Sweden v Netherlands

As the Women’s Championship neared its conclusion, Sweden faced Netherlands in a match that might at the very least go a long way towards deciding the destination of the medals.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Vriend	Gronkist	Arnolds	Forsberg
		Pass	Pass
Pass	1§*	Pass	1NT*
Pass	2§*	Dble	Pass
2¨	Dble	All Pass

1NT 8-13

It looks to be as if the Dutch women had a misunderstanding that you would not expect to happen at this level of competition, as East was doubling for the lead over North’s Stayman, but West though it was for take out. When the smoke had cleared the Swedish pair had collected +1100.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Bertheau	Pasman	Midskog	Simons
		Pass	Pass
2¨	Dble	Pass	2NT
Pass	3¨	Pass	3©
Pass	4¨	Pass	3©
Pass	4¨	Pass	4©
All Pass

This normal result, +450, cost 12 IMPs.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Vriend	Gronkist	Arnolds	Forsberg
1¨	Pass	1ª	Pass
1NT	Pass	2NT	Pass
3NT	All Pass

North led a club, and declarer went up with the ace and played a heart to the queen. When that held she crossed to the king of diamonds and then fatally played the three of diamonds to dummy’s ace. She played a heart to the jack, but when that held the blockage in diamonds meant there was no way back to dummy to lead towards the king of hearts. The contract had to go one down, a careless -50.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Bertheau	Pasman	Midskog	Simons
1NT	Pass	2¨*	Pass
2©	Pass	3NT	All Pass

This time declarer made no mistake, winning the ace of clubs, crossing to a top diamond and then unblocking the nine on the way back to dummy for another heart lead towards the closed hand. South speeded things up by going in with the ace, so declarer claimed nine tricks +400 and a deserved 10 IMPs.

So far it had been all Sweden, ahead 36-2 IMPs, but this Dutch team is very resilient, as the Swedish women were about to discover.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Vriend	Gronkist	Arnolds	Forsberg
	1§*	Pass	2§*
Pass	2ª	Pass	3¨
Pass	4§	Pass	4¨
Pass	4NT	Pass	5¨
Pass	6§	Dble	All Pass

2§ 8+ five+ cards

I cannot tell you why South did not start with Two Diamonds – a natural bid according to the system notes. What is sure that a big wheel came off this particular deal, declarer going two down, -500.
For my money, North should have bid 3NT over Three Diamonds.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Bertheau	Pasman	Midskog	Simons
	1ª	Pass	1NT
Pass	2©	Pass	3¨
All Pass

The Dutch were probably surprised that their +130 on this deal was worth 12 IMPs.

I imagine you would like to reach 3NT on these cards, not because it is such a great contract, but you have the values, and attack is easier than defence.

Suppose East leads a heart. You win, and the technical line is a diamond to the ten, a play you may be reluctant to make as if it loses you will surely go down. So, you try a club to the ten. West wins the queen and plays a heart. You win, and now play a diamond. It will be very difficult for East to play the ace, so you win in dummy with the queen and try a low club. East wins perforce and can play a third heart, but you win and cash the winning clubs. On the last one East will be down to ªK10 ©J ¨AJ §— and have no good discard.

I know of at least one declarer who played this way – a certain lady from Germany!

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Vriend	Gronkist	Arnolds	Forsberg
		1§	1ª
Dble	Pass	1NT	Pass
4©	All Pass

There was no defence to Four Hearts. Declarer won the spade lead in hand, crossed to the ace of hearts, felling the king, and played a club. South put up the queen and declarer took the ace, cashed the queen of hearts, unblocked the jack of clubs and played a diamond. The defenders were helpless, +420.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Bertheau	Pasman	Midskog	Simons
		1§	1ª
2©	Pass	Pass	2ª
All Pass

Two Spades was not a great spot. A slightly soft defence allowed declarer to escape for one down, -50, but still a gain of 9 IMPs.

Board 16. Dealer West. E/W Vul.
	ª A J 10 9 3 © K 2 ¨ A Q 4 § Q 6 4
ª K Q 8 6 © A Q J ¨ 10 § 10 9 8 7 3		ª 7 © 9 8 6 5 4 3 ¨ J 9 3 § A K 5
	ª 5 4 2 © 10 7 ¨ K 8 7 6 5 2 § J 2

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Vriend	Gronkist	Arnolds	Forsberg
1§	1ª	2©	All Pass

Two Hearts was an eminently sensible spot, and declarer emerged with nine tricks, +140.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Bertheau	Pasman	Midskog	Simons
1§	1NT	2©	3§*
Pass	3NT	All Pass

3§ Diamonds

This contract would have had no chance if East had led from her six card suit, but she not unreasonably tried the ace of clubs. The blockage meant it was too late to switch to hearts and she continued with two more rounds of clubs. Declarer won and played her winning diamonds. On the last, West, down to ªKQ ©A ¨— §93, was squeezed. She elected to throw a spade, so declarer had a not unfortunate +430 and 11 IMPs.

Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
	ª A Q J 10 © 9 8 5 ¨ A J 9 7 § Q 2
ª 9 4 3 © Q 6 ¨ K 10 8 6 5 4 § 9 5		ª 6 2 © K J 10 7 2 ¨ 2 § J 8 7 6 3
	ª K 8 7 5 © A 4 3 ¨ Q 3 § A K 10 4

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Bertheau	Pasman	Midskog	Simons
		2©	Dble
Pass	2NT*	Pass	3¨*
Pass	3ª	Pass	4§
Pass	4¨	Pass	4©
Pass	4NT	Pass	5¨
Pass	5NT	Pass	6¨
Pass	6ª	All Pass

If my interpretation is correct, this looks like a Lebensohl sequence where South showed extras, and spades were agreed via some cue bids followed by a key card ask.

When East led her singleton diamond declarer’s problems were solved almost immediately. She took the ten with the jack, drew trumps and played the queen of diamonds. In due course she could discard a heart on the nine of diamonds, +1430.

The Swedish pair in the Open Room did not bid the slam, so 13 IMPs to Netherlands, who had recovered so well that they now led 47-36.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Vriend	Gronkist	Arnolds	Forsberg
			1NT
Pass	2©*	Pass	2NT*
Pass	3©	Pass	3ª
Pass	4§	Pass	4¨
Pass	4ª	Pass	4NT
Pass	5¨	Pass	5©
All Pass

The Swedish pair had a good look, but stopped short of slam. West led the two of hearts and declarer won in dummy and cashed the top spades, +480.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Bertheau	Pasman	Midskog	Simons
			1NT
Pass	2©*	Pass	3¨
Pass	3©	Pass	3ª
Pass	4§	Pass	4¨
Pass	4NT	Pass	5§
Pass	6ª	All Pass

Once again the opening lead was the two of hearts and declarer won with the queen of hearts and cashed the ace of spades. When the jack appeared on her right she came to hand with a club and ran the ten of spades. Restricted choice was wrong this time, -50 and 11 IMPs to Sweden.

A 15-15 VP draw left both teams in with a chance of a gold medal.