The
Netherlands v. Sweden
Seniors Series - Round 4
With so many events going on here simultaneously, it´s
only proper to divert from the Open Teams and the Ladies Teams
at times to have a look at the other events taking place. That´s
why our reporters set off on Friday morning to watch the Seniors
match between The Netherlands and Sweden. Right on the very first
deal it was made clear to us once again what a wonderful game
we are involved in.
Board 1, Dealer North,
None Vul.
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|
ª K Q 10 8 2
© Q 3
¨ A 8 4 2
§ 9 7 |
ª J 7 6 5 3
© K J 8 4
¨ K 5
§ A 10 |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª A 4
© 10 9 7 6
¨ 7 3
§ K 8 6 5 2 |
|
ª 9
© A 5 2
¨ Q J 10 9 6
§ Q J 4 3 |
At both tables, North was declaring 3¨. This looks a straight-forward
enough contract, and indeed in the Closed Room it was when declarer
simply took the diamond finesse to land his contract. Sweden +130.
In the Open Room, East led a club, won by West who shifted to
a low spade. Declarer, Jan Willem Bomhof made as good a shot as
any by running this to the nine in dummy. East won the ace and
this time shifted to a heart. Declarer now seized his extra chance:
©A, ¨Q overtaken by the ace when it was not covered, and two top
spades to ditch the losing hearts. When East could ruff the second
top spade with his low trump, yet another an ice-cold contract
had gone down. Sweden +50 and 5 IMP´s.
Two boards later the Dutch struck back when the weak NT could
easily be dealt with by E/W:
Board 3, Dealer South,
E/W Vul.
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|
ª 10 9 8 7 3
© J 5 2
¨ 5
§ J 8 7 2 |
ª K 6
© 9 5 4
¨ A Q 8 4 3
§ K Q 10 |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª Q J 5 2
© A K 8 3
¨ 10 9 7
§ 5 3 |
|
ª A 4
© Q 10 7
¨ K J 6 2
§ A 9 6 4 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Ekberg |
Bomhof |
Alfredsson |
Englander |
|
|
|
1¨ |
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
1NT |
Pass |
2ª |
All Pass |
|
Well, this auction was about silencing your LHO at the proper
time. As it happened, both South and North managed to do so in
quite natural fashion. After the 1¨-opening West could not make
any sensible move, whereas East was shut out when North responded
1ª. A balancing double of 2ª would have saved the day for Sweden,
but when Ekberg stayed quiet a vulnerable game was missed. Down
only two, Sweden +100.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Rebattu |
Hallén |
Van Oppen |
Backström |
|
|
|
1NT |
Dble |
2ª |
Dble |
All Pass |
This time, the weak NT turned out a dubious weapon. Playing a
natural defence against it, it was easy enough for both West and
East to venture an opinion about their opponents´ bids.
The penalty was 500 when the contract went down three. The Netherlands
+9 IMP´s.
Near the end of the match (the Seniors are playing three 14-board
matches a day) the difference between the strong and the weak
NT again caused a swing, be it a peculiar one.
Board 11, Dealer South,
None Vul.
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|
ª 10 8 2
© 9 8 5 3
¨ Q 7 5
§ Q 7 4 |
ª A 5 3
© Q 6 4
¨ 9 8 6
§ J 10 3 2 |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª K 9 7 6
© A 10 7
¨ J 10 2
§ A 6 5 |
|
ª Q J 4
© K J 2
¨ A K 4 3
§ K 9 8 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Ekberg |
Bomhof |
Alfredsson |
Englander |
|
|
|
1NT |
All Pass |
|
|
|
This was easy going: The Netherlands +120.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Rebattu |
Hallén |
Van Oppen |
Backström |
|
|
|
1¨ |
Pass |
Pass |
Dble |
Pass |
1© |
All Pass |
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|
Well, what should East do in fourth seat? It´s close between
double and 1NT.
Well, what should West do after East´s double? Our West
made the rather obvious choice of the cheapest bid available,
no doubt hoping partner would rebid something. As it happened,
he was left in a nice 3-3 fit. The advantage was, of course, that
the defence did not know this
North led a diamond and the defenders cashed their three tricks
in the suit. Back came a club from North, ducked to South´s
king. With no good alternative available, South returned the suit
and declarer cashed two tricks in it. Next came three rounds of
spades so South was on play again as he understandably did not
unblock both his jack and queen. Down to the 13th diamond and
all his three hearts, what should he do? Double-dummy it´s
easy to see that only a heart honour beats the contract, as it
will prevent declarer from scoring his ©10 separately. When South
returned his low heart instead, this ran to the 10, after which
the ©Q became an extra trick when declarer led his last spade.
Contract made, The Netherlands another +80 and 5 IMP´s.
The hypo-Moysian 3-3 fit phantom remained present at this table,
as this was the next board:
Board 12, Dealer West,
North-South Vul.
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|
ª A K 7
© Q 10 9
¨ A
§ A K J 7 5 4 |
ª 3 2
© A J 8 3 2
¨ K Q J 9 2
§ 8 |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª 10 9 8 6 5
© K 5
¨ 10 8 6 4
§ 10 6 |
|
ª Q J 4
© 7 6 4
¨ 7 5 3
§ Q 9 3 2 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Ekberg |
Bomhof |
Alfredsson |
Englander |
1© |
Dble |
Pass |
2§ |
2¨ |
3NT |
All Pass |
|
In the Open Room, Nico Englander did not bother to mention his
best suit in reply to partner´s take-out double. This turned
out to be an excellent idea as it enabled Bomhof to jump to 3
NT without any further ado. The Netherlands +630.
Please note that there are nine tricks available for E/W in diamonds.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Rebattu |
Hallén |
Van Oppen |
Backström |
1© |
Dble |
Pass |
1ª |
2¨ |
3¨ |
Pass |
3ª |
Pass |
4ª |
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|
Another reminiscence to Werner Herbert, very much a senior by
now, at the other table. Once again, the response to the take-out
double was made on the cheapest three-card suit available. Of
course, we all know that from time to time one has to make bids
like that, but once again it led to a pretty strange contract.
Four Spades went down four, The Netherlands thus picking up another
+400 or 14 IMP´s.
A similar auction we saw on Rama in the Israel v. Norway match:
Closed Rama Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Yaldin D. |
Aa |
Yaldin I. |
Groetheim |
2© |
Dble |
Pass |
2ª |
Pass |
3ª |
Pass |
4ª |
All Pass |
|
|
|
As the Herbst brothers duly reached 5§ to be played by South
in the Open Room and made it when West made the natural opening
lead of the ¨K, Israel too gained a similar 14-IMP swing.
On the board to follow, the Dutch pair in the Closed Room had
a bidding misunderstanding which led to the wrong contract. They
ended up in 5§ which could not be made.
Board 13, Dealer North,
Both Vul.
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|
ª J 7
© J 9 4
¨ Q 10 9 8 7 6
§ 8 6 |
ª A Q 9 5
© Q 7 5 2
¨ -
§ Q J 5 4 3 |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª 10 4
© K 8 3
¨ A K J 4 2
§ A 9 7 |
|
ª K 8 6 3 2
© A 10 6
¨ 5 3
§ K 10 2 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Ekberg |
Bomhof |
Alfredsson |
Englander |
|
Pass |
1¨ |
Pass |
1© |
Pass |
1NT |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
|
|
As 3NT presented no problems the Swedes recouped 13 IMP´s
here, but the match was still won 37-24, or 18-12 V.P., by The
Netherlands.
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