Technical Matters
The second session of the final featured a number of deals where
good technique would be rewarded. Alas, not all the competitors
passed their tests.
Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul.
|
|
ª A 9 8 2
© K 10 9
¨ K 4 2
§ Q 9 7 |
ª 10 6 5
© A 7 4
¨ Q 5
§ A J 8 3 2 |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª J 7 3
© Q J 8 6
¨ 10 8 7
§ K 10 5 |
|
ª K Q 4
© 5 3 2
¨ A J 9 6 3
§ 6 4 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Jagniewski |
Allerton |
Jereniewska |
Hinden |
|
1NT |
All Pass |
|
|
![](../Graphics/Photos/Pol-Jeleniewska-4.jpg) |
|
Malgorzata Jeleniewska,
Poland
|
East led the six of hearts and West took the ace and returned the
seven. Declarer won with the king and attacked diamonds, cashing
the king and finessing the jack. West won and missed the chance
to inflict considerable damage via a club switch when he continued
with hearts. East took her tricks and switched to a club, but the
suit was blocked, so declarer was soon able to claim for one down.
At another table, Wasik-Pilar did much better. They ended up in
2ª after 1§-1¨; 1ª-2ª, Pilar just bidding the values of her hand.
On a heart lead and continuation, declarer immediately took the
diamond finesse, but even though this lost, eight tricks and a very
good matchpoint score were safe when the spades broke.
You may consider West's failure to switch to a club when defending
1NT to be a minor transgression, but something more serious followed
immediately.
Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
|
|
ª A
© J
¨ K J 10 8 6
§ A Q 7 5 3 2 |
ª 6 5 4 3 2
© Q 7 6 4 3
¨ Q 4
§ 9 |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª Q J 9 8 7
© 10 9 8 5
¨ 3
§ K J 6 |
|
ª K 10
© A K 2
¨ A 9 7 5 2
§ 10 8 4 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Jagniewski |
Allerton |
Jereniewska |
Hinden |
|
|
Pass |
1¨ |
Pass |
2¨* |
Pass |
2©* |
Pass |
2ª* |
Dbl |
3¨ |
4ª |
5§* |
Pass |
6¨ |
All Pass |
|
|
|
Two Diamonds was inverted and thereafter a series of value showing/cue
bids saw North/South reach the reasonable slam. West could have
ensured the defeat of the contract by leading his club, but he opted
for the five of spades. Declarer won in dummy, took two top diamonds
and played a club to the ace. That proved to be a very unsafe play
as now declarer had to lose two clubs. You can see that by eliminating
the majors before playing on clubs declarer can ensure the contract,
simply covering whatever card West plays on the four of clubs.
Board 7. Dealer South. All Vul.
|
|
ª 8 7 4 3
© Q
¨ A J 9 7 3
§ A 8 6 |
ª A J 10
© 6
¨ K Q 5
§ K Q J 10 3 2 |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª K Q 9 5
© A 9 7 5 2
¨ 10 4
§ 9 4 |
|
ª 6 2
© K J 10 8 4 3
¨ 8 6 2
§ 7 5 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Cronier |
Maas |
Lustin |
Vriend |
|
|
|
Pass |
1§ |
1¨ |
1© |
Pass |
2¨* |
Pass |
2ª |
Pass |
2NT |
Pass |
3© |
Dbl |
3NT |
All Pass |
|
|
Aided by his partner's double, North led the queen of hearts. If
declarer wins this and plays on clubs the distribution allows declarer
to make eleven tricks. However, declarer played low from dummy and
South overtook with the king and switched to a diamond. Eleven tricks
had turned into seven.
Board 8. Dealer West. None Vul.
|
|
ª Q J 9 3
© A 10 3
¨ 8 2
§ K 10 9 3 |
ª 10 4
© 9 7 5
¨ K 7 6 5
§ Q 8 6 2 |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª K 8 7
© K 8
¨ A Q J 9 3
§ J 5 4 |
|
ª A 6 5 2
© Q J 6 4 2
¨ 10 4
§ A 7 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Cronier |
Maas |
Lustin |
Vriend |
Pass |
Pass |
1NT |
2§* |
Pass |
2¨* |
Dbl |
2© |
3¨ |
3ª |
All Pass |
|
If we have interpreted the auction correctly then North showed
an invitational raise in spades. South gave some thought to bidding
the game, which was reached at a number of tables. East led the
ace of diamonds and continued with the queen. West took the king
and switched to the six of clubs. Declarer won in hand and advanced
the queen of spades. When that held he continued with the jack,
pinning West's ten and securing ten tricks for +170.
Board 11. Dealer South. None Vul.
|
|
ª K 5
© 10 7 6 2
¨ A 9 8 5 4
§ A Q |
ª Q J 10 7
© 4
¨ Q 2
§ 8 7 6 5 4 2 |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª 8 4 3 2
© A Q 8
¨ K 10 7
§ K 10 3 |
|
ª A 9 6
© K J 9 5 3
¨ J 6 3
§ J 9 |
This deal is a simple test for South in a heart contract. You must
win the spade lead in dummy, play a heart to the nine and a diamond
to the eight, the idea being to keep West off lead once you escaped
the club lead.
Board 13. Dealer North. All Vul.
|
|
ª -
© 5 3
¨ J 9 8 7 6 5
§ 9 7 5 3 2 |
ª A Q 8 7 3
© Q 10 9
¨ 10 4
§ Q J 4 |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª K 5 4 2
© K J 8 7 6
¨ A 2
§ A 8 |
|
ª J 10 9 6
© A 4 2
¨ K Q 3
§ K 10 6 |
|
![](../Graphics/Photos/Esp-Wasik-5.jpg) |
|
Arturo Wasik, Spain
|
If East/West play in spades and the defenders lead diamonds, at
the table we were watching it was the king, declarer must duck,
win the next diamond, draw three rounds of trumps and then play
on hearts.
If East-West are playing in hearts, however, the situation changes.
Now you should win the lead of the ¨K and draw trumps immediately.
You may still incur a spade ruff, but unless North was given the
opportunity to ruff a high spade, he can do no harm. If you duck
the diamond, South will switch to a spade, ruffed by North who will
return a club to set the contract.
Better for NS would be to take the save. The problem is how to
get there. Arturo Wasik, playing for Spain, showed the way.
West |
North |
East |
South |
|
Wasik |
|
Pilar |
|
Pass |
1© |
Dble |
Rdble |
4NT |
Dble |
Pass |
Pass |
5¨ |
Dble |
All Pass |
This went only two off for a fine matchpoint
score to NS.
|