♦
|
Dble | 3♥ | Pass | 3♠
|
Pass | Pass | Dble | Pass
|
4♥ | All pass
| | |
EW finally stop at a shaky 4-3 fit and one down is the outcome. Japan-Czech +100 but 11 more IMPs go Dutch. The halftime score in the match thus is 43-13 to NL Red. It would be an uphill task for both the Czech Republic and Japan.
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