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Poland vs France
Open Round 33
Though Poland started their recovery halfway through last week,
at the time this match was scheduled (Thursday evening) their qualification
was by no means sure yet. A defeat at the hands of France would
therefore mean a serious setback for their aspirations, and at the
other hand it would revive the thin French hopes.
On the first two boards, these hopes certainly were boosted when
France took a 6-0 lead.
The game:
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Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
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| |
ª J 4 3
© 3 2
¨ A K 10 8 4
§ A 9 6 |
ª A K 6
© A J 9 4
¨ 9 7 5 3
§ K J |
 |
ª Q 8 7
© K Q 8
¨ 2
§ 10 8 7 4 3 2 |
| |
ª 10 9 5 2
© 10 7 6 5
¨ Q J 6
§ Q 5 |
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Bessis |
Lesniewski |
Rombaut |
Martens |
| |
|
|
Pass |
| 1NT |
Pass |
2ª |
Pass |
| 3§ |
Pass |
3NT |
Pass |
| 4§ |
Pass |
5§ |
All Pass |
When Bessis accepted the transfer Rombaut went on, relying on his
club length rather than his high-card points, so an odds-against
game was reached. When the §Q was doubleton where she should be,
France chalked up a lucky +600.
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Bizon |
Duguet |
Kowalski |
Toffier |
| |
|
|
Pass |
| 1NT |
Pass |
2ª |
Pass |
| 3§ |
All Pass |
|
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This was a more normal contract in which Bizon played safe for
nine tricks. Poland +110, but 10 IMPs to France who led 16-0.
Two boards later, the Poles struck back, and a double blow it was
to be:
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Board 5. Dealer North. N/S Vul.
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| |
ª A 9 7 2
© K 9 6 5
¨ K Q 9 8
§ 5 |
ª -
© Q J 10 4 2
¨ A 6 4 3
§ 9 8 7 2 |
|
ª K Q 10 8 6
© A 3
¨ J
§ A K Q 10 4 |
| |
ª J 5 4 3
© 8 7
¨ 10 7 5 2
§ J 6 3 |
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Bessis |
Lesniewski |
Rombaut |
Martens |
| |
1¨ |
Dble |
Pass |
| 3© |
Pass |
3ª |
Pass |
| 3NT |
All Pass |
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DUGUET Michel, France |
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As the diamonds are 4-4 you can make nine tricks by first
finessing the hearts and then establishing a spade trick.
Bessis won the diamond lead and passed the ©Q,
but when he next played a heart to the ace he had established
a fifth defensive trick. One down, Poland +50.
On the actual layout, slam in clubs is on and some pairs
at other tables bid it. What would happen at the other table
in this match?
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| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Bizon |
Duguet |
Kowalski |
Toffier |
| |
1¨ |
2¨ |
Pass |
| 3§ |
Pass |
4§ |
Pass |
| 5§ |
All Pass |
|
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Not very much, as you can see. All 13 tricks were made when declarer
won the ¨A and led the ©Q which was covered by king and ace. Poland
+440 and 10 IMPs on a board that might easily have been a push.
And:
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Board 6. Dealer East. E/W Vul.
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| |
ª J 8 6 5
© 8 6 2
¨ 9 8 4
§ J 7 3 |
ª K 10 3
© 7
¨ A Q J 10 5 2
§ A K Q |
|
ª A Q 9 4 2
© J 10 5 3
¨ K
§ 9 6 2 |
| |
ª 7
© A K Q 9 4
¨ 7 6 3
§ 10 8 5 4 |
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Bessis |
Lesniewski |
Rombaut |
Martens |
| |
|
Pass |
Pass |
| 1¨ |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
| 4ª |
All Pass |
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The French standard of showing hearts and longer spades by bidding
2© led to a solid contract in quick time. France +680.
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Bizon |
Duguet |
Kowalski |
Toffier |
| |
|
Pass |
2© |
| Dble |
3© |
4ª |
Pass |
| 4NT |
Pass |
5§ |
Pass |
| 5¨ |
Pass |
5NT |
Pass |
| 6¨ |
All Pass |
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|
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This time, the French preempts drove the Poles to what turned
out to be an excellent slam. 5§
showed on ace and that was all Bizon wanted to know after
Kowalski's jump to 4ª.
Poland +1370 and another 12 Imps to lead 22-16 all of a sudden.
They went on to gradually increase their lead, which stood
at 39-21 when the decisive board arrived. It certainly was
one of the most spectacular boards of the Championships:
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KOWALSKI Dariusz, Poland |
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Board 16. Dealer West. E/W Vul.
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| |
ª 5 3
© 9 3
¨ K J 10 7 6 3
§ Q 8 2 |
ª -
© Q J 10 8 5
¨ A 8 2
§ J 9 7 4 3 |
|
ª A K J 10 8 2
© A K 7 6 2
¨ Q
§ K |
| |
ª Q 9 7 6 4
© 4
¨ 9 5 4
§ A 10 6 5 |
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Bizon |
Duguet |
Kowalski |
Toffier |
| 2¨ |
Pass |
2NT |
Pass |
| 3§ |
Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
| 3© |
Pass |
3ª |
Dble |
| 4¨ |
Dble |
4NT |
Pass |
| 5§ |
Pass |
6© |
All Pass |
In the Closed Room, the heart fit was revealed when Bizon opened
2¨. After this, there was no way to move the Poles away from the
right track. Poland +1430.
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Bessis |
Lesniewski |
Rombaut |
Martens |
| Pass |
3¨ |
4¨ |
5§ |
| 5¨ |
Pass |
6ª |
Dble |
| 7© |
Pass |
Pass |
Dble |
| All Pass |
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In the Open Room, West could not open this type of hand, so it
was North to kick off. His preempt in diamonds proved a lucky shot
that completely led the French astray. Apparently East did not realise
that West had not promised a fit in both majors by bidding 5¨. Poland
another +200 when the §A survived for a juicy 17 IMPs to lead 56-21.
The match was effectively over.
The final result became 58-26 to Poland or 22-8
V.P. The Polish team had kept their high hopes of qualification
firmly intact.
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