By Mark Horton

The first session of the Women’s Pairs final was very much a question of making the right bid at the right time – at least on the deals I watched. I leave it to you the reader to judge for example when the right bid was made at the wrong time.

Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
	ª 10 2 © 8 6 5 4 2 ¨ 9 3 § J 9 7 3
ª K 9 6 © A 10 7 3 ¨ 10 7 5 § K 10 4		ª Q J © K Q J 9 ¨ J 4 § A Q 6 5 2
	ª A 8 7 5 4 3 © - ¨ A K Q 8 6 2 § 8

West	North	East	South
Erhart	Delogh	Smederevac	Avon
Pass	Pass	1NT	4ª
Dble	Pass	5§	5¨
5©	All Pass

When Maria Erhart made a card showing double of Four Spades Jovi Smederevac did very well to bid Five Clubs. Her side was now assured of a fine score whatever happened. The defenders cashed a spade and two diamonds, but that was all they could take. Declarer could cope easily with the 5-0 trump break. After one round of trumps she cashed three top clubs followed by the king of spades and could claim the rest via a high cross ruff. –50 was worth 26 of the 30 available matchpoints, and at this stage the leaders had retained their position at the top of the table.

Board 13. Dealer North. All Vul.
	ª K 10 7 © A J 6 4 ¨ Q J § A Q 8 5
ª 9 6 4 3 © K Q 9 7 5 3 ¨ - § 10 9 6		ª A Q J 8 2 © 8 ¨ K 10 8 7 5 4 § 2
	ª 5 © 10 2 ¨ A 9 6 3 2 § K J 7 4 3

West	North	East	South
Weigkricht	Gromova	Kellner	Ponomareva
	1NT	2¨*	Dble*
2ª	Dble	3¨	Pass
3ª	Pass	Pass	Dble
Pass	4©	Pass	5§
Dble	All Pass

Two Diamonds promised spades and South made a card showing double. If East had passed Two Spades would South have moved? You certainly need to, as East is a certainty to make at least eight tricks, should make nine, and might come to ten against inaccurate defence. It seemed strange for North to remove her partner’s double, but in a sense she was right to do so. However, 3NT would have been the winning choice. Five Clubs had no real chance. West led the nine of spades and East won and switched to the king of diamonds. West ruffed and had to come to a heart trick. That was worth 26/30 for the Austrian pair, who were well in the hunt for a medal.

Board 14. Dealer East. None Vul.
	ª Q 8 6 5 © K 7 6 5 ¨ 10 5 3 § 10 7
ª J 9 © A 9 4 ¨ Q J 9 4 2 § 9 6 2		ª K 10 3 2 © - ¨ A 8 7 6 § K Q 8 5 3
	ª A 7 4 © Q J 10 8 3 2 ¨ K § A J 4

West	North	East	South
Weigkricht	Gromova	Kellner	Ponomareva
		1ª*	2©
Dble	3©	Pass	4©
Pass	Pass	5§	Dble
All Pass

One Spade was the start of a potential Canapé, but East decided not to bid over Three Hearts. However, when South went on to game East decided it was time to come again.

That was not a good idea here, with Four Hearts due to fail, but if you are going bid then 4NT must be best, suggesting that you are playable in both minors. Five Clubs proved to be a very uncomfortable spot.

Declarer won the opening heart lead with the ace, pitching a spade and took the diamond finesse. Forced at trick two she tried the queen of clubs. West won and played a third heart. Declarer ruffed, cashed the king of clubs and played diamonds. West bided her time, and eventually came in with the ace of spades, drew declarer’s last trump and cashed a heart. +500 and 26/30.

The young Danish pair were doing well, but they didn’t cope well with this board:

Board 17. Dealer North. None Vul.
	ª 6 3 2 © A Q 8 7 ¨ K Q J 8 4 3 § -
ª A Q 10 8 7 © 9 3 ¨ 7 5 § A K 10 9		ª J 5 © K 5 4 2 ¨ 6 § 8 7 6 5 4 3
	ª K 9 4 © J 10 6 ¨ A 10 9 2 § Q J 2

West	North	East	South
Simons	Krefeld	Pasman	Kirstan
	1¨	Pass	2NT*
Pass	3©	Pass	3NT
Pass	4¨	Pass	4NT
All Pass

Three Hearts showed more than a minimum and in theory no singletons. West cashed the ace of clubs and then switched to a diamond. Declarer won in hand and played the jack of hearts. West followed with the three – maybe the nine would be better? – and East won and returned a club. +50 was worth 21/9.

The Netherlands had qualified several pairs and one of them was having an excellent session.

Board 19. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
	ª A J 9 3 © Q 6 4 ¨ Q J 9 § Q J 8
ª 6 5 © 8 ¨ A 6 5 3 § K 10 9 5 4 3		ª K 4 © A K J 10 3 2 ¨ K 10 8 7 4 § -
	ª Q 10 8 7 2 © 9 7 5 ¨ 2 § A 7 6 2

West	North	East	South
Van Zwol	Belogh	Hoogweg	Avon
			Pass
Pass	Pass	1©	1ª
Dble	3ª	4¨	All Pass

Missing this game was very expensive, giving East/West only 5 points. Where does the blame lie? Well, I don’t think there is any case for West to take another bid, so East must accept responsibility. When partner has shown some cards it is surely right to simply bid Four Hearts over Three Spades. Assuming you buy the hand eleven tricks are possible and would be worth 24/30.

Board 21. Dealer North. N/S Vul.
	ª 3 2 © K 8 7 5 4 2 ¨ 3 § A J 6 3
ª J 10 © 10 6 3 ¨ K Q J 7 2 § Q 8 2		ª A K Q 5 © Q J 9 ¨ A 10 6 5 4 § 4
	ª 9 8 7 6 4 © A ¨ 9 8 § K 10 9 7 5

West	North	East	South
Van Zwol	Belogh	Hoogweg	Avon
	Pass	1¨	Pass
3§*	Pass	3¨	Pass
Pass	3©	Dble	3ª
Pass	Pass	Dble	All Pass

North chose a singularly unfortunate moment to protect. Declarer had to get the clubs right to escape with –500, but that did not trouble the scorer.