The Semifinals, second half

by Marjo Chorus and Jos Jacobs

Netherlands Red v. Japan-Czech and Italy Red v. USA Blue

Italy led by 12 at halftime but the first two boards brought them as many big swings:

Board: 17. Dlr: North/None
	♠ Q 6 5 2 ♥ A 10 9 8 4 2 ♦ A J ♣ 4
♠ - ♥ K 6 ♦ K Q 7 6 3 2 ♣ A J 7 6 5		♠ A K J 9 8 7 4 3 ♥ 7 5 3 ♦ 5 ♣ 3
	♠ 10 ♥ Q J ♦ 10 9 8 4 ♣ K Q 10 9 8 2

Paparo’s conservative pass over 4♠ was the winning action. Down two, Italy Red +100.

Closed Room

Board: 18. Dlr: East/NS
	♠ Q 8 3 ♥ A ♦ 10 7 5 4 3 ♣ Q 10 6 4
♠ 10 9 6 4 2 ♥ J 10 8 6 5 4 ♦ Q ♣ 3		♠ A J ♥ K 9 7 2 ♦ K 8 6 2 ♣ 8 7 2
	♠ K 7 5 ♥ Q 3 ♦ A J 9 ♣ A K J 9 5

Would you lead your suit or your secret weapon? Fournier opted for the latter and soon wrote -600.

Closed Room

Manno’s wait-and-see policy paid off when he went for his longest and strongest. After the heart lead, declarer could make only eight tricks. Italy Red another +100 and 12 IMPs. The Italian lead suddenly stood at 53-20. Had they put the match out of reach for their opponents just within two boards? On this same board, the Japan-Czech team continued their rally. They had already scored 5 IMPs on #17 when they doubled their opponents in 4♠ which went two off at both tables:

Open Room

This contract quietly went one off, +100 to NL Red.

Closed Room

* 11-20 nat or 18-20 bal. or +21

Over Macura’s double, Michal Kopecky decides to offer his minors by bidding 4NT. West leads a heart against 5♣. Declarer next plays ♣Q and a diamond to the Jack and Queen. The return of the ♠10 solves all declarer’s problems. Japan-Czech +600 and 11 IMPs more. In two boards, their deficit has been reduced to just 14 IMPs. Three boards later, Japan-Czech deal the Dutch another big blow:

Board: 21. Dlr: North/NS
	♠ 8 2 ♥ J 9 8 7 3 ♦ Q 5 4 ♣ A Q 5
♠ 10 3 ♥ 10 6 4 2 ♦ J 8 6 ♣ J 10 7 3		♠ J 7 6 5 4 ♥ K ♦ 10 9 2 ♣ K 8 4 2
	♠ A K Q 9 ♥ A Q 5 ♦ A K 7 3 ♣ 9 6

Michielsen, taking into account that partner has a passed hand, overcalls a simple 3NT over the 2♠ opening by Miura. She collects all 13 tricks for a score of +720 to NL Red.

Closed Room

Milan Macura gets the same obstruction from his RHO but he decides to double first. North now can bid 3♥ which is constructive; he would have bid 2NT (Lebensohl) otherwise. So a series of cuebids is launched and slam is duly reached. Both the red suits are splitting quite friendly so 13 tricks are easy and Japan-Czech can chalk up +1460 and 12 more IMPs to trail by only five after just five boards of the set. The running score in the set stands at 28-3 to them at this point… In the USA Blue v. Italy Red match, after a few quiet boards (among them a push on the previous slam hand #21) the Americans were doubled into game on this one:

Board: 22. Dlr: East/EW
	♠ 9 8 5 3 2 ♥ J 8 2 ♦ Q 8 5 3 ♣ J
♠ Q J 7 ♥ 10 7 6 4 ♦ J 10 ♣ A K 7 6		♠ A 6 4 ♥ A 9 5 ♦ A 7 2 ♣ 10 9 5 4
	♠ K 10 ♥ K Q 3 ♦ K 9 6 4 ♣ Q 8 3 2

Open Room

Just made, USA Blue +90.

Closed Room

Meckstroth doubled the weak NT and North ran to 2♠ when West redoubled. He was promptly doubled but the layout in both pointed suits was such that the contract had good chances when East led a trump. Dummy’s King held, a trump was returned and a diamond came back, revealing the fortunate position in that suit. Eight tricks, USA Blue +470 and 11 IMPs back to trail by 23.

A low club lead seems best for the defence but even then, South’s ♣8 grows in stature. Declarer may run out of trumps but the defenders won’t have any tricks to cash… The late rally USA Blue needed, did not materialise, however. They picked up a partscore swing and another one when the Italians let a non-vulnerable game through but even if they had bid the slam on board 29 (for a push), it would not have been enough for them. Italy Red advances to the final, winning eventually by 72-45. In the other match, Japan-Czech are closing the remaining gap on an IMP by IMP basis. On board 26, the Dutch pick up 10 IMPs when Kopecky overbids to 4♠ and goes down two, doubled, whereas the Dutch stop in 3♠ making. The next two boards are puishes but might as well have produced swings either way. A disastrous bidding misunderstanding on the penultimate board (Drijver-Michielsen go down one in 6♦ on a 3-3 fit with 6♥ cold), gives the Japan-Czech team 17 IMPs out of the blue when the Czechs end up in the correct slam. With one board to go, the score reads 62-61 to Japan-Czech. What a fightback…they have reached the top of the hill they had to climb when the set started and now it will do for them to stay there for just one more board.

Board: 30. Dlr: East/None
	♠ 9 5 4 ♥ Q 8 6 ♦ Q 4 2 ♣ Q 10 5 2
♠ K Q J 10 ♥ A K 7 3 ♦ J 9 7 3 ♣ 6		♠ 7 ♥ 10 9 4 ♦ A 10 8 5 ♣ K J 9 7 3
	♠ A 8 6 3 2 ♥ J 5 2 ♦ K 6 ♣ A 8 4

Open Room

The Dutch are allowed to play 1NT and Drijver manages to collect five tricks. Japan-Czech +100. If you happen to end up in NT played by EW, you would probably make nine tricks which would bring you 2 IMPs enough for a berth in today’s final. However…

Closed Room

Macura opens his weak NT which makes it difficult for EW to end up in 1NT themselves. The best they can do is double their opponents for penalties but in today’s bridge, this seems no longer possible.

Molenaar overcalls 2♣ for the majors and shortly afterwards, Verbeek has to declare 2♥. If he makes an overtrick, we will go into extra-time; if less, Japan-Czech are through. There are at least four losers so two overtricks, which would see NL Red through, are out of the question.

Macura virtually secures his team’s berth by leading the ♦K. Whatever declarer does, he is bound to incur a diamond ruff which gives the defenders their 5th and decisive trick. NL Red +110, a flat board and Japan-Czech will face Italy Red today!