|
England
vs Scotland
Ladies Series - Round 12
As we moved into the second half of the Women's Championship,
England were leading while Scotland were last. Perhaps that sounds
like the recipe for a massacre but local rivalry often produces
upsets - would this be another example of that phenomenon?
|
Board 4. Dealer West.
All Vul.
|
| |
ª -
© 7 6 2
¨ A Q 10 9
§ A K 10 7 3 2 |
ª A 8 7 3
© A J 8 4 3
¨ 6 5
§ 9 5 |
 |
ª K Q 10 6
© Q 9
¨ J 8 7 3 2
§ 8 4 |
| |
ª J 9 5 4 2
© K 10 5
¨ K 4
§ Q J 6 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Dhondy |
Outred |
Smith |
Alexander |
| 2¨ |
3§ |
3ª |
4§ |
| Pass |
5§ |
All Pass |
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| McGowan |
Brunner |
McQuaker |
Goldenfield |
| Pass |
1§ |
Pass |
1ª |
| Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
3§ |
| Pass |
3ª |
Pass |
3NT |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
Fiona Mcquaker, Scotland |
|
Heather Dhondy's 2¨
opening was weak with at least 5-4 in the majors. Nicola Smith
competed in spades, making it almost inevitable that the Scots
would play the club game. Smith led the king of spades and
Vi Outred ruffed and, remembering the opening bid, tried the
effect of cashing one top trump then playing three rounds
of diamonds to pitch a heart from dummy. That was not a success,
as Dhondy could ruff the third round and exit with a low spade.
Outred drew the remaining trump then led a heart for the king
and ace. With only one trump in dummy, she had to lose two
more tricks for down two; -200.
Michelle Brunner and Rhona Goldenfield had a free run at the
other table and got to 3NT. Not altogether surprisingly on
the auction, the lead was a low heart. Goldenfield grabbed
her king and cashed nine minor-suit winners for +630 and 13
IMPs to England. |
|
Board 5. Dealer North.
N/S Vul.
|
| |
ª A 8
© A Q J 8
¨ A 7 6 2
§ 7 6 5 |
ª K Q 9
© 10 9 5 4 2
¨ J 9
§ Q J 8 |
|
ª 7 6 5 3 2
© 3
¨ 8 5 3
§ 10 9 4 3 |
| |
ª J 10 4
© K 7 6
¨ K Q 10 4
§ A K 2 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Dhondy |
Outred |
Smith |
Alexander |
| |
1NT |
Pass |
2§ |
| Pass |
2© |
Pass |
3§ |
| Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
4¨ |
| Pass |
4© |
Pass |
5§ |
| Pass |
6¨ |
All Pass |
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| McGowan |
Brunner |
McQuaker |
Goldenfield |
| |
1© |
Pass |
2¨ |
| Pass |
3NT |
Pass |
4NT |
| Pass |
5¨ |
Pass |
5ª |
| Dble |
Pass |
Pass |
5NT |
| Pass |
6¨ |
All Pass |
|
Both North/South pairs bid smoothly to the top spot for a push
at +1370. Nicely bid.
|
Board 6. Dealer East.
E/W Vul.
|
| |
ª A 10 4
© K 4
¨ A J 9 3
§ J 9 4 3 |
ª 9
© A Q 3
¨ K 7 5 2
§ A Q 10 8 2 |
|
ª K 7 5
© 10 9 7 6 5
¨ Q 10 8 6 4
§ - |
| |
ª Q J 8 6 3 2
© J 8 2
¨ -
§ K 7 6 5 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Dhondy |
Outred |
Smith |
Alexander |
| |
|
Pass |
2ª |
| Dble |
4ª |
5© |
All Pass |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| McGowan |
Brunner |
McQuaker |
Goldenfield |
| |
|
Pass |
2ª |
| Dble |
3ª |
4© |
4ª |
| Dble |
Pass |
5¨ |
Pass |
| Pass |
Dble |
All Pass |
|
The North/South pre-emption made it difficult for East/West.
Of course, 4ª was going to go down, while East/West could make
nothing at the five level, but East's shapely hand suggested bidding
on, and that is what happened at both tables.
Margaret Alexander led the queen of spades against 5© and Outred
won the ace and switched to ace and another diamond to give her
partner a ruff. But now the defensive trumps were dividing evenly
and Smith could win the club switch and play ace then queen of
hearts for down two; -200.
Brunner's more gentle spade raise gave Fiona McQuaker the opportunity
to show both of her suits at the other table - much to her regret.
Brunner doubled 5¨ and here too the lead was a spade to the ace.
Brunner looked for a forcing game, returning a second spade to
McQuaker's king. Declarer ruffed her last spade then led a diamond
to the queen - ouch! McQuaker took the heart finesse and back
came another heart, picking up the jack for her. But there were
still three trump tricks to be lost and that meant three down
for -800 and 12 IMPs to England.
|
Board 9. Dealer North.
E/W Vul.
|
| |
ª A J 6
© 9 6
¨ A 9 6 5 4
§ K 3 2 |
ª 7 2
© A 10 4
¨ 8 7
§ J 9 8 7 6 5 |
|
ª 10 9 3
© K Q J 7 2
¨ K J 10 2
§ 10 |
| |
ª K Q 8 5 4
© 8 5 3
¨ Q 3
§ A Q 4 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Dhondy |
Outred |
Smith |
Alexander |
| |
1¨ |
1© |
1ª |
| 2© |
2ª |
Pass |
4ª |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| McGowan |
Brunner |
McQuaker |
Goldenfield |
| |
1NT |
2§ |
3ª |
| Pass |
4ª |
All Pass |
|
Heather Dhondy, England |
|
A club lead leaves declarer without recourse, but Dhondy
cashed the ace of hearts and then switched to a club. Alexander
won in hand and played a heart and Dhondy sleepily played
low, forcing Smith to win the trick. What had been a simple
defence suddenly became more difficult - indeed, if declarer
plays correctly she can no longer be defeated. Smith switched
to the ten of spades and Alexander won on table and played
a club towards her hand, hoping to ruff her last heart.
Smith ruffed in and exited with her last trump and that
was down one for -50.
At the other table, Liz McGowan led a diamond. Goldenfield
went up with the ace and played a second diamond to the
king. McQuaker cashed the king then jack of hearts before
playing a high diamond through. Goldenfield could ruff high
and take her heart ruff, unblock the spades and come back
to hand with a club to draw the last trump: +420 and 10
IMPs to England - not much sign of an upset here.
|
In the Women's match between Israel and Finland, Ritva Niemisto
for Finland led the ace of hearts against Ruth Levit-Porat's 4ª
contract. Niemisto found the club switch at trick two and now
the contract must go down if the defence is accurate. Levit-Porat
won the club on table and now had an opportunity to make life
difficult for her opponents. Had she played a heart now, Birgit
Barlund would have had to duck her king, queen, jack, playing
partner for the ten. A similar situation arose when Levit-Porat
tried a low diamond off the table. Barlund went in with her king
and, after a little thought, came up with the fine play of underleading
her heart honours to put partner in to give the ruff. Niemisto
duly did so for a very well-played and defended one down; -50
and 10 IMPs to Finland as the same contract was allowed to make
in the other room.
|
Board 10. Dealer East.
All Vul.
|
| |
ª 10
© K J 8 4
¨ K 10 9 6 2
§ Q 7 6 |
ª Q 9 6 5 2
© Q 7 5 2
¨ J
§ A K J |
|
ª A J 8 7
© 10
¨ Q 7 5 4
§ 10 8 5 2 |
| |
ª K 4 3
© A 9 6 3
¨ A 8 3
§ 9 4 3 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Dhondy |
Outred |
Smith |
Alexander |
| |
|
Pass |
Pass |
| 1ª |
Dble |
4ª |
Dble |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| McGowan |
Brunner |
McQuaker |
Goldenfield |
| |
|
Pass |
Pass |
| 1ª |
Pass |
2ª |
All Pass |
Outed's thin double tempted Smith to pre-empt perhaps one level
higher than her hand really justified - no doubt fearful of her
heart shortage. Alexander had an automatic double and there was
no way for Dhondy to avoid a loser in each suit after the lead
of a low diamond to the ace and a club switch; -200.
In the other room, Brunner neither doubled 1ª nor balanced when
2ª came round to her. Two Spades was a comfortable make for +140
and 8 IMPs to Scotland, who needed them.
|
Board 12. Dealer West.
N/S Vul.
|
| |
ª J
© A 7 4
¨ K 7 6 2
§ A K 7 5 2 |
ª Q 6 3
© K 10 9 6 2
¨ Q J 9
§ 10 9 |
|
ª 10 9 4
© J 5
¨ 10 8 5 4 3
§ Q 4 3 |
| |
ª A K 8 7 5 2
© Q 8 3
¨ A
§ J 8 6 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Dhondy |
Outred |
Smith |
Alexander |
| Pass |
1§ |
Pass |
1ª |
| Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
3¨ |
| Pass |
3© |
Pass |
4§ |
| Pass |
4¨ |
Pass |
4ª |
| Pass |
5§ |
All Pass |
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| McGowan |
Brunner |
McQuaker |
Goldenfield |
| Pass |
1§ |
Pass |
1ª |
| Pass |
1NT |
Pass |
2§ |
| Pass |
2¨ |
Pass |
3§ |
| Pass |
3© |
Pass |
3ª |
| Pass |
3NT |
Pass |
4¨ |
| Pass |
4© |
Pass |
4NT |
| Pass |
5© |
Pass |
6§ |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
Smith led the jack of hearts against Outred's game. That got
covered all round and Outred continued by leading a diamond to
the ace and a club back to her ace. She cashed the ¨ now to throw
a heart from dummy, then gave up a heart. Dhondy won and played
another heart, forcing dummy to ruff as Smith divested herself
of a spade. Outred played three rounds of spades, ruffing the
third one low, and was over-ruffed. When Smith returned the queen
of clubs, Outred was left with a losing diamond at the end for
down one; -100.
What a difference a lead makes! Against 6§, McQuaker led a diamond
to dummy's ace and Brunner played three rounds of spades, ruffing,
cashed a top club then led a low club towards the jack. When the
queen appeared, she could use the §J as an entry to cash the long
spades while drawing the last trump and had twelve tricks; +1370
and 16 IMPs to England.
|
Board 13. Dealer North.
All Vul.
|
| |
ª Q J
© 10 7 5
¨ K Q J 6 3
§ 9 8 5 |
ª 9 6 5
© Q
¨ 10 7 4 2
§ A J 7 6 2 |
|
ª A 7 4 3 2
© J 8 6 2
¨ A 8
§ 10 4 |
| |
ª K 10 8
© A K 9 4 3
¨ 9 5
§ K Q 3 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Dhondy |
Outred |
Smith |
Alexander |
| |
Pass |
2¨ |
Dble |
| 2ª |
3¨ |
Pass |
3NT |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| McGowan |
Brunner |
McQuaker |
Goldenfield |
| |
Pass |
Pass |
1© |
| Pass |
2© |
All Pass |
|
It was England's turn to stop at the two level for +140 while
the Scots got to game. Again the weak majors 2¨ opening made an
appearance for England. Alexander doubled then bid 3Nt over her
partner's free 3¨ bid. Dhondy led a spade, ducked, and Alexander
passed the ten of hearts to the bare queen. Dhondy continued spades
and Smith won and cleared the suit. When declarer now tried a
diamond to dummy, Smith could win and cash her spade winners before
leading to her partner's ace of clubs for down two; -200 and 8
IMPs to England.
|
Board 20. Dealer West.
All Vul.
|
| |
ª 10 7 6 4
© 8 7 5
¨ J 2
§ K Q 10 3 |
ª 3 2
© J 9 6 2
¨ 9 7 6 4
§ A 4 2 |
|
ª K Q 9 8
© A
¨ A K Q 8 3
§ J 7 6 |
| |
ª A J 5
© K Q 10 4 3
¨ 10 5
§ 9 8 5 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Dhondy |
Outred |
Smith |
Alexander |
| Pass |
Pass |
1¨ |
1© |
| 2¨ |
2© |
Dble |
Pass |
| 3¨ |
Pass |
5¨ |
All Pass |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| McGowan |
Brunner |
McQuaker |
Goldenfield |
| Pass |
Pass |
1¨ |
1© |
| 2¨ |
Pass |
2ª |
Pass |
| 2NT |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
The match ended with a little good news for Scotland. Alexander
led the king of hearts against Smith's 5¨. Declarer won and cashed
one top trump before leading the queen of spades from hand. Alexander
went up with her ace, as she needed to do, and switched to a club.
Smith ducked that to the queen and Outred returned a heart. There
was no way to avoid a second club loser at the end so Smith was
one down; -100.
Three No Trump could also have gone down, of course, but Brunner
led the king of clubs. McGowan could win and play three rounds
of diamonds to get to hand. She led a spade to the king and ace
and Goldenfield switched to a low heart to dummy's bare ace. McGowan
could cross to hand and lead up towards the jack of clubs and
that was her ninth trick; +600 and 12 IMPs to the Scots.
England's 77-21 IMP, 25-4 VP victory confirmed their position
at the top and also the Scots' position at the bottom.
|
