Commentators
Beware!
On Board 2 of the famous 25-2 win by San Marino over Russia,
the commentators stated that San Marino's lucky 6© contract was
certain to make.
Board 2. Dealer East.
N/S Vul.
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|
ª K Q J 5 4
© Q 10
¨ Q J 3
§ J 7 2 |
ª -
© A J 9 5 4 3
¨ A K 9 8 7
§ K Q |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª A 8 3 2
© K 2
¨ 10 5
§ 10 9 8 6 3 |
|
ª 10 9 7 6
© 8 7 6
¨ 6 4 2
§ A 5 4 |
On a spade lead, a club was pitched from declarer's hand and,
after a diamond ruff, the declarer will drop the queen of trumps
for twelve tricks. But Willie Coyle, the Scottish Coach, spotted
that if North dropped the queen and jack of diamonds under the
ace, king, then declarer would take the losing percentage play
in trumps by finessing on the second round, and go one down.
The diamond play cannot lose because North knows that the suit
is breaking three-three and will therefore ruff out.
Black mark, gentlemen!
Sam Leckie.
It is also worth pointing out that the fact that North drops the
ten on the first round should not dissuade declarer from taking
a second round finesse. Though it is true that declarer cannot
pick up queen to four with South, the ten is a standard falsecard
from ten-small and, as there are more small cards that North could
hold than specifically the queen, the odds still favour the finesse.
Of course, if North could know that declarer held the ©9, he should
drop the QUEEN under the king, completing a fine triple honour-drop,
and now declarer would surely finesse against South's assumed
ten-to-four.
Revenge
is Sweet
By Nissan Rand - Israel
Few people know that besides the official championship matches
being held here there are some prestigious official's contest,
which always involve Poland.
In the first contest Poland lost to an Israel/Belgium combination
by 20 IMPs.
When Poland faced Israel both sides put out their big guns:
Poland: Stobiecki, Siwiec, Latala and Kielbasinski
Israel: Engel, Greenberg, Tymianker, Romik & Rand
Poland led by 6 IMPs at half time. By the time the last deal of
the match settled on the table Israel had overturned that and
led by 13 IMPs.
Dealer West. All Vul
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|
ª A 9 4 2
© A
¨ K J
§ J 7 6 5 3 2 |
ª 8 7 5
© Q 10 6 2
¨ A
§ A 10 9 8 4 |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª 6
© K 8 7 4 3
¨ 9 8 7 6 5 4 3
§ - |
|
ª K Q J 10 3
© J 9 5
¨ Q 10 2
§ K Q |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Greenberg |
Latala |
Tymianker |
Kielbasinski |
Pass |
1§ |
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
2ª |
2NT* |
4ª |
All Pass |
|
|
|
Declarer was allowed to make four spades when West rejected the
obvious lead of the ace of diamonds. Poland +650.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Stobiecki |
Romik |
Siwiec |
Rand |
Pass |
1§ |
Pass |
1ª |
Dble |
2ª |
3© |
4ª |
Pass |
Pass |
5© |
Dble |
All Pass |
|
|
|
A spade or trump lead would have defeated Five Hearts doubled
but South not unreasonably led the king of clubs. Declarer took
the ace, disposing of his losing spade, unblocked the ace of diamonds,
ruffed a spade and ruffed a diamond. He now played a trump to
North's ace, ruffed the club return, ruffed a diamond to establish
the suit and came to hand with the king of hearts to play winning
diamonds. All North/South could take were two trump tricks. Poland
were +850 at this table and the 17 IMP swing saw them home by
4 IMPs.
The
Ten Year Itch
The best players are always ready to tell a story that shows
their opponents in a good light.
European Seniors Champion Göran Mattsson reported a neat
defence by England's Tony Sowter, a European Champion himself
ten years ago in Killarney in 1991. It happened on this deal from
the Round 13 encounter between Germany I and England II.
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 |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
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 |
Rue |
Humburg |
Sowter |
Mattsson |
|
1¨ |
1© |
1ª |
2© |
2ª |
Pass |
4ª |
All Pass |
|
|
|
West led the ace of hearts and when East played the two he switched
to the five of clubs. Declarer, who needed a heart ruff, won in
dummy with the king and played a second heart.
East contributed the seven, allowing West to win with the ten
and deliver the fatal club ruff.
When Göran asked Tony what his reaction would have been if
South had been dealt the ten of hearts he suggested a small giggle
would have been in order!
Suicide
Squeeze in the Seniors
By Alex Montwill - Ireland
It is usually a good sign when opponents try to kill each other
at the bridge table but sometimes one can encourage mutual suicide
by more conventional means. In the 14th Round Senior's match between
Ireland and Lebanon Greer MacKenzie succeeded in doing just that.
Board 8. Dealer West.
None Vul.
|
|
ª A 10 7 2
© K 6 5
¨ Q 9 7 4
§ Q 10 |
ª Q 8 5 3
© J 7
¨ J 10 3 2
§ J 9 8 |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª 9 6
© A Q 9 8 3
¨ 8 6 5
§ K 6 5 |
|
ª K J 4
© 10 4 2
¨ A K
§ A 7 4 3 2 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Eidi |
MacKenzie |
Merhy |
Montwill |
Pass |
Pass |
Pass |
1§ |
Pass |
2NT |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
|
|
|
Playing in 3NT Greer got a heart lead and took the trick with
his king. He took the first correct view by leading a spade to
the king and returning the jack of spades covered by the queen
and ace. He now had eight tricks and decided to enlist the help
of the defenders to find the ninth.
Since East had not opened a weak two he was unlikely to hold six
hearts. Greer cashed the ace and king of diamonds and presented
East with a 'Greer Gift' of a little heart.
East knew he would not regain the lead and had no option but to
take the remaining hearts thereby slowly forcing his partner to
suicide. West could not release a diamond or a spade and three
club discards only postponed the inevitable. Declarer's ace of
clubs turned the screw further and the forced spade discard completed
the suicide with a show up squeeze for Greer's ª107.
A good story, which would have been spoilt if declarer had
relied on a second spade finesse. Editor
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