45th GENERALI European Bridge Championships, Arona, Tenerife, Canary Islands Tuesday, 19 June 2001

Norway v. Netherlands

2nd Round, Open Teams
For many a bridge supporter in either of these countries, since 1993 things have not been as they were before as far as matches against each other are involved. Late in that year, the two national teams played in one of the few all-European finals ever of the Bermuda Bowl. On that big occasion, the Dutch emerged winners, but for the Norwegians there have been many successes against the Dutch since. So with the balance between the two teams about even, a good match could be expected even at this early stage of the championships.

And a good and at times even instructive match it was! On the first board, the Dutch struck a tremendous first blow when they bid and made game at both tables, doubled at both tables of course.

Board 1, Dealer North, None Vul.

  ª J 10 9 2
© 10
¨ K 9 4
§ Q J 9 6 4
ª -
© K Q 4 2
¨ J 8 7 3 2
§ K 8 5 3
Bridge deal ª 6 5 3
© A J 8 7 3
¨ A 10 6 5
§ 10
  ª A K Q 8 7 4
© 9 6 5
¨ Q
§ A 7 2

Open Room
West North East South
Ramondt Helness Maas Helgemo
  Pass 2© 2ª
5© Pass Pass Dble.
All Pass      

Maas launched the Dutch variation of the Polish two-suited opening style, which requires a minimum of only four cards in the second suit. After the spade overcall, Ramondt could see that a large number of tricks was available in spades for his opponents, so he made a bold jump to 5©! This effectively ended the proceedings: the only thing Helgemo could do was to double this, but the contract was unbeatable. A good start for the Dutch: +650 with 5ª only down one.

Closed Room
West North East South
Groetheim Paulissen Aa Kirchhoff
  Pass Pass 1ª
Dble. 3ª 4© 4ª
Pass Pass Dble. All Pass

In the Closed Room, a Norwegian equivalent of the Dutch opening toy was not available, so Aa passed. Groetheim´s light take-out double made it difficult for his partner, who was holding two aces himself in his passed hand, to assess the situation. He doubled 4ª only to find out that this could not be defeated. So a good start for the Dutch here as well: +590 with 5© on for the opponents.

After this 15-IMP initial swing, a few quiet boards followed. Then came:

 
Terje Aa, Norway

 

Board 6, Dealer East, East-West Vul.

  ª 10 9 8 6 4 3
© Q J 9
¨ A 7
§ 9 7
ª K 2
© 10 8 2
¨ 10 5 4 2
§ K Q 10 5
Bridge deal ª Q
© A K 7 6 4
¨ Q J 8 6 3
§ 6 3
  ª A J 7 5
© 5 3
¨ K 9
§ A J 8 4 2

Open Room
West North East South
Ramondt Helness Maas Helgemo
    2© Dble.
3§ 3ª All Pass  

Well judged by Helgemo-Helness. Just made, Norway +140.

Closed Room
West North East South
Groetheim Paulissen Aa Kirchhoff
    1© Dble.
2© 3ª Pass 4ª
All Pass      

A little too optimistic, maybe, by Kirchhoff, but…all is well that ends well. The ©A was led, followed by a diamond. Declarer won, cashed one top trump and the other high diamond, then exited with a heart to the queen and king. At this point, East must have lost the count of the hand, as we have not yet found a good reason for him to continue diamonds. Still, that is what he did, so suddenly the Dutch could register +420 and 7 IMP´s more, extending their lead to 21.

On board 7, only 8 out of 34 pairs managed to reach the grand slam. Probably, the fierce intervention was too much for many of the others. So we just give you the two auctions from this match to judge for yourself.

Board 7, Dealer South, Both Vul.

  ª 8
© K 10 8 7 6 3 2
¨ A
§ Q 10 7 3
ª Q 6 5 2
© Q
¨ K Q J 10 2
§ J 9 5
Bridge deal ª K 10 9 3
© 9 5
¨ 9 8 7 5 4 3
§ 6
  ª A J 7 4
© A J 4
¨ 6
§ A K 8 4 2

Open Room
West North East South
Ramondt Helness Maas Helgemo
      1§
1¨ 1© 4¨ Dble
Pass 5NT Pass 6©
All Pass      

Closed Room
West North East South
Groetheim Paulissen Aa Kirchhoff
      1§
1¨ 4© 5¨ 6©
All Pass      

Certainly, both NS pairs missed their chance here in this match.

Time for Norway to come back, and they did it in great style on two innocent enough looking hands.

Board 11, Dealer South, None Vul.

  ª 8 7
© 9
¨ 10 6 4 2
§ A K 9 5 4 3
ª A Q
© Q 7 5 3 2
¨ Q 8 5
§ Q 10 8
Bridge deal ª 10 6 4 3 2
© A 8 4
¨ J 9 7
§ J 6
  ª K J 9 5
© K J 10 6
¨ A K 3
§ 7 2

Open Room
West North East South
Ramondt Helness Maas Helgemo
      1NT
Pass 3NT All Pass  


Vincent Ramondt, The Netherlands
 

Straightforward bidding to a straightforward contract. Ramondt led a heart, won by Maas who returned the suit. Helgemo went up with the king, a play that could not possibly cost with the hearts well stopped and the ©Q probably with West, and might induce the defence to relying more on their routine than on anything else.

The effect was that Maas, on lead again when Helgemo ducked a club to him, returned a heart rather than a spade which would have beaten the contract.


Closed Room
West North East South
Groetheim Paulissen Aa Kirchhoff
      1NT
Pass 3NT All Pass  

Same bidding, same lead and return, but Kirchhoff made the ´routine´play of the ©J to trick two. In again with a club, Terje Aa had no trouble in finding the spade switch to beat the contract.

And:

Board 14, Dealer East, None Vul.

  ª 7 4
© A 9 8 3 2
¨ 10 9 7 4
§ Q 4
ª 5 3
© J 7 4
¨ A J 6
§ K J 9 8 5
Bridge deal ª A J 6
© K Q 10 5
¨ K Q 5 3
§ 10 6
  ª K Q 10 9 8 2
© 6
¨ 8 2
§ A 7 3 2

Open Room
West North East South
Ramondt Helness Maas Helgemo
    1NT 2ª
2NT Pass 3¨ Pass
3ª Pass 3NT All Pass

Helgemo made the defence look very easy. He led the ªQ and when this held, switched to his heart within a split second. Ace from Helness, spade back, one down. Almost too easy: Norway +50.

Closed Room
West North East South
Groetheim Paulissen Aa Kirchhoff
    1NT 2¨
Pass 2ª Pass Pass
3ª Pass 3NT All Pass

2¨ showed a major one-suiter. Here too, a top spade (the king) was led and ducked, but then South went into a long huddle. He finally emerged with the ¨8. Terje Aa won this and paused to consider the situation before deciding to lead a club and put up the king! When this held he had all the time in the world to revert to hearts and establish nine tricks.

The line he chose is not 100% but stands out by a mile. What was South´s problem? Why did he not play a heart or a club? Why did it take so long? South would probably hold one ace, and did not know how to reach partner. Maybe, he only held a singleton heart and refrained from playing the suit for that reason. In that case, one club trick will do. Well deduced and well executed for +400 to Norway and another 10-IMP gain.

The match ended 33-36 or a 14-16 win to the Netherlands, but both sides had kept themselves very much in the running for later.


Page 3


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