Nordic
Contests (cont.)
By Jos Jacobs
The major Nordic contest took place last night, as we all should
know by now. Those who were not aware of it before this soccer match
started, certainly were brought back to reality by the tremendous
noises produced on either side of the Öresund, as well as in
all local hotels.
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![](../Graphics/Bul04/Ice-Magnusson.jpg) |
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Magnus Magnusson, Iceland |
On Monday afternoon we had a small Nordic contest: tiny Denmark
playing little Iceland. On the bridge scene, however, these two
countries have been considered major contestants over the last decade.
Iceland won a Bermuda Bowl back in 1991 when everybody wanted to
play them. This time, two of the then successful players are here
again and were in fact playing in this match in the Open Room. The
Danes are no mean performers either. They have been among the contenders
for the top spots in many European Championships over recent decades,
be it successfully or not. In Olympiads they have had their greatest
successes: their Women’s team brought home a gold medal from
Venice and, but for the extra time, their Open team would have made
it to the final in Rhodes!
Though neither team had a really good start, their records looked
convincing enough to me to pick them as the teams to follow during
Round 5. This proved a good idea right on the first board when I
saw this happen:
Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul.
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ª K J 6 2
© K 7
¨ Q 10 6 3
§ K 9 4 |
ª -
© A J 10 8 2
¨ K J 5 4
§ Q 10 3 2 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª 9 4
© 9 5 4 3
¨ 9 7 2
§ J 8 6 5 |
|
ª A Q 10 8 7 5 3
© Q 6
¨ A 8
§ A 7 |
Closed Room: |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Thorvaldsson |
D. Schaltz |
Magnusson |
P. Schaltz |
|
1NT |
Pass |
3ª |
Pass |
3NT |
Pass |
4© |
Pass |
4NT |
Pass |
6ª |
All Pass |
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![](../Graphics/Bul04/Den-SchaltzD.jpg) |
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Dorthe Schaltz, Denmark |
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To me, bidding a risky slam on the first board always gives an
indication about the direction the wind will be blowing from during
the match. South was definitely unlucky that partner’s extra
values were all in spades and that there was not even an outside
jack available to create the odd extra menace. If West does not
lead the ©A all
is still well for the defence, as the only thing he has to do later
is to hop up with his ace once declarer leads a heart. Rumours are
that at one or two tables, West players forgot to rise with the
©A only to fall
victims to a simple throw-in later for -980.
As it was, Thorvaldsson quickly solved any problem by leading
his ace; Iceland +50.
Open Room: |
West |
North |
East |
South |
L. L. Madsen |
Baldursson |
M. L. Madsen |
Jonsson |
|
1¦ |
Pass |
1ª |
2© |
2ª |
Pass |
3© |
Pass |
4ª |
Pass |
5ª |
All Pass |
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As you can imagine, Jon Baldursson could not find anything near
the extra values required from him when Jònsson made one
further move. Five Spades was of course never in danger, so Iceland
chalked up another +450 to take an 11-0 lead.
Almost half of it went away again on the next board:
Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
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ª K J 6 5
© K Q
¨ Q 10 8 6 5 4
§ 7 |
ª 10 7 4
© 9 7 5 3
¨ J 3
§ K 6 5 4 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª Q 3 2
© A J 8
¨ A K 9 7
§ Q 10 3 |
|
ª A 9 8
© 10 6 4 2
¨ 2
§ A J 9 8 2 |
Closed Room: |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Thorvaldsson |
D. Schaltz |
Magnusson |
P. Schaltz |
|
|
1§ |
Pass |
1© |
Pass |
1NT |
Pass |
Pass |
2¨ |
All Pass |
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Though the 1NT rebid showed 15-17 HCP, Dorthe Schaltz had no problems
in balancing with 2¨, a contract she made in some comfort as East
had to lead away from vulnerable holdings on too many occasions;
Denmark +90.
Open Room: |
West |
North |
East |
South |
L. L. Madsen |
Baldursson |
M. L. Madsen |
Jonsson |
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|
1NT |
All Pass |
Here, one would expect Baldursson to make the same 2¨ bid in fourth
position but due to systemic reasons this was not possible. So he
had to pass only to see Morten Lund Madsen run home with an overtrick;
Denmark another +120 and 5 IMPs back.
After two flat boards, it was a matter of bridge judgement on
Board 5:
Board 5. Dealer North. N/S Vul.
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ª A K J 6 4 2
© K 6
¨ 4
§ Q 10 7 6 |
ª 8
© J 5 4 2
¨ A J 6 5 2
§ K 9 2 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª 10 9 7
© A Q 10 8 3
¨ K 8 3
§ 4 3 |
|
ª Q 5 3
© 9 7
¨ Q 10 9 7
§ A J 8 5 |
Closed Room: |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Thorvaldsson |
D. Schaltz |
Magnusson |
P. Schaltz |
|
1ª |
2© |
3© |
4© |
4ª |
Pass |
Pass |
5© |
Pass |
Pass |
Dble |
All Pass |
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Please note the very light overcall by Magnusson. From South’s
point of view it is difficult to imagine that 5© will make, but
that’s life. Iceland scored +650, declarer just losing a trick
in each of the black suits.
Open Room: |
West |
North |
East |
South |
L. L. Madsen |
Baldursson |
M. L. Madsen |
Jonsson |
|
1ª |
2© |
2ª |
3ª |
4ª |
Pass |
Pass |
5© |
Pass |
Pass |
5ª |
Dble |
All Pass |
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![](../Graphics/Bul04/Den-MadsenM.jpg) |
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Morten Lund Madsen,
Denmark |
Morten Lund Madsen made the same light overcall but, in the end,
Jònsson judged the situation slightly better than his Danish
counterpart. The save in 5ª,
vulnerable against not, should go two off for an expensive 500,
but with 650 in the bank, this would still have netted a profit
of 4 IMPs. When East, understandably, led the ©A,
the contract was defeated by just one trick for a mere +200 to Denmark,
another big swing of 10 IMPs to Iceland who now led 21-5.
There was more to come for them:
Board 6. Dealer East. E/W Vul.
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ª K J 6
© K Q
¨ A J 4 3
§ 7 5 4 3 |
ª Q 3
© J 7
¨ 8 7 6
§ A J 10 8 6 2 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª 4 2
© A 9 8 6 2
¨ K Q 10 9
§ K 9 |
|
ª A 10 9 8 7 5
© 10 5 4 3
¨ 5 2
§ Q |
Closed Room: |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Thorvaldsson |
D. Schaltz |
Magnusson |
P. Schaltz |
|
|
1© |
2ª |
Pass |
3ª |
All Pass |
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A fully respectable auction to a fully respectable contract. With
everything working well for declarer, ten tricks were easy enough;
Denmark +170.
Open Room: |
West |
North |
East |
South |
L. L. Madsen |
Baldursson |
M. L. Madsen |
Jonsson |
|
|
1© |
2ª |
Pass |
4ª |
All Pass |
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A bold jump to a dangerous level paid off when, at this table too,
all the cards were right for declarer.
West led the ©J, solving declarer’s first problem. East won
and played the §K and another, ruffed in hand. Though Jònsson
had his anxious moments about how to play the trump suit after leading
low from hand to the king (it was unclear from this defence how
the adverse distribution would be), he finally played the ace on
the second round of trumps to pick up the queen and make this ambitious
contract. Well done and 6 more IMPs to Iceland who at this stage
led 27-5.
Apart from one IMP on an overtrick, these were to be the last
IMPs Iceland would score in the match, believe it or not! Here is
one rather quiet example of what happened from this point onwards:
Board 8. Dealer West. None Vul.
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ª A K J 5
© 5
¨ A K 9 6
§ K J 4 2 |
ª Q 10 8
© A Q J 7 4 3
¨ 4
§ Q 5 3 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª 9 4 3 2
© K 9 8 2
¨ Q 10 8
§ 9 8 |
|
ª 7 6
© 10 6
¨ J 7 5 3 2
§ A 10 7 6 |
Closed Room: |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Thorvaldsson |
D. Schaltz |
Magnusson |
P. Schaltz |
1© |
Dble |
3© |
Dble |
4© |
Dble |
All Pass |
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The commentators on BBO described the 4© bid as unnecessary, as
there seems to be little to gain. On this layout, they were certainly
right, as the Schaltzes were quick to prove. Dorthe doubled again
and Peter saw no reason to go anywhere, holding only two spades
himself. On a spade lead and continuation, the defenders got their
ruff and thus collected three undertricks; Denmark +500.
Open Room: |
West |
North |
East |
South |
L. L. Madsen |
Baldursson |
M. L. Madsen |
Jonsson |
1© |
Dble |
3© |
Dble |
4© |
Dble |
Pass |
4NT |
Pass |
5§ |
All Pass |
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It was the same start to the auction here but, for once, Jònsson
did not take the winning decision. No real harm done, however, as
Baldursson guessed well in trumps; Iceland +400 but 3 IMPs to Denmark
to trail by 8-27.
The Icelanders did themselves more serious damage two boards later:
Board 10. Dealer East. All Vul.
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ª 10 9
© K 4
¨ 10 4
§ Q J 9 7 6 4 3 |
ª J 7 4
© A 10 9 8 7
¨ K J 8 3
§ A |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª A K 6 5 2
© 6 2
¨ A Q 9 7 5 2
§ - |
|
ª Q 8 3
© Q J 5 3
¨ 6
§ K 10 8 5 2 |
Closed Room: |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Thorvaldsson |
D. Schaltz |
Magnusson |
P. Schaltz |
|
|
1¨ |
Pass |
1© |
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
5§ |
Pass |
5ª |
Pass |
5NT |
Pass |
6§ |
Pass |
7¨ |
All Pass |
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5§ was Exclusion Blackwood, it was explained, but the meaning of
5NT and 6§ were far less clear. It looks as if there was no suitable
way to check on the presence of the ªQ. Had she made her appearance
on time, however, this would have been a different story –
Denmark +100.
Open Room: |
West |
North |
East |
South |
L. L. Madsen |
Baldursson |
M. L. Madsen |
Jonsson |
|
|
1¨ |
Pass |
1© |
3§ |
3ª |
5§ |
6¨ |
All Pass |
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This auction looks rather one-sided, but effective it was. Denmark
scored +1370 and a swing of exactly 16 IMPs to erase the complete
deficit and tie the match at 27-27.
On the next board, Denmark went into the lead on an extra undertrick
and then, with six boards to play afterwards, Denmark sealed the
outcome of the match:
Board 14. Dealer East. None Vul.
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ª 5 4
© 10 9 7
¨ A Q 10 9 6
§ A Q 3 |
ª A Q 8 7 3
© -
¨ 5 4 3
§ K 8 7 6 4 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª K 6 2
© Q J 8 4 3
¨ K 8 7 2
§ 5 |
|
ª J 10 9
© A K 6 5 2
¨ J
§ J 10 9 2 |
Closed Room: |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Thorvaldsson |
D. Schaltz |
Magnusson |
P. Schaltz |
|
|
Pass |
1© |
2© |
3§ |
Pass |
4© |
Pass |
Pass |
Dble |
All Pass |
Peter Schaltz’ very light 1© opening was very well-timed
as Dorthe could show a modest heart fit after the two-suited overcall.
East doubled the final contract, but declarer was not to be led
astray. He won the diamond lead in dummy and immediately passed
the ¨Q, throwing a spade from hand. The ¨10 was covered and ruffed,
and next came the §J. West covered this, a move he was to regret,
so dummy’s ace won and a fourth diamond was played, declarer
throwing another spade. When West did not ruff, the last diamond
was ruffed by East with the ©8, but declarer simply threw his last
spade. The rest was easy now. A spade was returned and ruffed, a
club was ruffed by East and another spade was ruffed by declarer.
With the clubs all good, Schaltz simply drew two rounds of trumps
now and played on clubs, conceding only a third trump trick to the
defence. Nicely done, exploiting the chance offered to him when
the defenders did not first cash their spades; Denmark +590.
Open Room: |
West |
North |
East |
South |
L. L. Madsen |
Baldursson |
M. L. Madsen |
Jonsson |
|
|
Pass |
Pass |
1ª |
2¨ |
3¨ |
Pass |
4ª |
All Pass |
|
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The lead of the ©10 was covered by the queen and king, declarer
ruffing. South was given a club trick next, and at this point a
shift to the ¨J will ensure declarer’s downfall as the ¨K
will be ruffed away. The trump return made by Jònsson was
equally effective, as declarer would never be able to stay in control
of the hand. He needs ruffs to return to his hand when ruffing out
the clubs, so he duly went down one on this more passive defence
as well. Iceland scored +50, but the swing went to Denmark;11 IMPs
more.
As almost no IMPs exchanged hands on the final six boards, this
match report may as well come to its end here. The final score was
a steady 41-28 win to Denmark, 18-12 in VPs.
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