Belgium
vs France
Open Series - Round 24
Tuesday´s first match on Rama was particularly interesting,
as it was the confrontation of the 6th and 7th placed teams at
that moment. Both needed a win to keep their chances to reach
the top five alive. Both teams got their chances, but in the end,
the French won the match mainly because they scored more small
partscore swings than their opponents. Here are a few hands from
that match.
Session 24. Board 3. Dealer
South. E/W Vul.
|
|
ª A 8 7 6 5 2
© 9 6 3
¨ K J 6
§ 3 |
ª 10 9
© Q 10 4
¨ 5 4
§ 10 9 7 6 4 2 |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª 3
© A J 8 7 5 2
¨ A Q 2
§ K Q J |
|
ª K Q J 4
© K
¨ 10 9 8 7 3
§ A 8 5 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Multon |
Van Middelem |
Quantin |
Engel |
|
|
|
1ª |
Pass |
4§ |
4© |
4ª |
All Pass |
|
|
|
After the off-beat 1ª opening by Zvi Engel, 4§ was a splinter.
From the bidding, Multon could easily deduce that declarer was
bound to be pretty short in hearts, so he mentally excluded that
suit. Clubs or trumps did not look sensible choices either, so
by elimination only the diamond lead would make sense. Right he
was: after the lead of the ¨5 he got a third-round ruff in the
suit and the ©A then was the setting trick. Well done. France
+50.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Labaere |
Abecassis |
Carcassonne |
Soulet |
|
|
|
1¨ |
Pass |
1ª |
2© |
2ª |
Pass |
4ª |
All Pass |
|
Against the normal 1¨ opening bid, it was impossible to find
the killing lead in that suit. On a club lead, declarer even made
an overtrick. France another +450 and 11 IMP´s.
Session 24. Board 9. Dealer
North. E/W Vul.
|
|
ª J 10 7 2
© Q 10 8 2
¨ A 5 2
§ 8 6 |
ª A K Q
© A 3
¨ 10 9 7 6
§ A Q J 9 |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª 8 5 4
© 7 6 5
¨ Q J 4 3
§ 5 3 2 |
|
ª 9 6 3
© K J 9 4
¨ K 8
§ K 10 7 4 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Multon |
Van Middelem |
Quantin |
Engel |
|
Pass |
Pass |
Pass |
2NT |
All Pass |
|
|
Multon won the lead of the ª2 with the king and played a diamond,
South winning the king and returning not a heart, but a logical
enough spade. Multon won and now had time to concede to the ¨A
and take two club finesses for nine tricks and +150 to France.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Labaere |
Abecassis |
Carcassonne |
Soulet |
|
Pass |
Pass |
1© |
Dble |
3© |
Pass |
Pass |
Dble |
Pass |
3ª |
Pass |
4ª |
All Pass |
|
|
Had Carcassonne passed the second double, Belgium would have
scored +300, but it was not to be. So the light third-in-hand
opening paid off for France when she elected to make a minimum
action by bidding 3ª first. West had a natural raise, but the
contract went three off whereas 4¨ would probably have been made.
France another +300 and 10 more IMP´s.
Session 24. Board 11.
Dealer South. None Vul.
|
|
ª K 10 3
© K J 9 7 6
¨ 7 5 4
§ 7 3 |
ª Q 9 7
© A Q 10 8 5 4
¨ 10 9
§ 4 2 |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª -
© 3
¨ A Q J 8 3 2
§ A K Q 9 6 5 |
|
ª A J 8 6 5 4 2
© 2
¨ K 6
§ J 10 8 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Multon |
Van Middelem |
Quantin |
Engel |
|
|
|
3ª |
Pass |
4ª |
4NT |
Dble |
Pass |
Pass |
5§ |
All Pass |
No problem, 12 tricks. France +420.
Closed
Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Labaere |
Abecassis |
Carcassonne |
Soulet |
The bidding was the same in both
rooms |
West |
North |
East |
South |
|
|
|
3ª |
Pass |
4ª |
4NT |
Dble |
Pass |
Pass |
5§ |
Dble |
All Pass |
|
|
|
No problem, 12 tricks. Belgium +650 and 6 IMP´s.
The interesting point of this hand came to light at a number
of other tables. How would you play 6§, reached after a similar
auction? You ruff the opening lead of the ªA and cash the §A.
South plays the ten. What now? A number of declarers was seen
to cross to the ©A to take a losing finesse of the §J. With the
¨K still to lose as well, that meant down one. A nice side effect
of an obligatory false card. Is Zia Mahmood around here?
Session 24. Board 13.
Dealer North. All Vul.
|
|
ª A 9 8 2
© K 9 8 7
¨ Q 10 8 6 3
§ - |
ª 6
© Q J 2
¨ A J 5 4
§ K 8 6 4 2 |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª K J 10 3
© A 6 5 3
¨ K 7 2
§ 7 3 |
|
ª Q 7 5 4
© 10 4
¨ 9
§ A Q J 10 9 5 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Multon |
Van Middelem |
Quantin |
Engel |
|
Pass |
Pass |
3§ |
Pass |
Pass |
Dble |
All Pass |
Engel chose the wrong moment to open 3§ in 3rd hand. France +1100
on perfect defence. Spade lead, ducked to East´s king. Spade
(the jack) ruff, ©Q covered with king and ace and another spade
(the 3 this time) ruff. ©J cashed and a diamond away from the
ace to partner´s king for a third spade ruff. The §K was
the 4th setting trick.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Labaere |
Abecassis |
Carcassonne |
Soulet |
|
Pass |
1§ |
2§ |
All Pass |
|
|
|
When East did not reopen with her minimum hand, N/S were out
of trouble. The contract went one down and France had won another
14 IMP´s.
On the next board, Quantin handed back the better part of the
IMP´s just won:
Session 24. Board 14.
Dealer East. None Vul.
|
|
ª A 5 2
© K Q 10
¨ Q J 8
§ A Q 10 3 |
ª J 8 7 6
© 8 7 6 3
¨ 9 2
§ J 6 5 |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª 3
© J 5
¨ A 10 6 5 4 3
§ K 9 7 4 |
|
ª K Q 10 9 4
© A 9 4 2
¨ K 7
§ 8 2 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Multon |
Van Middelem |
Quantin |
Engel |
|
|
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
2NT |
3¨ |
Pass |
Pass |
Dble |
All Pass |
|
Down four, Belgium +800.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Labaere |
Abecassis |
Carcassonne |
Soulet |
|
|
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
3ª |
Pass |
4ª |
All Pass |
|
|
|
The normal contract, France +450 but 8 IMP´s to Belgium.
The last board of the match was yet another example of the way
things had gone France´s way most of the time:
Session 24. Board 20.
Dealer West. All Vul.
|
|
ª 10 6 4 3
© Q 6
¨ 7 6 5
§ Q J 7 5 |
ª 5
© A J 9 3
¨ A J 8
§ A 10 4 3 2 |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª J 2
© 10 8 7 2
¨ K 9 2
§ K 9 8 6 |
|
ª A K Q 9 8 7
© K 5 4
¨ Q 10 4 3
§ - |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Multon |
Van Middelem |
Quantin |
Engel |
1§ |
Pass |
1© |
Dble |
3© |
Pass |
Pass |
3ª |
Pass |
4ª |
Pass |
Pass |
Dble |
|
|
|
Holding three aces, Multon had no trouble in finding a double
to finish it off. Right he was again: France +200 after the lead
of the §A. Note that on the ©A lead, West has to find the switch
to a low diamond immediately.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Labaere |
Abecassis |
Carcassonne |
Soulet |
1§ |
Pass |
1© |
1ª |
3© |
Pass |
Pass |
Dble |
Pass |
3ª |
All Pass |
|
The French at this table showed how to deal with this type of
South hand and thus were able to land in a safe enough spot. France
another +170 and 9 IMP´s when the ©A was led and the diamond
switch not found.
|