Greece
vs Poland
Open Series - Round 22
After the Monday morning off, this was the first Rama match of
the day, and this clash between the nos. 2 and 3 looked a good
one too, certainly on paper.
After a quiet start, a Greek indiscretion in the Closed Room
allowed Poland to open their account:
Session 22. Board 3. Dealer
South. E/W Vul.
|
|
ª K Q 10 3 2
© 6 4
¨ A Q 10 7 3
§ A |
ª A J 5
© 7
¨ K J 6
§ K Q J 7 4 3 |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª 9
© K J 9 8 3 2
¨ 5 4 2
§ 10 9 8 |
|
ª 8 7 6 4
© A Q 10 5
¨ 9 8
§ 6 5 2 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Kwiecien |
Kapayannides |
Pszczola |
Liarakos |
|
|
|
Pass |
1§ |
1ª |
Pass |
2ª |
3§ |
4ª |
All Pass |
|
A routine +450 to Greece.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Skoularikis |
Lesniewski |
Zotos |
Martens |
|
|
|
Pass |
1§ |
1ª |
Pass |
2ª |
3§ |
4ª |
5§ |
Pass |
Pass |
Dble |
All Pass |
|
Well, on a good day you might even make 5§
if opener has something nice in hearts, but this was not
such a day. The lead of the ªK
was won by declarer, who next played a heart to open a communication
line back to his hand. South won the ©Q
and led a diamond. North won the ¨Q,
cashed the ¨A
and the §A
(!) before returning a diamond for his partner to ruff.
When South next led his last trump, the contract had to
go down four, Poland +1100 and 12 IMP´s.
Greece were to strike back immediately when they stole
a 3NT from the Poles in the Open Room:
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|
Loukas Zotos, Greece
|
Session 22. Board 4. Dealer
West. All Vul.
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|
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 |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
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 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Kwiecien |
Kapayannides |
Pszczola |
Liarakos |
Pass |
1§ |
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
3§ |
Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
|
|
|
Would you as West have found the spade lead? If you do, and partner
switches to the ©Q, the defence can come to eight tricks. When
you are less inspired and lead a straightforward heart, you are
presenting declarer with his 10th trick, just as happened on Rama.
Greece +630.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Skoularikis |
Lesniewski |
Zotos |
Martens |
Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
2ª |
Pass |
3§ |
All Pass |
|
Jasek Pszcola, Poland
|
|
The Polish 2§
opening bid made it almost impossible for the Poles to get
anywhere near 3NT. 2ª
was not forcing and 3§
denied any spade interest. Holding two weak stoppers only
in the red suits, why should South go on from there? Poland
+130, but Greece had got 11 IMP´s back.
And, two boards later:
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Session 22. 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 |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
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 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Kwiecien |
Kapayannides |
Pszczola |
Liarakos |
|
|
Pass |
Pass |
1§ |
Pass |
1¨ |
1ª |
2§ |
2ª |
All Pass |
|
When South judged his hand too good for a spade preempt, a quiet
auction developed when West could not support diamonds for systemic
reasons. The contract made with an overtrick for +140 to Greece.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Skoularikis |
Lesniewski |
Zotos |
Martens |
|
|
Pass |
2¨ |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
2ª |
Dble |
Rdbl |
3© |
3ª |
Pass |
Pass |
4¨ |
Pass |
5¨ |
Dble |
All Pass |
|
Here South did preempt in spades, so for E/W the auction effectively
began at the three-level. Obviously, West expected much more from
his partner´s 4¨-bid, but the raise to game gave North an
easy double for down two, Poland +500 and 8 imps.
After a few more quiet boards, Poland were definitely unlucky
to lose the lead on this one:
Session 22. 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 |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
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 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Kwiecien |
Kapayannides |
Pszczola |
Liarakos |
|
|
Pass |
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
2NT |
Pass |
3§ |
Pass |
3© |
Pass |
4ª |
All Pass |
|
|
After the invitational spade raise with 2NT, game was a decent
enough proposition, but with both black finesses not working,
the contract could not be made. Greece +200 for down two.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Skoularikis |
Lesniewski |
Zotos |
Martens |
|
|
Pass |
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
3ª |
All Pass |
Opposite a weakish raise, Skoularikis had an almost automatic
pass. On a diamond lead, he just made his contract on a complete
cross-ruff for +140 and 8 IMP´s to Greece.
The difference in approach between the two teams and their respective
bidding systems again played its part in what happened on board
13.
Session 22. 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 |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
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 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Kwiecien |
Kapayannides |
Pszczola |
Liarakos |
|
Pass |
Pass |
1© |
Pass |
2© |
All Pass |
|
On a spade lead and club continuation, declarer just managed
eight tricks when he did not draw one single round of trumps before
going after the diamonds and thus incurred a few club ruffs/overruffs.
Anyway, Greece +110.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Skoularikis |
Lesniewski |
Zotos |
Martens |
|
Pass |
Pass |
1NT |
Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
|
Note the difference in approach. In spite of the five-card
major, 1NT was opened, so the Poles found themselves back
in 3NT in no time. With all these aces out, this was not
a sound proposition. On a club lead to the ten and queen,
the contract went two down in no time when declarer started
on diamonds at trick two.
On board 16, the Poles earned themselves a well-deserved
big swing, as well as the lead in the match again, when
much more aggressive intervention caused their opponents
to misjudge the situation completely:
|
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Spiros Liarakos, Greece
|
Session 22. Board 16.
Dealer West. E/W Vul.
|
|
ª 8 7 6 4
© Q 8 7 2
¨ 8 3
§ J 9 5 |
ª K Q 9 2
© A
¨ K J 7
§ Q 10 6 4 2 |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª J 10 5
© 10 5
¨ A Q 10 5 2
§ A K 8 |
|
ª A 3
© K J 9 6 4 3
¨ 9 6 4
§ 7 3 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Kwiecien |
Kapayannides |
Pszczola |
Liarakos |
1§ |
Pass |
2¨ |
2© |
2ª |
3© |
Pass |
Pass |
4© |
Pass |
5§ |
Pass |
5¨ |
Pass |
6¨ |
All Pass |
When Pszczola could show a good hand with diamonds at his first
turn, half the bidding problems of this hand were solved immediately.
East´s Pass on 3© was forcing, and 4© was the cuebid East
was waiting for, agreeing diamonds in the process. Holding the
§AK himself, East had every reason to go on to the slam level.
Well done, Poland +1370.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Skoularikis |
Lesniewski |
Zotos |
Martens |
1§ |
Pass |
1¨ |
2© |
Dble |
4© |
Dble |
All Pass |
Much more ambiguity in the E/W bidding here, well exploited by
the Poles who forced their opponents to guess right at a one higher
level. Down only three, +500 to Greece but 13 IMP´s to Poland.
On the last board, the Poles overbid a little to go down in a
vulnerable game, whereas Greece stayed in a safe partscore once
again, so this swing made it Greece 36, Poland 40 or a 16-14 V.P.
win for the Poles in a tight match.
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